05/15/2026
There’s Something Important Happening Inside Martial Arts Schools Today
By Master Peter Simon Liciaga
Community Leader
Enrollment Director, Action Karate Mount Laurel
Founder, Living Strong Projects LLC
Over the last several months, I’ve had a number of conversations with parents, martial arts instructors, school owners, and education professionals — not only here in Mount Laurel, but throughout New Jersey and neighboring states.
And one thing has become very clear to me.
More and more families are searching for supportive environments for children with additional needs.
Families are looking for places where their child can feel seen.
Welcomed.
Encouraged.
Supported.
Understood.
Some children may have challenges with focus.
Some may struggle with confidence.
Some may have difficulty with transitions, emotional regulation, social interaction, listening skills, or anxiety in group environments.
Some families have children diagnosed with ADHD, ODD, autism spectrum conditions, sensory challenges, or other additional needs.
And what I’m hearing more and more is this:
Many families are discovering that martial arts can become a powerful part of their child’s growth journey.
Not because martial arts is “magic.”
Not because there’s a quick fix.
But because the right martial arts environment can provide something many children deeply need:
Structure.
Consistency.
Encouragement.
Movement.
Positive role models.
Patience.
Routine.
Connection.
And belief.
Recently, I had a meaningful conversation with Master Colan Magill at Dinoto's Action Karate Mount Laurel about this very topic.
Master Magill, who serves as our head instructor, has a degree in literature and also minored in psychology. And you can see how that background influences the way he teaches, communicates, mentors instructors, and helps shape the culture of our academy.
Our conversation centered around how proud we are of the work being done inside many martial arts schools today — especially the effort instructors are making to continue educating themselves so they can better serve children and families.
Not only are instructors investing time into workshops, child-development education, leadership training, and learning from specialists in the field, but they are also learning how to transfer that education appropriately to students based on age, maturity, emotional readiness, and individual needs.
And honestly, this is one of the biggest changes I’ve witnessed in martial arts over the course of my lifetime.
I began martial arts at nine years old.
I’m 65 years old today.
When I started training, martial arts schools were very different places.
There was discipline.
There was structure.
There was toughness.
But there often wasn’t a deep understanding of child development, emotional needs, learning differences, sensory needs, or how to support children who processed the world differently.
Today, many martial arts schools are evolving in powerful ways.
You’ll now find educators, counselors, therapists, professionals with advanced degrees, child-development specialists, and deeply compassionate instructors operating and supporting martial arts academies.
You’ll find schools actively learning how to better serve families.
You’ll find instructors becoming students again themselves —
learning,
growing,
listening,
adapting,
and becoming more aware of what children truly need in order to thrive.
At our academy, we continue working hard to create an environment where children feel supported, encouraged, and challenged appropriately.
And perhaps most importantly…
We are teaching our assistant instructors, leadership team members, and future instructors how to become patient role models.
How to encourage instead of shame.
How to guide instead of simply correct.
How to create an atmosphere where children feel safe enough to grow.
Because every child learns differently.
Some children walk into a martial arts school confidently.
Others walk in carrying frustration, anxiety, fear, uncertainty, or years of feeling like they “don’t fit.”
And sometimes…
the greatest victories in martial arts have nothing to do with belts or kicks.
Sometimes the victory is:
A child making eye contact.
A child participating for five full minutes.
A child saying “yes sir” for the first time.
A child walking onto the mat independently.
A child learning to calm themselves.
A child believing:
“Maybe I CAN do this.”
Those moments matter.
But something else important is happening inside martial arts schools today too.
We’re also seeing many families bringing us children who are honor-roll students, high achievers, future college-bound students, and young people who simply want to become part of something meaningful.
Families are looking for environments where their children can grow not only physically —
but socially,
emotionally,
and as contributors to a community.
Some of these students may become future engineers.
Future educators.
Future doctors.
Future therapists.
Future business owners.
Future community leaders.
And their families are looking for places where they can begin learning leadership, responsibility, service, communication, and teamwork early in life.
At our academy, one of the most beautiful things we witness is older students becoming role models for younger students.
It starts in our Little Champions classes.
You’ll often see older students standing beside younger children, helping hold targets, encouraging nervous students, cheering for small victories, and learning how to lead with patience and kindness.
And just yesterday, I witnessed something that truly stayed with me.
A younger student was transitioning from our Little Champions class into the beginner big kids class for the very first time.
The student was experiencing high anxiety about entering the new class.
One of our older students — a black belt — quietly sat down next to the younger student and the student’s mother.
There was no ego.
No embarrassment.
No frustration.
Just patience.
Encouragement.
Support.
The older student spoke calmly with them, encouraged them, and stayed present with them.
About ten minutes later, I looked over and saw that same younger student out on the mats —
laughing,
smiling,
participating,
and doing target drills with the other students.
And standing nearby was that older student, continuing to support and encourage them.
Honestly…
that moment was beautiful to witness.
Because when children with additional needs enter our environment, our students are not shocked by differences.
Our parents are not uncomfortable.
Our instructors are not thrown off by big emotions or unique challenges.
Because the culture itself teaches understanding.
The culture teaches patience.
The culture teaches support.
Everyone learns how to work together.
Everyone learns how to encourage one another.
And over time, students begin understanding something much bigger than martial arts:
That every person has strengths.
Every person has struggles.
Every person deserves encouragement.
And every person has value.
Honestly, I believe this may be one of the most important lessons martial arts can offer young people today.
Not simply how to punch or kick.
But how to become the kind of human being who can uplift others.
That’s the culture we are striving to create at our karate school.
And from my conversations with instructors and school owners throughout the martial arts community, I truly believe many schools are moving in this same direction.
Less ego.
More awareness.
More education.
More service.
More community.
And that gives me tremendous hope for the future.
Recently, one parent at our school shared these words in a public review after working one-on-one with me and our team over the past several months:
“My son is autistic and has been working with Master L for the past few months. He has progressed to his yellow belt and continues to thrive despite his challenges. Master L is intentional, patient, and so kind toward us. He works with him 1:1 to ensure he is on task, and makes him work to earn his stripes. I’m so grateful!”
Another parent recently shared:
“This place is absolutely amazing! Master Magill and Master Liciaga are wonderful, very attentive to training mind and body… With a family-oriented atmosphere, she’s learning lifelong lessons of self-defense and strengthening her core.”
Reading words like these means a great deal to us.
Not because of praise.
But because it reminds us that what families are truly looking for is connection, patience, structure, and support.
And families matter.
That’s why I want to encourage parents who have children with additional needs — or simply children who would benefit from a positive, structured, encouraging environment — to consider speaking with local martial arts schools in their community.
Ask questions.
Meet the instructors.
Observe the environment.
See how they interact with children.
See if the atmosphere feels supportive, patient, and inclusive.
At our Action Karate academy in Mount Laurel, we often invite families to experience complimentary one-on-one introductory sessions so parents can see how we work with their child personally and thoughtfully.
No pressure.
No judgment.
Just an opportunity to connect.
Because every child deserves the opportunity to grow stronger —
physically,
emotionally,
socially,
and mentally.
And every parent deserves support too.
As someone who has spent decades teaching martial arts and working with families in our community, I can honestly say this:
Some of the most inspiring students I’ve ever met were children who simply needed someone to believe in them consistently.
Children who needed structure.
Movement.
Encouragement.
Patience.
And a place where progress mattered more than perfection.
That’s what many martial arts schools are striving to become today.
Places of growth.
Places of belonging.
Places where children can practice becoming stronger —
one class at a time.
Living Strong.
One step forward at a time.
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