Programs
Youth Classes
Our youth programs are unique in that we prepare our youth students in many ways for life as they grow older. As for self-defense we teach them confidence and awareness of their surroundings, which are the two best ways to avoid conflict all together. This also has the built-in benefit of simply helping them in daily life with whatever tasks they take on whether it is chores, homework, bullies, etc. If for some reason your child is involved in a situation where they will be physically assaulted, we teach and empower them to simply walk away. When this option is not possible, we teach them to defend themselves. In our classes the students do not spend incredible amounts of time practicing solo movements, but rather they work with others on virtually every aspect of their training. This too has the benefit of helping your child develop communication and social skills in our incredibly safe environment.
Adult Classes
Why do our adults practice martial arts? It is a great workout, self-defense, self-confidence, a social group like no other anywhere, setting high goals and standards and reaching them, an appreciation for history, character building….we could go on. Our adult students come from a very wide range of demographics, and life experiences. Our adult classes have folks ranging from former special operations personnel to older teenagers still mooching off their parents. We all come together for something special we call martial arts training. Please feel free to come in and watch or participate in a free class to get an idea of what we can do for and with you.
Self-Defense
Not all martial arts are good for self-defense and not all classes listed as self-defense are sound martial arts. Our professional instructors have trained with great martial artists throughout the country, military personnel and law enforcement personnel. These experiences have led us to create one of the best self-defense and defensive tactics/combatives curriculums in the country. Check out our schedule of events calendar. We teach several self-defense classes geared for ladies only throughout the year and throughout our state. We also teach combatives at our facility throughout the year. Our training methods are also very portable. So if you or your business, your unit, or department are looking for solid skills do defend yourself, or take the fight to the enemy, we will be happy to come to you as well. Contact our staff for more information.
Uchi Deshi Intensive Study
Bluegrass Budokai offers a two year uchideshi training program. The Japanese word uchideshi translated means “inside student.” Uchideshi are required to live in the dojo and attend all classes, exposing the student to a wide variety of training partners and extensive practice in all areas of budo (martial ways) offered by Bluegrass Budokai. The program is split into two distinct developmental areas each consisting of one year. The two developmental areas are; year one - technical development, year two – professional development.
Character Education School Programs
Our program of character education in schools is wide ranging in its usefulness. We have contracted with over 20 counties in the state of KY. The specific program, Building Character Through Aikido©, is responsible for the vast majority of this success. This program developed in association with professional martial artists and psychologists utilized the unique methods of the martial art of Aikido to help youth in several areas of life. Facilitators who have asked us to teach remark that this program has improved communication skills, physical fitness, relaxed demeanor, increase in school work scores, lower levels of stress, ….the list goes on. We have worked in public schools, alternative schools, youth detention centers and half-way houses. This program is excellent for this environment. In June of 2011 we contracted with the Lexington Public Library and to begin years 3-5 of an extensive program aimed at giving alternatives to youth in gang ridden areas of Fayette County.
Sister School: Nature Reliance School
Nature Reliance School is not about martial arts at all. It does however have a high number of cross over students that train in martial arts; therefore we thought we would share it here with you as well. This organization teaches wilderness survival, land navigation, tracking, edible/medicinal plants and a host of other outdoor-related classes. Check them out at www.naturereliance.org.