Character development programs are a very important part of a complete martial arts education for children. There are several character development programs on the market today; in fact, some can be very expensive. When we're looking at a character development program it is important to begin with the end in mind. There are really two factors in a great character development program.

Number one is the impact that the programs can have on the student. As martial arts instructors, we want the children to take away more than fitness and self-defense skills from our schools. We want to be great role models and we want to provide life lessons that can help students for the rest of their lives. That being said, it seems that the majority of the character development programs these days are little more than a lecture session. When kids are in the training mode and working hard, I don't believe that's a good time to stop the class, set the kids down and begin a lecture on a certain life skill. Kids don't enjoy that and the simple fact is, it doesn't work. It's easy to prove that it doesn't work because if you stop your kids at the local grocery store and ask them to explain any of the life skills they have been taught, and to explain them in a clear and concise manner, chances are you're going receive a blank stare from the child. If you ask one of your students, "please tell me about respect," what would their clear and concise answer be? The purpose of the MASOU character development program is to put our children in a position where they can give concise answers that will show complete understanding of all of the life skills we teach in our schools.

The second factor is the parents understanding of the life skills program. We can hand out flyers, set the kids down and lecture them, and put banners up on the wall, but the sad fact is, if we ask a child to explain self-discipline they cannot do it in a clear and concise manner. We all know the value that parents receive from their children learning proper life skills. The challenge becomes having the children being able to demonstrate and utilize those life skills outside of the school. By utilizing MASOU's Character Traits in Motion, your students will be able to demonstrate a complete understanding of the life skills taught at your school, and will be able to explain those in a clear and concise manner. This is what MASOU calls "carrying your life skills outside of the gym." We want our students to be able to utilize and explain their life skills program anywhere, anytime. The MASOU character development program is the easiest, most effective life skills program in the industry. You will be amazed at how well this program works and the ease in which you can mainstream it into your system.