The Sidekicks Taekwondo program is much more than your average martial arts kicking and punching program. Although the students at Sidekicks are very excited to learn how to kick, punch, jump, and break stuff, it seems that the parents enroll their children into the Sidekicks program for a much different reason. The parents want them to learn Courtesy, Integrity, Self-control, Perseverance, and the Indomitable Spirit (i.e. Turning fear into courage), these are the 5 tenets of Taekwondo. I would say this is a great "win-win" situation.

It is widely misunderstood that martial arts teach children how to be violent. This is just plain inaccurate information stemming from ignorance. In fact Sidekicks is the very opposite, Taekwondo teaches the children when not to use their Taekwondo.

However, there is another side to this coin. Although you will most likely hear teachers and parents saying things like "Never use your Taekwondo at school", or "Do not use your Taekwondo on your brother or your sister", the other side to this coin can be potentially devastating. If a student does not use their self-defense training when they needed to, they could get seriously hurt, or worse.

By utilizing the Sidekicks 4 stages of awareness program, the student will realize when they are; in a state of unawareness, when they are fully aware and alert, when they need to take action, and when they need fight for their life. The four stages of awareness gives the students four options. Three options to make a quick and decisive decision not to fight, and the fourth option gives the student permission to defend themselves.

As well as Martial art specific goals there are Character goals, and Real life goals like:

• Learning discipline
• Setting and obtaining goals
• Respecting your elders and authority
• Family participation
• A sense of belonging
• Learning to contribute, and more