Detroit Kudo, a Japanese Mixed Martial Arts dojo in Auburn Hills, MI, is starting The Samurai Project. This program is designed to bring up to 10 at-risk children to the dojo for continued martial arts training. Through this ongoing training and mentoring, these children will be exposed to alternatives to the drug, violence, and crime culture prevalent in many cities. Through participation in the martial arts, values such as competition, compassion, integrity, and responsibility are instilled.
Dan Kendall, head coach at Detroit Kudo, answered some questions regarding the program.
What area are these kids are coming from? Do you have a target age in mind?
These kids come from everywhere. The circumstances that cause a child to be at-risk for substance abuse, teen pregnancy, violence, etc. are not just confined to the inner city or within some obscure social under-class. Single parent homes, substance abuse in the home, joblessness and more are found in every community. Practically speaking, we accept kids from the Pontiac Michigan area because of their geographic proximity to our program.
We work closely with Oakland County Family Services and Pontiac Public Schools along with several agencies in South Eastern Michigan. We accept kids as young as 8 years old. Other than that, the only requirement is that they have transportation, are physically able to train and compete and they meet at least one of the following criteria:
- One or both parents unemployed
- Poor communication in the family
- Retained in school grade level one or more times
- Absence of role modeling
- Have experienced abuse or neglect - safety issues
- Live in low income homes
- Substance abuse in the family
- Mistrust/disrespect for authority
- Absence of one or both parents
- Live in court-placed homes
- Involved in juvenile court system
- Referred by recognized agency
What is the goal of The Samurai Project?
Our mission is simply this… The word samurai means, “to serve”. The Samurai Project exists to serve humanity by not allowing economic and social circumstances to dictate the degree of a young person’s potential. Through martial arts training, we will teach children and young adults to seek the perfection of their character and to forge a dauntless spirit. United in this common goal, we will fight for the young warrior’s right, not just to exist, but to become great beyond measure.
What martial arts will these children be exposed to? Describe these styles?
Samurai Kids are trained in the martial art Daido Juku and the soon to be Olympic Sport of Kudo. Kudo Diado Juku is practiced by over 150,000 people in over 50 countries around the world. Kudo originated in Japan, but is now an internationally influenced form of amateur mixed martial arts.
What are some of the advantages of The Samurai Project over other programs?
We don’t shove anything down their throats. They learn naturally that to be self disciplined will build character. Character is the mother of self esteem. Through self discipline, character and self esteem comes honor. They learn quickly that honor leads to success and recognition in anything they do!
Martial arts as a character development tool has been time tested over thousands of years. The relationship between the teacher, the senior student and the student is the oldest mentoring program in existence today.
Is there proof that martial arts instills these values in an ongoing way?
Don’t take my word for it… let listen to the experts!
An effective approach to violence prevention: traditional martial arts in middle school. -A study from the department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University
“juveniles at high risk for violence and delinquency showed decreased violence and positive changes in psychological risk factors after being required to take a school- linked course in martial arts”
Martial Arts Training: A Novel “Cure” for Juvenile Delinquency
“students showed decreased aggressiveness, lowered anxiety, increased self esteem, increased social adroitness, and an increase in value orthodoxy, as indicated in before-and-after scores on the Jackson Personality Inventory (JPI), in addition to normal MMPI scores at the completion of the study” and
“data suggests that training in traditional martial arts is effective in reducing juvenile delinquent tendencies”Traditional Karate and At-Risk Youth
“the Probation Officer indicated that Karate classes were the only consistent, positive thing in Jane’s life (age 14)” and “evidence shows that traditional martial arts can be used as an effective alternative to expensive programs that can include courts, lawyers, incarceration, and rehabilitation”
You’ve mentioned that you were affected by martial arts at an early age. What effects has martial study had on your life?
In many cases kids are left to raise themselves, and frankly they don’t do a very good job. Many of the kids in my neighborhood spent their time stealing cars, selling drugs and committing acts of violence. There are a whole host of reasons for this, but what made the difference in my life was boxing and martial arts! Granted, I wasn’t always an angel, that’s for sure, but I never crossed the line. In the beginning I simply didn’t have time to get in trouble and my instructors and coaches wouldn’t let me. In short order the will of my coaches and instructors transformed into a personal code that I carry with me until this very day.
How can the public help? Is there a way we can donate?
It cost $900 per year for a kid to be in the program, to train, compete and travel. We accept
donations and hold regular fundraising events. Like our upcoming Samurai Night at the Red Ox in Auburn Hills, February 23rd. More information at www.detroitkudo.com
http://www.facebook.com/detroitkudo
http://detroitkudo.com/
Dan Kendall is the Chief Instructor and Head Coach at Detroit Kudo: you can reach him at (586) 467-KUDO.
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