Mat Etiquette Reminders and a New Junior Leaders Workshop

It's September, and we're excited for another busy fall season! As kids head back to school, it's a good time to talk about the habits that keep our dojo clean, healthy and safe for everyone, and to share what's coming up this fall.

Here's what we ask of every student, plus a new workshop for young leaders, a call for Basket Brigade sponsors and what black belt candidates need to know.

Healthy habits for cold and flu season

Back to school also means back to cold and flu season. Let's work together to keep everyone healthy.

Please use the hand sanitizer next to the mat before and after class. If you sneeze or cough, cover your mouth with your elbow. And if you're sick, please show courtesy to your classmates and stay home so we can all keep training.

We believe courtesy is part of martial arts, not something separate from it. Taking care of the people you train with starts before you ever step on the mat. Kids learn this quickly when the adults around them model it, at home and in the dojo.

Keeping the mat clean

Please come to class with a clean body. If you've been to the beach, wash off before you come to the dojo. Sand is hard to remove from our mats, and it makes classes unsafe.

Checking your feet before you step on the mat is a great habit. Our rule is simple: shoes off on the mat, and shoes on everywhere else.

These may sound like small things, but we train close together. We kneel, roll and fall on the same mat, so a clean mat is a safe mat. When every student takes care of it, everyone trains with confidence. Thank you for helping us keep it clean for everyone.

These habits also teach respect. Bowing onto a clean mat, lining up shoes neatly and washing up before class are small ways of saying, "I care about this place and the people in it." Kids who practice them in the dojo often carry them home and to school.

Building leaders from white belt

At our school, one of our goals is to build community leaders, and that starts at white belt.

We're hosting a leadership development workshop for students who want to become junior leaders. Participants earn a certificate of completion, get an introduction to future leadership opportunities and receive a few cool items as Junior Leaders.

Leadership in the dojo looks like holding a pad for a newer student, helping a classmate remember a form or setting an example in line. We believe kids grow into leaders by being trusted with real responsibility, one small step at a time.

When a younger student sees an older one help without being asked, they learn what a belt really stands for. It isn't a license to be in charge. It's a responsibility to lead with respect.

Giving back and looking ahead

It's that time of year again. We're looking for small local businesses to sponsor our annual Thanksgiving Basket Brigade. We host it every year to support those less fortunate in our community. Sponsoring helps provide a Thanksgiving meal to families in need across Santa Barbara County, and that meal can make a real difference for a family that month. If your business would like to help, please reach out.

For black belt candidates, we're holding a Black Belt Candidate Meeting right after candidate class. We'll go over the requirements for students preparing to test. Before you test for black belt, you must attend a candidate meeting and have watched a black belt test. Please bring your printed candidate package.

Our next black belt test is coming this fall, and there will be no regular martial arts classes that day. We'll share the adjusted schedule as the date gets closer. If you've never watched a black belt test, this is a great one to come see, whether you're a candidate or just starting out.

Thank you for helping make our dojo a clean, healthy and welcoming place to train. See you on the mat!

Have questions or want to learn more? Contact us using the form below, and we'll be glad to help.