Yi Sport Tae Kwon Do has great coaches, students, and community. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted warmly and embraced into the community. Our son was given a great gift: the understanding that his Warrior nature was something to be treasured, honed, and disciplined rather than something to be buried. I've loved watching my son grow from a schoolyard brawler to a respectful, observant, caring, and disciplined sport fighter.
Located in the Central District, it's easy to get to, and the community is very diverse. The coaching is both exacting and encouraging. Kids as young as 3 can train here. Classes for children and adults are broken into age groups: 3-5, 5-8, 8-13, 14 and up. Adults and teens have beginning, advanced, and competition team classes. There is also a fantastic women's class weekday mornings. My son started when he was five, and just before he turned six, I started in the women's class, because I was so excited by the training my kid was getting.
All levels fight each other, so that higher belts help encourage and train lower belts, and lower belts learn to fight and think like higher belts quickly. Most of the kids train 3-5 times a week, so the kids get to know each other and their grownups do, too.
There is a study/ work/ conversation area for people who are waiting for their class to begin or for their kids to be finished, where kids and parents form community. Many kids come directly from school and do their homework before their class begins. There are also bleachers where people can observe classes in progress. Our family feel like Yi Sport has become our expanded family.
Yi Sport is not a black belt factory. Students work hard and long to earn their next belts, and it shows at tournaments. Even at lower belt levels, Yi Sport competitors consistently out-fight and out-smart their opponents. Whether you are looking for exercise, mental discipline, or sport fight training, Yi Sport is a great place to be.
more