Kicx Martial Arts

I’ve just been watching Katharine Birbalsingh, headmistress of Michaela Community School in Wembley, and I find what she and her team are doing fascinating.

Michaela is a non-selective state school, yet its academic results are extraordinary. In 2024 it recorded the highest Progress 8 score in England for the third year running, and more than 50% of its GCSE grades were Grade 9. (Michaela Education⁠)

Its sixth form results are pretty incredible too, with around 80% of students going on to Russell Group universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial and LSE. (Michaela Education⁠)

People often describe Katharine as Britain’s “strictest headmistress”, but the more I listen to her, the less I think strict is the right word.

It’s about standards, boundaries and rules.

Rules are there to be followed. We all have a choice whether we follow them or not — but with choice comes consequences.

I certainly don’t think there is only one way to educate or develop children, but I love a lot of what Michaela stands for: high expectations, good manners, personal responsibility, hard work and respect for adults and teachers.

Perhaps some would call them old-fashioned values. Personally, I think there’s still an awful lot to be said for them.

I’ve put a link below to Katharine’s new YouTube podcast. I’ve really enjoyed listening to her and I’m looking forward to seeing where she takes it.
Here is one of hundreds of videos on her.

https://youtu.be/Mn_OohfGTYk?is=OFK183SRV76ko7RY

**IF YOU WANT THINGS TO CHANGE, START WITH YOU**

We’re very good at seeing what everyone else needs to change… and children can be even better at it!

But what if we taught children to look at things differently?

This September we're launching **Champions Path**, built around our **Nine Basic Laws**.

And it all starts in **Week 1 — Paradigms**.

How we **SEE** something affects what we **DO**.

What we **DO** affects what we **GET**.

Change the way you see something, and you may just change what happens next.

The children come to us because martial arts is fun — kicking, punching, blocking, belts and learning new skills.

**Martial arts is the vehicle. Character is the destination.**

Watch the video to see what I mean.

Find out more about Champions Path and book a trial:
kidsmartialartsgloucester.com/contact/

**Master T — The Karate Kid Teacher**

**One More Thing**

**Character Comes First**

*Your child becomes like the people they spend time with. Choose the tribe that builds them up.*

I don’t think the biggest lesson in this video is the flag.

Flags matter to many people, but I think something even more important is happening here.

An older generation quietly teaching a younger one.

No classroom.
No lesson plan.
No PowerPoint.
Just one moment that a young boy will probably remember for the rest of his life.

The fact that this young lad stopped his bike and tried to fix the flag before anyone asked him to says something about the values he’s already been taught. His parents deserve enormous credit.

But it also reminds us of something else…

It takes a village to raise a child.

Parents lay the foundations, but every teacher, coach, grandparent, neighbour and mentor helps shape the person that child will become.

Character isn’t built in a single lesson.
It’s built in thousands of small moments.
By the people our children spend time with.
By the examples they see.
By the standards they witness.
By the values they experience every day.

Maybe that’s why I’m so passionate about Champions Character.

At Kicx, we use martial arts as the vehicle, but character is always the destination. Every class is another opportunity to help children develop focus, respect, resilience, kindness and belief in themselves. Not because one lesson changes a child, but because hundreds of positive moments, repeated over time, help shape who they become.

This video is only a few minutes long.

The lesson it teaches could last a lifetime.

❤️ I absolutely loved it.

🌟 What an AMAZING week! 🌟

A huge WELL DONE to every single Champion who joined us for our Summer Camp!

What a week we've had...
🏰 Bouncy castle
🌳 Adventures in the park and forest
⚽ Football
🎾 Tennis
🥎 Dodgeball
🔫 Nerf Wars
💦 And of course... the EPIC water battle with over 1,000 water bombs! 😄

But while the games were brilliant, something even more important was happening every single day...

Every challenge helped build Focus.
Every activity developed new Skills.
Every success grew Belief.

That's what Champions Character is all about.

Thank you to all of our incredible children for your fantastic attitudes, kindness, teamwork and effort throughout the week. You made us so proud!

Now enjoy the rest of your summer holidays, and we'll see you all back in September as we begin Term 1 of our brand-new Champions Path programme.

The journey continues... 💙💚❤️

FOCUS • SKILL • BELIEF

If your child was at this year's Summer Camp, we'd love to hear from you! Please leave us a comment below and let us know what they enjoyed most, or how they found the week. Your feedback means so much to us and helps other families discover what Champions Character is all about.

What makes a great teacher?

Is it the number of championships they've won?

The number of martial arts techniques they know?

Or is it something much more important?

After teaching for over 40 years, I've come to believe that great teachers aren't remembered because they knew the most...

They're remembered because they made the biggest difference.

A great teacher builds confidence.

Encourages children when they want to give up.

Helps them believe in themselves.

Because at Champions Character, we're not just teaching martial arts...

We're helping children become the very best version of themselves.

I've just recorded a short video explaining what I believe makes a truly great teacher. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

👇 Watch below.

As we head into our final week at KICX before the summer break, we're ending the school year on a high! 🎉
This week is Fun Week, which means lots of games, challenges, and smiles in class as we celebrate everything our students have achieved. 🥋🎮
We're also proud to say we've officially completed the Champions Path curriculum for this school year. A huge well done to all of our students for their hard work, dedication, and progress throughout the year—you've all been amazing!
Let's make this last week before summer one to remember! 💙💛