The Crabapple Martial Arts Academy Character Development Program

Welcome to Crabapple Martial Arts Academy. As you are well aware, most students enrolled at Crabapple Martial Arts Academy for more than just its world-class martial arts and self-defense. In particular, they join for our well-known Character Development program. When Renshi Matt White opened Crabapple Martial Arts Academy in 2013, his mission was to proactively shape the community and influence the lives of children and adults. As a matter of fact, the Crabapple Martial Arts Academy’s mission is:

Crabapple Martial Arts Academy inspires each and every person to reach their highest potential in all aspects of their lives. Through WORLD-CLASS character development, leadership training, martial arts education, and an environment where every student feels supported and loved our students cultivate their personal success in every area of their life.

In striving to fulfil our mission, Crabapple Martial Arts Academy has developed an amazing Character Development Program. We incorporated this Character Development Program into the very culture of our academy community. As a matter of practice, to advance in rank children must complete work in this program.

Students Homework 

Below you will find our Character Development Worksheet along with a brief description of each.

Weekly Job List
(Click to Download)
Complete all your chores for an entire week in order to earn a Stripe. One sheet equals one Red Stripe.

Book Club Card
(Click to Download)
Each time you read at home, write down what you read and the length of time. Once you have read five times for AT LEAST 15 minutes, turn in your sheet to receive a Stripe. One completed sheet equals three Red Stripes. 

Healthy Eating
(Click to Download)
Each time you choose healthy food over sugary snacks without being asked, write down what you chose to eat instead. Once you have made ten healthy choices, turn in your sheet to receive a Stripe. One completed sheet equals three Red Stripes.

Self-Discipline Sheet
(Click to Download)
Each time you help out at home without being asked, write down how you helped out. Once you have helped at home ten times, turn in your sheet to receive a Stripe. One completed sheet equals three Blue Stripes

Karate Homework
(Click to Download)
Each time you practice at home, write down what you practiced and the length of time. Once you have practiced five times for AT LEAST 15 minutes, turn in your sheet to receive a Stripe. One completed sheet equals three Blue Stripes. 

Red Vs. Blue Stripes

As you might have noticed in the descriptions of the stripes, we have two different types, red and blue. These help us make sure the students are well-rounded in their focus at home. 

The Blue stripes are geared towards self-discipline. These sheets are the Karate Homework and Self-Discipline. In order to earn these, the student must display, you guessed it, Self-Discipline. The Karate Homework focuses on physical discipline, keeping yourself active, and working on training. The Self-Discipline sheets are for mental discipline. Keeping on top of things without relying on others to tell you what to do and when to do it. All of these things start small, something like brushing your teeth can count as self-discipline for the kids. 

The Red Stripes are Attitude Stripes. These are a little bit more varied in content and help keep our kids well-rounded and healthy! Included in this are the Healthy Eating, Book Club Card, and Weekly Job List. These encourage our students to keep their minds active and exploring by reading, keep their bodies fueled and healthy, and keep their environment clean. 

Program Requirements

Our students are required to earn a minimum number of stripes (depending on the class attended) to advance in rank. 

• A Basic Student must have earned the minimum stripe requirement of 6 Red Attitude Stripes and 3 Blue Self Discipline Stripes.
• An Intermediate Student must have earned the minimum stripe requirement of 8 Red Attitude Stripes and 4 Blue Self Discipline Stripes.
• An Advanced Student must have earned the minimum stripe requirement of 10 Red Attitude Stripes and 6 Blue Self Discipline Stripes.

For those students who go ABOVE and BEYOND the minimum Stripe requirement, they could earn a Trophy or Medal! Students with the highest Stripe count in each class will earn our Character MVP Award. Second place earns our Self-Discipline Trophy, and third place earns our Character Development Medal. We will also award our Grand Champion Trophy to the student who earns the MOST Stripes in the entire school! 

Why? 

So why do we have our students work on these things? We are, after all, a Martial Arts Academy. What does any of this have to do with martial arts? 

In order to achieve belts, and a black belt in particular, students MUST display good character. Martial Arts is not just punching and kicking. It is about knowing when to fight and how to avoid it if possible. This means that our students have to learn to be better people. They need to have the self-discipline to take care of their own bodies and control their actions. They need to expand their minds to be empathic people. 

We believe that Martial Arts can help kids become better and more capable adults later in life. As our mission says: “Crabapple Martial Arts Academy inspires each and every person to reach their highest potential in all aspects of their lives.” To reach their best potential, a person needs self-discipline. This is a crucial part of learning martial arts, something we talk about more in our post, The Power of Discipline. 

As we teach all our students here, anyone can buy a black belt on Amazon. Earning and Being a Black Belt at Crabapple Martial Arts is not as easy. We require our students to push themselves and constantly strive to be better. 

“…They are not a black belt mill. You really have to put in the work at this school and its shows…” – Larry Thompson, student review

We help our students work on the traits they need most to achieve their goals, of becoming a Black Belt, but also their life goals. Working on those traits early in life helps develop them, helps them become a part of them. 

Crabapplemartialarts.com and Crabapple Martial Arts Academy has been selected the nation’s #1 martial arts schools for SIX YEARS IN A ROW by the American Budokai International!

Founded in 2013 by Mr. C. Matthew White is a 5th-degree Black Belt in Karate and 6th-degree Black Belt in Jiu Jitsu, and Master Instructor. Crabapple Martial Arts Academy has Karate lessons for pre-school children to elementary kids ages 4 and up. These classes are designed to develop the critical building blocks kids need – specialized for each age group – for school excellence and later success in life.

Crabapple Martial Arts Adult Karate training is a complete adult fitness and conditioning program. This is for adults who want to lose weight, get (and stay) in shape, or learn self-defense in a supportive environment.

Instructors can answer questions or be contacted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at of****@******************ts.com or call directly at 770-645-0930. You can also visit our website at CrabappleMartialArts.com.

About C. Matthew White, Shihan:  Matt is a fifth-degree black belt in a traditional Japanese and Okinawan Martial Arts – Shuri Ryu Karatedo. He is also a sixth-degree black belt in Japanese Jiu Jitsu – Shintoyoshin Kai Jiu Jitsu. He is a master instructor with the title of Shihan, which means teacher of teachers in Japanese. Matt has a bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Physiology. He has been training and teaching martial arts for over 27 years. He has owned Crabapple Martial Arts Academy since 2013. Shihan White is a motivational speaker and educator, who teaches seminars in bullying, business, and martial arts training.

Crabapple Martial Arts Academy Headquarters is in Alpharetta, Georgia at 12315 Crabapple Road., Suite 124, Alpharetta GA 30004. You can locate the Chief Instructor, Sensei Robert Reed there or directly at (770) 645-0930.