Santa Barbara Dojo Celebrates Ten Years

This fall, we celebrated ten years in Santa Barbara. Back then we were known as Martial Arts Family Fitness, and over those years our students and families had become a true family. This year was a reminder of what that word means to us.

Here's how we celebrated, from State Street to the Carriage Museum.

Marching in the Fiesta Children's Parade

This summer, instead of Saturday classes, we marched in the Fiesta Children's Parade. Our Ninjas, Tigers and Youth students suited up in their uniform tops and white pants and marched down State Street, showing off their martial arts skills and bonding with their fellow students. Parents of our youngest students marched with us, too, wearing dojo shirts so they had a "uniform" of their own.

We also had a booth at El Mercado del Norte during Fiesta, where families and friends could stop by and say hello. Fiesta is one of Santa Barbara's great traditions, and being part of it is one of the ways we show our kids that martial arts is about belonging to a community, not just training in a room.

Why we celebrate milestones together

We believe milestones are meant to be shared. A belt promotion, a black belt test or an anniversary isn't only about the person or the school reaching it. It's about everyone who helped along the way.

So when we reached our anniversary, we invited everyone: present and past students, their guests and their kids. The goal, in our own words at the time, was "to eat, drink, dance, bounce and celebrate" our years in Santa Barbara together. The party was held at the Carriage Museum on Castillo Street.

Giving back on the same day

On the very same day as the party, our dojo family came together for the Thanksgiving Basket Brigade. In the morning, students and families made cards and assembled Thanksgiving dinner baskets for local families in need, then loaded them into trucks and SUVs to deliver them around town.

We love that our anniversary and our Basket Brigade landed on the same day. It says something about who we are. We celebrate what we've built, and we use it to serve the people around us.

Thank you for making us who we are

Our students and families have trusted us with their health, their confidence and, for many of them, their kids' growth. That trust is what made these years possible. Whether you've been training with us since the beginning or you just tied on your first white belt, thank you for being part of our story.

Here's to the next chapter, together.

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