Testimonials
Learning martial arts at Trautwein’s ATA Academy has enriched our three children’s lives tremendously. Our daughter, Marissa (12), and son, Gabe (10), began Trautwein’s Karate for Kids program as white belts 4 ½ years ago. Our daughter, Emilia (7), eagerly followed in the Tiny Tigers program when she was four. Today, Marissa and Gabe are training for their 2nd Degree Black Belts. Emilia just earned her Blue Belt and enjoys every moment of her journey toward earning her Black Belt.
The enrichment our children have received at Trautwein’s begins with the academy’s owners, Kelly and Rick Trautwein, who have committed themselves to providing a supportive and encouraging atmosphere, a challenging but fun experience, and an ample, highly qualified staff who are equally committed to the school’s students. The Trautweins take the time to gain an understanding of each child as an individual and to focus upon each child’s particular needs in a way that has made our children feel comfortable and encouraged. When our children exercise their best efforts, they receive praise that is so meaningful to them that it quickly becomes dinnertime discussion. Each of our three children have some of the same needs, but some different ones as well. The Trautweins have noticed, and they continue to notice and to focus their attention and efforts on our children’s changing needs.
The greatest gifts our children have gained at Trautwein’s ATA are a boost in self-confidence and self-esteem. These gains have increased as the level of difficulty increases, and as our children have proven to themselves that, with their perseverance and the academy’s support, they could rise to the new challenges they faced. When Marissa had two consecutive unsuccessful testings as a Red Belt Decided, Mrs. Trautwein provided Marissa with the additional help and encouragement she needed to believe in herself. When Marissa succeeded at the next testing, earning her new belt felt far more rewarding to her than it had at any other testing. When Marissa subsequently had another unsuccessful testing, she didn’t spend a moment doubting herself. She knew that she was capable.
When my husband, Henry, and I first brought our children to Trautwein’s, we had some concern that they wouldn’t learn how to work as a member of a team, since they wouldn’t be engaged in a “team sport.” What we’ve found time and again is that there is a great camaraderie among students and that students assist each other and work together in many ways. They help each other during warm-ups and in learning new forms and skills, they excitedly congratulate their peers when they advance in their training, and they have the sense of being a member of a team. Our children have gained a respect for and an understanding of the fact that each child advances in skills at their own pace. When a child has an unsuccessful testing, the other students rally around that child, providing support and offering their own experiences of how their persistence “paid off,” and creating that team feeling.
Changing America, One Black Belt at a Time!