To a loving Mom or Dad,

Hi. My name is Joseph Hurtsellers. I’m the head instructor and owner of Ohio Martial Arts Center. There are all kinds of reasons parents bring their children to me. Most of the time parents want their kids to have fun while learning something that is good for them.

But there are also more specific reasons parents bring their children in too…

TROUBLE FINDING SOMETHING THEY FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT

…Some kids feel lost.

They might play video games, or watch TV. But finding something they are really excited about seems impossible.

I should know; as a kid I struggled at finding my passion too! But when I was enrolled in martial arts it changed my life. I always had potential but I just hadn’t found the right thing. When your child finds the thing that they love it’s a game changer! Grades improve, children begin to make friends, self confidence soars.

NOT ACHIEVING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL IN SCHOOL

When I was a teenager I did poorly in school. But not long after I enrolled in martial arts everything changed. I started getting up earlier. I started doing my homework (without being told). Not only did martial arts teach me to focus; it did something even more important… 

… martial arts improved my self esteem!

When your child starts to feel good about themselves everything improves — including how they do in school.

THE “SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME IN FRONT OF THE SCREEN” PROBLEM

Do you ever worry that your child will turn into a “couch potato”? Do they spend enormous amounts of time playing video games; but rarely want to go outside or move?

Getting kids away from the screen is a huge problem. But our classes are designed to be engaging and fun. Youre child will like our class as much as they like video games! Our class involves them, gives them a sense of progress, and gives them a positive challenge that they can achieve.

You’re child who seems like a “couch potato” today; could be happier, healthier and more focused tomorrow. It’s what we do!

YOUR CHILD WANTS TO DO SOMETHING PHYSICAL - BUT THEY AREN’T THE “ORGANIZED SPORTS” TYPE

Does your child like to play; but they don’t like to participate in organized sports?

The problem with team sports is that all too often the kids who are already athletic get better; but the kids that aren’t as gifted get worse. Because a team sport depends on competition; these activities can really hurt the self esteem of some children.

The great thing about our classes is that children get to learn at their own pace. I’ve seen kids gain coordination, balance and skill, all because they were in an environment where those things were taught; and not just expected.

Who knows; maybe your child has the potential to be a good athlete? Maybe our school is just what your child needs to bring out their hidden potential.

ARE YOU SICK AND TIRED OF RUNNING YOUR KIDS AROUND? DO ACTIVITIES REQUIRE GIVING UP EVERY WEEKNIGHT AND EVEN WEEKENDS?

Kids sports usually require dozens of daily practices and numerous competitions. These events can even take up the entire weekend! Traveling to and from events doesn't only cost time; these events can end up costing a lot of money!

We give our families the gift of TIME (not to mention saving them money!) Our kids attend our classes two times a week.

Not only do we save both money and time; but kids LOVE our classes! They will have a blast; and leave every session with a smile on their face. You won't be begging them to get in the car; instead they will be reminding you of when it's martial arts day!

Best of all; in just two classes a week we produce benefits that far exceed organized sports! Kids learn leadership, character development, and discover their own self confidence. These are the very skills that are needed to succeed everywhere; but are seldom taught anywhere.

Save time AND give your son or daughter MORE. Make martial arts with us a part of your child’s education.

Are we right for you?

These are just a few of the many reasons parents bring their kids to us. I’m not sure of your reasons; but one thing I am sure of; our dojo can help your son or daughter.

We hear stories of our student’s successes day in and day out.

When we see a young persons life improve it reminds us of why we love what we do. It’s those hundreds of success stories, year after year, that have kept us on the mats for over 30 years.

Who knows; maybe your child will be our next success story?

If you think our dojo might be worth a try just click the black box below. I'll show you how to get your child started.

Thanks for your attention; I can't meet your family in person!

Joseph Hurtsellers - Sensei

How to choose a great martial arts school; and more importantly how to avoid the wrong one!

How does it work?

Kids need three things for success. Because our program is focused we can address these areas in EVERY class.

1st - kids need help with their coordination - no matter where they are now, we will help them perform better at any activity they decide to do.

2nd -  Kids need confidence - Your child will learn to communicate with body language that they are friendly and approachable BUT they are also the kind of person that will not be pushed around.

3rd - Kids need “lifestyle skills”. Kids need to know how to set goals, how to have listening and speaking skills, how to have etiquette - it’s these skills that just might be what kids need most! (Click the arrow in the black box above to hear a raw unedited audio recording from class).

Martial Arts changed my life as a youth - and it might help your child too!

"Kids don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." —

Over thirty years ago, I learned a lesson from the best teacher I've ever seen, I asked him: "What is it that makes your classroom so magical, how do you get such great results?"

"It's really simple." He said. "You've got to love them."

"The number one quality you must have in order to teach kids is this; you must really care. The best part of my day is when I step on the mats. And when a student finally gets something I'm teaching; well there is no greater reward than the look on their face. I think that it's the caring that's at the heart of the magic at our dojo." - Sensei Hurtsellers

Martial arts classes changed my life

I (Sensei Hurtsellers) base our instruction on my own experiences starting lessons in a real dojo over fourty years ago. This was before the era of the modern "commercial" schools. I was just about as un-athletic and uncoordinated as I could be. I had never played sports except for a few attempts that ended in embarrassment. I had enormous self-esteem issues, I didn't speak to many people and stayed to myself a lot. My grades in school were poor, and I had few friends. I guess it would be fair to say it - I was lost.

But joining a real dojo changed my life! I found in the Martial Arts a place where there was a high standard of courtesy, discipline, and respect. While everyone was friendly and helpful, it was made clear to me from day one that no one was going to do the work for me. If I wanted to be successful then there was a standard that I would have to meet, classes that I would have to make sacrifices to attend, and work that I would have to do - no exceptions! But one thing for sure; everyone was treated equally! I mean, if you were a superstar athlete, really popular, or even if your parents were rich, it didn't matter at all. There was a high standard that everyone had to meet equally to succeed, but the best part was if you were willing to do the work, anyone could succeed.

To me, being in a real dojo was a breath of fresh air: Here was a place where the standard was really challenging, yet everyone was treated the same! Unlike the sports in my Academic Schools, I realized that a dojo was a place anyone could succeed. Real martial arts was for everyone, not just the popular and talented, but anyone who wanted to succeed could if they were willing to work for it!

As a result of being in this environment, my life changed for the better. My confidence soared, I became strong, confident, and learned what it was like to really take care of myself. I will never forget what my Sensei (Martial Arts teacher) and my dojo did for me, and those lessons I use every day and will remember forever.

Most kids are not getting what the family was promised.

The biggest challenge I see in our education system is the tendency to just push everyone through. I see this happening now in dojo's all across America. But if everyone graduates... where is the value for the ones that do the work?

No child ever grew up to be a Scientist, Doctor, or a Teacher, because someone just pushed them through. But today in America many children are in fact being pushed through to Black Belt.

Most commercial schools today attach a rank (usually Black Belt) to a payment program. This is highly profitable because it insures a long term contract - but it also creates a built in incentive to lower the standards! Because of this practice, some commercial schools have so greatly accelerated and weakened the rank promotion process, that Kids are being promoted without developing the self-control and self discipline, the belt requires.

So Why do we teach the way we do today when it would be so much easier and profitable other ways? There are two reasons.

• First; we are able to! We've been so blessed with a strong enough separate adult following that we don't depend on our children's program to fund our school.

• Second, and most important of all, we are on a mission. Our goal is to see your child develop into the leader that Martial Arts can make them into.

Do the Martial Arts really teach self-confidence, concentration and self-discipline? Yes.......but you MUST have the RIGHT TEACHERS.

Who was the greatest teacher you ever had? Was it the subject that made the teacher great, or did a great teacher make the subject great? If you're like me, you realize that it was always the teacher-- a great teacher could have taught you anything and you would have loved it!

A Martial Art Lifestyle

Everyone says it; "Self-Discipline, Self-Control, Self-Confidence" and so on. But the question we have have is: "Exactly how are you going to give that to a child?"

In reality; we don't give any of these "self" words to our kids, we give them the opportunity to find these benefits for themselves. The only place that self-confidence can come from (even in a young person) is from the inside.

We provide incremental goals and opportunities for acceptance and achievement within a structured and disciplined environment. Every time your son or daughter works for and finds improvement, you will notice their confidence will increase. Pretty soon they begin to get the idea that they can do just about anything that they set their mind to! This is what real self-confidence is; your child's knowledge that they can and will succeed with effort. The best part is that when your child finds confidence for themselves, NO ONE CAN EVER TAKE IT AWAY!

Top reasons our school might be the right fit for you.

Teachers

Our staff is consistent. In fact you will see the same faces day in day out, year in year out! In addition to our professional staff our two owners (Sempai Blanco and Sensei Hurtsellers) we have been teaching Martial Arts for over forty years! In 2018 our Dojo celebrated it's 30th year of continuous full time operation!.

Not to mention the experience Shelly and I have both received from raising our own four children together. (Today 27, 29 30 and 32 years old.) You would be hard pressed to find anyone to work with your child that has more experience anywhere on the planet!

Our ownership and professional staff actively involved in every one of our classes. We care deeply about what is happening on our mats, our classes are only taught by people who have spent hundreds of hours training and learning directly with us. (Some are now adults who started training with us when they were children.)

Our classes are age specific.

What would happen if you put a five year old in a group of ten year olds? What if you asked a teenager to attend a class with six year olds? What about children attending a class with adults? Unfortunately, that is exactly what is going on in many of today's commercial schools. We uniquely divide classes based on the age of the students.

Sometimes parents ask if it's possible for them to attend classes with their children, so that the family can have something to do together. Our answer is absolutely yes; as a matter of fact we encourage it. But the difference is we only allow an adult to attend a younger class, but do not allow children to attend adult classes. In this way we can then teach to the level that is appropriate for everyone.

No games with pricing.

At our dojo our price is given directly over the phone and posted here on our website; there will be no surprises later.

It's very common for commercial sales oriented schools to quote you one price, and even sign your child up at this rate, only to turn around a few weeks or months later and try and "up sell" the program at a higher cost with a long term contract. Often a certain colored belt is wrapped into the reward for this "upgrade".

What saddens me most about these sales tactics is that they take away exactly what made Martial Arts so beneficial to me as a young person! The right to set and achieve a goals and reap rewards based on effort is exactly how a child learns self-confidence! Rank is not paid for with money; it's paid for with sweat and everyone should have the same chance to succeed. As a consequence of this way of doing business there is a built in incentive for the instructor to promote children based on how much their parents are paying instead of their true mastery of the material. When this happens both the child and parent are getting cheated out of the real benefit of study.

The price of a program should be known to you up front! 

I don't have an issue with what a school charges - believe me good Martial Arts is a priceless investment- what I do object to is starting you out at one rate and then ambushing you later on with another; and then using (whether purposefully or not) the amount you pay as the criteria for rank promotions! This tactic is literally killing Martial Arts in this country; it's devaluating rank, especially Black Belt, and it's stealing your child's chance at discovering how wonderful and life changing real Martial Arts actually can be.

No testing fees.

Rank and testing is a vital part of our program. Many commercial schools charge these fees (and often) do not divulge them when you sign up; instead you are surprised with them later. Rank and testing fees are included in your registration with us.

We have a complete schedule.

What if your child has a class scheduled, but another event pops up; do they miss out? — Our complete schedule always gives you a choice!

We offer a class most weekdays and Saturdays too. Since our students attend an average of two times a week and make-up classes are free your family will always have a choice.

Our complete schedule gives you the flexibility for your busy life.

(click here to see our schedule)

The length of each class is carefully designed to be age specific. Our warm up is short and to the point - and a child will be learning from start to finish with no standing around. Our class will be packed with activity, and packed with fun!

Our beautiful facility.

In Zen there is a saying; "How you do one thing is how you'll do everything." If you walk in our facility you will know in an instant we are serious about the work we do. You will notice a bright, clean, and well decorated space. We use the most expensive and safest mats in the world. We have spared nothing in order to create one of the most beautiful, professional  and organized dojos in America.

Why should you give us a try?

Is our dojo right for your child? I don't know; but the truth is neither do you. I remember when my son was younger, I kept thinking the same thing; all I wanted for him was to find something that he really liked, something he could really love.

I don't think you're any different than me. We just want to have our kids find a niche in something they can succeed in. Something they will really love and work hard to get good at. I don't know if our school is right for your son or daughter, but I do know it's absolutely important that you try.

The only promise that I can give you is the same promise I give everyone. We will do our best to share the Martial Arts with your child the best way we know how, the way we believe it was intended. There is a chance, and it's not a high one, but there is a chance that our school, our teaching, could absolutely make a huge difference in the life of your child. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.