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The amount of confidence that my son has gained in just a year of training with the staff and students at SAMA is very heartwarming as a parent to see. Each member of the SAMA staff takes time with their students to make sure they understand how to complete moves safetly and effectively.
My son loves SAMA! If he could go every day, he would. He has learned so much and has a ton of fun. He loves all of his instructors as well. I would highly suggest that anyone who has even the slightest interest in martial arts, check them out.
Love the people and my son loves going to the classes! They are nice and so patient with him!
The energy that the staff/instructors bring is infectious and makes you want to be there and learn more. They not only respect the art, but each other and the students and that is top notch. The best part is they make it FUN!!
All of the instructors at SAMA are wonderful. They care about all of the kids and want them to succeed and grow. I love SAMA!
Our son absolutely loves his classes and everyone associated with SAMA! Well done!!
The folks at SAMA do a great job working with all their students. They are very respectful and fair. Mr Brett has a good method of getting the younger students excited about their programs. The whole staff is fully vested in the SAMA and it shows.
KALI is so much fun at SAMA. Who knew learning to protect yourself and your family would be so much fun.
Both of my boys look forward to their classes. Great communication. Very obvious the owners and the staff love what they do and the kids are learning, improving, and having fun!!!
We have been to three training sessions and my daughter is loving it! They teach core values on how to build good character, plus self defense if needed. Enjoying ourselves here.
Not a better place to train on earth than here!
Awesome class and awesome instructors.
I am very excited for my grand daughter Isabella. We had trouble finding her something to interest her in. She is most certainly one of a kind. So I enrolled her at the Sturgis Academy of Martial Arts. I can not believe the change is Isabella. Since she has been enrolled in classes, Isabella has found her special place. Her self control, confidience, focus and most of all her grades have improved. Isabella loves going to class and she knows it is a kind, non judging and safe place to be. She has learned that she is a Southpaw. Southpaw means she is left handed. I would recommend this class to any one that has experienced trouble with focusing, balance, self defense, and self worth , confidience . Isabella also loves the knowledge of learning the history and languages of the art, but most of all she loves the friendly family she is associated with. Thank you Mr. And Mrs. Hamlin and Sylvester and all the Martial Art instructors for making this a positive place for our Southpaw to enjoy learning and having fun. Looking forward to a good year. Southpaw we are proud of you.
Joining the SAMA family was the best decision we have made for our son Mackinnley! He has grown so much mentally and physically since we joined summer 2019. The Hamlin’s are excellent teachers and have been helping Mack deal with his anxiety! I highly recommend joining the SAMA family!!!!
Sturgis Academy of Martial Arts is a top notch school! I have seen so many students (young and old alike) achieve not only valuable self defense skills but more importantly their gains in self confidence levels are remarkable. The owners/instructors are extremely knowledgeable and their passion for this school truly shines. I see great things in this school’s future. Highly recommend! Give it a try!
The Hamlins masterfully strike a balance between conveying the serious nature of the training while also keeping it light and fun for the student. My son has been training here since he was 5, now 9, and has made great strides of improvement in discipline and self confidence. The instructors are top notch and they integrate personal growth with the physical training. They teach tenets such as Self-Control, Integrity, Perseverance, Indomitable Spirit, Courtesy, Decision Making, Accountability, and on , and on. The owners are pillars of the community themselves; with Mrs. Hamlin working with the museum and Mr. Hamlin being on the board at the chamber of commerce. Whether you want to learn self defense to protect yourself and your family, get your child involved in an activity that benefits mind body and spirit, you want to get into a competitive sport or you just want a great workout; Sturgis Academy of Martial Arts is a great Decision and starting point. You make the commitment to yourself/ your child and they will commit to showing you the path to your goals.
Our four year old twins have been going to SAMA since July of this year. At the beginning of their first class, our daughter didn't want to participate; she was overwhelmed by the new experience. Mr. Hamlin sat with her the whole time, gently encouraging her to participate as she felt comfortable, and by her second class she was fully engaged. Our son was the opposite- a little too enthusiastic! Mrs. Hamlin has helped him learn how to control his energy and use his enthusiasm to help him listen and do his best. Both Mrs. and Mr. Hamlin differentiate lessons to meet the needs of the all their students, and provide excellent encouragement and support as they learn and master skills. The other instructors are also wonderful! Both my kids love that there's a mix of male and female instructors, and we love that all the instructors are positive role models. We've left every class knowing our children are having the best experience possible. My husband and I feel like SAMA is a community treasure. We highly recommend SAMA!
I don't even know where to begin on how wonderful this place is! My boys have really grown into empathetic, respectful young men with help from wonderful instructors. It is very much a welcoming atmosphere, if you have any questions or concerns there is always a listening ear and a solution. Thank you guys so much for everything!
I have only good things to say about SAMA. They have trained my little boys for the past 3+ years and they do so with patience and positive reinforcement. They expect their students to learn and be leaders they teach them the skills they need to do so. I would definitely recommend SAMA to anyone in the area!
My son started as a Young Dragon and has grown so much with their help, he just started training in Tae Kwon Do Junior classes and loves every bit of it. It has really helped him focus more in his school and has helped him in so many ways. I myself am a Hapkido student here and love every class. It’s tough but honestly nothing good in life is easy. All the instructors are awesome whether your a little kid or a teenager or even an adult they make learning fun. This is their passion and it truly shows. I’m hoping all my kids will eventually join me in Hapkido when they get older or at least keep with Tae Kwon Do. I would recommend SAMA to anyone. To top it off they have fun events like Parent’s Night Out where you can drop the kids off for a couple hours and maybe have a quick date night. I can’t say enough good things about them.
The staff at Sturgis Academy of Martial Arts are dedicated to the success of their students. They instill discipline, confidence and integrity in each individual that steps onto the mat.
The Hamlin’s have taken this martial arts studio above and beyond expectations in a few short years since taking over as co-owners. Their passion for teaching and sharing their knowledge of Taekwondo and Hapkido is contagious. You will become family when you start your journey at the Sturgis Academy of Martial Arts!
Wonderful place for my son to not only learn martial arts, but self control, focus, and more. Instructors are patient with the kids and can match their energy. They always have fun ideas every class as well as all of the extra things they do.
This is the best martial arts place around, filled with AMAZING instructor's. They bring in high energy, focus, motivation, confidence, knowledge and so much more! My daughter has gained so much from being here in just a year. The nicest people you will meet! YOU GUYS ROCK!!
Enthusiastic, friendly, phenomenal instructors! They not only teach Martial Arts, they teach character, and help all their students see the value in setting goals and working towards them. They also give back to the Sturgis Community, sharing their gift of teaching with local elementary schools! Awesome people, who are committed to making the world a better place, one student at a time! ❤❤❤
Sturgis Academy of Martial Arts is a fun place to meet new people and learn how to protect yourself (self defense) from bullies. The instructors are awesome, kind, fun to be around and care about their students.
The instructors at SAMA love kids and are such a kid focused company! I am so thankful they are in our community! They do so many great things outside of the SAMA studio as well, I’ve seen them volunteering at the local schools and at many community activities!
Katie Hamlin and the team at SAMA are so great with the kids. They are great people, so uplifting to be around so positive .... I would definitely recommend SAMA to anyone I know. My son has grown so much with confidence and balance in the last 6 months. If you're even thinking about it, please check them out.
Such an amazing place with an always happy atmosphere! The instructors are always so willing to help. We have experienced nothing but kindness while sending our son here. He has learned so much its incredible the difference I can see in just over a year of them working with him. We definitely will continue sending him here! I think the best thing about SAMA is that the owners dont just do this for a job, it's their way of life. They truly believe in what they are teaching and it really shows!!
This place is awesome! My son loves it here and so do we. It’s a great learning environment, I wish every child had an opportunity to train here. They encourage perseverance and help kids get past the fear of failure.
Super positive environment for learning and training. All of the instructors are awesome and take time with every student inside and outside of class👍Overall awesome place to train!
We simply wanted our son to have an experience with something new and different when we signed him up for classes, and instead, we witnessed something amazing and astonishing emerge from within him that we never before fathomed. Watching him go from timid to intense was a legitimate inspiration to us as parents. This was a direct result from the Hamlin’s outstanding teaching, genuine encouragement, and tangible dedication to their art.
Amazing place. Very knowledgeable with what they teach.
This place is totally amazing! They not only teach martial arts, but also incorporate courtesy, integrity, self control and many other life skills that are so valuable in every day life. They are very family oriented, always something fun going on to engage everyone. Extremely knowledgeable instructors who are constantly learning new techniques to bring to their students. In case you could not tell...WE LOVE Sturgis Academy of Martial Arts!!!
This is a great place to learn not only self-defense, but things like self-control, confidence, and courtesy for every day life. The instructors are awesome and actually help you learn the techniques the proper way, as well as the effectiveness of each move and break down how they work. They care about every student and each class offers a fun time, great friends, and a good challenge for body and mind.
The instructors care about getting to know each student and helping them reach their personal goals no matter what their ability level. Very nice gym and equipment. I highly recommend SAMA to anyone interested in martial arts training!
We love going to SAMA! It has been fun and challenging for my boys! The instructors are knowledgeable and personal and have created an excellent training environment. I highly recommend this gym!
Such an awesome atmosphere! Bret, Katie and other instructors do such a good job training. Hands down the best gym around
The Sturgis Academy of Marital Arts family have been wonderful with my daughter she learning so much confidence in herself and respect. I love to watch her on the mat and see her light up when she does something she didn’t believe she could do!! I would recommend this family to anyone.
Bret and Katie are amazing at what they do! They make the experience enjoyable and are very knowledgeable in the training that they give.
Absolutely wonderful with kids and adults I have my wife and my kids all train here and just love it.
This is a great place for kids to help them get focused and work on techniques. All the instructors are knowledgeable and work extremely well with kids, especially the younger ones. They have updated the facility very nicely and it’s very clean. Absolutely would recommend checking them out.
“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” Dr. Seuss “Mommy, look my muscles?!” I remember it like it was yesterday when my youngest son who was three years old at the time came running into the kitchen to show me his BIG arm […]
In a world that highly values the traits of extroverted individuals, shy children are often assumed to have something wrong that needs to be fixed. However, shyness is simply a personality trait that is part of their temperament. Children are born with unique personalities, although the environment can play a significant role in how these […]
There’s no doubt that children’s social skills have become rusty over the past year and not progressed as they should have. With more limited interactions than usual, children have experienced adverse effects on their social development. And while many children have had the opportunity to engage in some school setting and/or activity, there were still […]
Over the past year, children have faced many disturbances in their daily lives and interactions. These things have contributed to a lot of emotional imbalance and brought on or exacerbated feelings of sadness, fear, and anxiety. Since children are still developing abilities to regulate their strong and ever-changing emotions, they need assistance in strengthening these […]
Summer break is typically viewed as a time for relaxation, fun, and no schedules. However, considering the dramatic change in our lives over the past year and seeing communities begin opening back up in a full capacity now, this summer would be the perfect time to get children back on track. As unfortunate as it […]
For the past year, children have mostly been stuck inside, in front of a computer for school, and on a device during free time. And as much as parents have tried to keep their children active, it’s been a struggle with the limitations of many activities. But now, as communities begin opening back up in […]
Productivity is one of the most highly regarded traits in the work world today. And to be productive, multitasking is the go-to method. The ability to switch between multiple tasks rapidly is seen as a special skill, but it stifles productivity and increases the likelihood of making mistakes. But with the growing flood of information […]
In the words of Whitney Houston, “I believe that children are our future…show them all the beauty they possess inside.” All too often, the magnificence of individuality is overshadowed by a need to meet the status quo. When a child exhibits behavior that is “problematic” or “difficult,” adults often assume the child is defiant. However, […]
Every kid needs exercise and time to play, but kids who learn and think differently can have a hard time finding sports that fits them well. Unlike most sports, Martial Arts is focused around an individual’s personal growth, rather than comparison to others. This makes Martial Arts a great outlet for children in general. Particularly […]
Martial Arts and Children’s Behavior Activities like Martial Arts are a fun way for both boys and girls to achieve fitness and focus. Some parents may think they also promote violence, but that’s a myth, according to experts. The martial arts actually help teach a variety of skills like self-discipline, socialization, self-respect, self-control, self-defense, self […]
Parenting can be one of the most rewarding responsibilities we ever take on. With that, however, comes the ups and downs of getting children to comply with what we say while being pulled in a thousand different directions. It’s no wonder why parents often resort to yelling when begging and threats are no longer effective. […]
In recent years, parenting has undergone a shift and has become hyper-focused on the child. And while care, attention, and love are necessary for forming healthy attachments and helping children reach developmental milestones, an over-protective or coddling type approach can also hinder them. Rest assured, this parenting tactic comes from a place of love but […]
Getting children to behave how we want them to can be tricky. Even with the best intentions, parents often fall short regarding enforcing positive behaviors in their children while also extinguishing negative ones. Understanding reinforcement schedules and strategies for implementing them can be beneficial to parents and create positive behavior outcomes and improve the parent-child […]
All parents want their children to exhibit positive behaviors that will help them transition smoothly through the different stages of their development. And while parents have the best intentions, they often don’t use the most effective discipline strategies to achieve that goal. And granted, parents do their best to implement the knowledge and experiences that […]
On any given day, we may experience moments of high emotion in reaction to an event, or we find ourselves trying to control everyone and everything around us. Either way, our mental well-being is in danger, especially if we find ourselves stuck in either scenario for long. It can be difficult for children to get […]
Children today are presented with varying types of stressors in almost every aspect of their lives. The infamous “bar” has been set so high that in order to achieve it, children are asked to forgo “fun” and work towards superiority in everything they do. And while goal setting is an essential skill for future success, […]
Nowadays it seems that children are only interested in their video games, smart phones, and social media platforms. Parents are frustrated with their children’s lack of motivation for and attention to other activities that they are at a loss as to what to do. Therefore, parents often respond by taking devices away and punishing their […]
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it has taught us to slow down and appreciate the moments we have with our loved ones. On the flip side, it has also caused some additional stressors for parents as they have had to play the role of teacher while also fulfilling their work demands. And as […]
Children of all ages are spending more and more time on devices. Online schoolwork and staying connected to family members are positive ways children can use technology. And while video games and social media apps are ways for children to connect and “play” with friends, these platforms are also a breeding ground for inappropriate content […]
As digital learning has become a widely preferred alternative for school, children everywhere are now “required” to be on devices in the wake of the pandemic. This is quite a change from the screen time limits that parents have attempted to enforce for years. Now, allotting time for school online, connecting with distant relatives via […]
Throughout the past five months, schedules have been upended and downtime has taken over. However, as the new school year gets underway, reality is going to show up and we are going to be scrambling to get ourselves and our children back on a productive path. In the book “The 7 Habits of Happy Kids” […]
Over the past few months, interactions have been minimal, and our social skills are rusty. Since prolonged school closures have a negative impact on children’s social development, we are now faced with how to regain skills while moving forward with new skills. Though some children will return to a brick-and-mortar school, others will virtually engage […]
As back to school plans continue to change almost daily, children’s emotions will remain unpredictable. One day they are thinking about returning to their friends and teachers at school, and the next, they are told they won’t be returning for another few months. Because of this, our children’s emotional needs have never been greater. And […]
Over the past few months, we have been inundated with information that seems to change almost daily, making it hard to resolve what should and should not be done. Everyone has their thoughts and feelings about varying current debates, especially regarding starting school. And while there will be no answer that satisfies everyone in the […]
We are currently faced with all sorts of unknowns most, of which, are completely out of our control. And while we cannot dictate how others choose to move forward, what we can do, as parents, is prepare our own families for what may lie ahead. Currently, one of the most pressing matters is preparing children […]
Preparing Children to Return to School A Developmental Approach As we continue through the current pandemic and re-opening efforts show real challenges, school districts everywhere are trying to devise the best plans for children, teachers, and staff to return. And while there will be no perfect solution for each family, parents must consider all the […]
Accepting Responsibility Teaching Children to Avoid Blame Shifting It is becoming more and more apparent that no one is to blame for everything that happens. So, if this is the case, how do we get ourselves in such turmoil if no one is responsible? Although this seems ridiculous, the use of “blame-shifting” has become the […]
As the world continues its reopening efforts, more and more parents are headed back to work. And while this is a positive sign, it leaves parents with the task of finding their children a fun, yet safe, program to spend each day at. Since summer camps are unable to provide some of the usual daily […]
Parents have always served as the first, and typically, the most important role model for their children, even though family members, teachers, and coaches have a significant impact on a child’s development as well. However, in the wake of the pandemic, these people have had less of a presence in children’s lives which ultimately left […]
As we continue to navigate the uncharted waters of the current pandemic, many are looking to the future and what it holds. And while it’s hard to predict how long our current daily life modifications will last, what we do know is that the experience of this trauma will have personal changes that could last […]
Remember when you wished the weekend would last forever? As weeks of the “shelter in place” order have passed, the eagerness for some “time off” has lost its spark. Children’s boredom is growing day by day and will continue, especially as many schools will be ending the school year earlier than normal. The rising monotony […]
** Updated Monday, April 27th, 2020 ** The health and safety of our members is of utmost importance to us and we would like to take the opportunity to let our members know how we are preparing for and handling the Novel Coronavirus/COVID-19 situation. We will use this page (as well as communicate via our […]
Grade school can be quite the experience for any child. It is a place where a child not only learns academically but one where a child must learn to socialize and function in the world. Unfortunately, there are a lot of negative experiences that a child may have when going through school. Whatever those experiences […]
It’s time to talk about the emotional benefits of studying martial arts. Let’s face it – kids have a hard time managing their emotions. You’d be hard-pressed to find a parent who hasn’t had to deal with their share of temper tantrums. It’s exhausting. Here’s the thing: it’s exhausting for kids, too. Toddlers have temper […]
adults, we think a lot about stress. Modern life is difficult. We worry about paying the bills, doing our jobs well – and we worry about our kids. That’s part of our jobs as parents, but we don’t want our kids to be affected by stress. It’s not good for them physically or emotionally. Still, […]
There are a lot of emotional benefits available to kids who study the martial arts. We’ve talked about some of them already, but today I’m going to talk about one that sometimes gets overlooked: Martial arts classes are a great place to make friends! Think about how most of us make friends. Friendships often start […]
It’s time to talk about the fifth and final core tenet of martial arts. In many ways, this tenet brings all the other tenets together – and it explains why kids who study martial arts have a light in their eyes that other kids don’t. We call it Indomitable Spirit. What does it mean to […]
We’ve been talking about the core tenets of martial arts instruction, and today’s tenet is one that a lot of kids need to learn. (See the blog post on perseverance here). I’m talking about self-control. Control is something that’s hard for kids. Their brains and bodies aren’t fully developed, and from the time they’re babies, […]
You know how that saying goes, right? Try, try again! And that brings us to our next core tenet of martial arts: perseverance. Perseverance is what keeps us going when it would be easier to give up. It’s what makes us get up when we fall down – and it often means the difference between […]
In one of our previous blog posts, we focused on why kids are targeted by bullies, and explained how studying martial arts can help make your child a less attractive target. Today, I want to look at bullying from the other side. Why do some kids bully their classmates? The truth is that bullies have […]
Bullying is in the news a lot these days. Hardly a day passes without there being a story about a child who was at the receiving end of bullying – and it can have terrible consequences. When we look at the problem of bullying, it’s important to do it from both sides. Why are some […]
Focus and memorization go hand in hand. In my last email, I talked about how studying martial arts helps kids focus and behave better in the classroom. Today, I want to tell you how it can improve your child’s memory, too. Memorization is a key skill for learning. Without the ability to memorize, your child […]
Both in school and in life, kids need to learn how to work well with others. While they’re young, they must collaborate with fellow students on group projects – and play with them at recess. And when they grow up, they’ll need to know how to work with colleagues and clients to build success. You […]
One of the things that I hear a lot from parents is that their kids are acting up in school. They have outbursts during class or simply don’t listen to their teachers. That affects their grades – and their parents’ peace of mind. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And you’ll be happy to […]
You know that studying martial arts classes provide an aerobic workout. What might surprise you is that it tones muscles, too. A lot of people associate muscle toning with lifting weights or – in the case of abdominal muscles – doing crunches. And sometimes they make the mistake of thinking that studying martial arts has […]
There’s no denying that childhood obesity has become a problem. Kids spend their time playing video games instead of running around outside – and the lack of activity has caused many kids to gain weight. And the thing is, obesity isn’t just a problem in terms of kids’ appearance. It can impact nearly every area […]
It’s time to talk about our second core tenet, and it’s an important one (We discussed the first one, courtesy, in a previous post). It can be hard to teach kids about the importance of honor. Every day, they see celebrities and other public figures behaving dishonorably – and if you want your child to […]
Martial arts instructors talk about core tenets – things that dictate our behavior inside and outside of class. These are things that we teach our students. Their value goes far beyond martial arts instruction. In other words, these are life skills. There are five core tenets that our students learn. In this blog post, I’ll […]
There are few things quite like working out with a partner or spouse – a loved one of any sort. No matter type of martial arts you both practice, there are some benefits to exercising together. From perfecting your form to keeping each other motivated, you’ll find them here Read on to find out more. […]
Katie Hamlin from Sturgis Academy of Martial Arts again. Martial Arts training for kids provides a wealth of physical benefits. I want to focus on one that might surprise you. Here it is: Studying martial arts makes kids less destructive because it helps them control their movements. Now, you might be thinking, how can learning […]
Any parent of young kids knows that their energy seems boundless. It can be a challenge to keep up! In fact, many parents end the day exhausted from running around after their kids. The exhaustion is real – and it can take over even when your kids are old enough to be in school most […]
Hey there! Building confidence in children is not an overnight process and can require lots of nurturing and encouragement from positive influences such as parents, family members, and teachers. Here are 4 quick tips to help boost your child’s confidence. Set Up Responsibilities at Home Provide your child with chores around the home. If your […]
Katie Hamlin from Sturgis Academy of Martial Arts here. I want to address one of the most common questions I get from parents about enrolling their kids in martial arts classes. They worry – and you may too – that putting their kids in a martial arts classroom will teach them that fighting is the […]