Poway Samurai Martial Arts

Poway Samurai Martial Arts has teamed up with KOHunger.com, a national coalition of martial arts schools who are committed to help end hunger in their own communities. Local area residents of Poway are being encouraged to make donations with an offer of one free week of martial arts classes for any local area resident who donates dry or canned goods at the dojo during the food drive. I am a firm believer in the “traditional” martial arts skills and philosophy we teach and how these build character and help our community. Being of service to others is a key part of our training program and this is one way to put that into practice. When we learned about what KOHunger was doing, we knew it was a good fit with our philosophy and a good cause, so, we decided to help. Plus, with the economy the way it is right now, we’re more than happy to lend a hand to those in need this holiday season. Teaching kids to help others is what it’s all about. If we can start now, getting our students involved in their communities and thinking about others, imagine what they’ll be doing in 10 or 20 years. We actually require some level of community service before a student can reach junior black belt, black belt or instructor rank at our school. We encourage our students to be involved in volunteering in the local community, as well as supporting local charities they are interested in. That’s how important I believe it is for people to give back. We realize that by setting a precedent for that type of positive behavior, we’re instilling values that these kids will carry on into their adult lives. But, it has to start with us, the adult role-models they look up to. The offer of one free week of martial arts classes is available until Dec. 19, as our students make the final push in their efforts to collect food. All proceeds will be donated to the San Diego food bank (sandiegofoodbank.org). All local residents of San Diego and Poway are invited to participate. Those who make donations can redeem their free week of classes for any program, any time before January 30th, 2009. Residents can train in unarmed and sword martial arts as well as Qi Gong classes for health and wellness. Poway Samurai Martial Arts trains in the classical unarmed and weapons training of the samurai, which includes the traditional virtues that can help strengthen all areas of a person’s life and the philosophies of service to others. For more information or to make a donation of dry and canned food items, you can call #858-486-0059 or stop by Poway Samurai Martial Arts at 13378 Poway Road (At Community Road in the Poway Valley Center) anytime between the hours of 4pm – 9pm Monday through Thursday.
— December 16, 2008 2:30 p.m.