From the first day I was amazed at not only at the owners' and teachers' level of professionalism shown, but also at the warmth and genuine concern for each of their students that they show every day. This is such a special place! Of course it is a business designed to make money, but money never comes before the genuine concern and help they show each of their students.
Sensei Mike Millard, Sensei Charlie, Sensei Floyd, Sensei Shvonne, as well as the other instructors, by far, are superb, highly-skilled, humble, genuine and hard-working! The level of unique, hand tailored care that they show for each and every student is unfounded, and translates into a special experience day after day, year after year. They have such a special way of working just as hard, if not harder than their students to teach not only the traditional arts, but to translate that into practical techniques applicable to each student, as well as even helping their students develop in personal ways, through martial arts. They each care for every single students like family, continually, without exception!
This special feeling of family translates to a very, very special and unique place to train. The students are all like one big family, who care about one another and understand that we all can learn from one another, and are at different levels of learning in martial arts and in life, which is yet one of the many principles instilled in students here each day.
Moreover, their dedication to teach children with care, precision, discipline, and a yet an age appropriate child-like fun, is like I've seen very few other places working with kids. There are many children but also a very wide variety of older people who train here ranging from young adults to late adulthood, which adds to the diversity and fun! I'm in my thirties and enjoy learning from older students as well as even from the very young ones at times. In addition, the staff at Z Ultimate Walnut are especially protective of their students and work in a very professional manner to make sure that the dojo is a safe place for all people to come and feel comfortable learning. Along those lines, they offer an anti-bullying program for children as well that has helped many of the children in our community not only in self defense but especially in self confidence.
I am a college student on a fixed income, and making dues payments at times has been difficult, but I have NEVER been given a hard time about money, nor has my training ever been about the money. Sensei Charlie and Sensei Mike have worked with me time and time again, to prove that this really about the love of they have for the martial arts and the care for one another, making money at something they love seems to be the by-product. It is a continually positive and fun environment.
The best part is that I have a ton of fun EVERY SINGLE DAY that I train, and always feel welcome and at home here. It has become a home away from home, and because of the dedication, hard work and training of my teachers I have not only successfully lost nearly fifty pounds in the last year and a half, but continue to lose weight, grow healthier, and continue to grow personally through God's help and the teaching of my Senseis, who help me to learn to apply the principles of martial arts to my own life. I hope to continue to learn martial arts for the rest of my life, and can't imagine training any where else.
This is truly a special place! If you chose to train here you'll make many new friends, including myself. If you're willing to simply try, you'll have CRAZY FUN and learn great things along the way. At least that's been my experience for the last couple years.
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