Alonzo Martial Arts

Screening The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse sparks our weekly discussions at Camp around Kindness and Compassion that give our Campers the willingness to Stand Up and Speak Up on behalf of another child who’s on the receiving end of bullying. Because we’ve learned that being against is about more than just having courage and fighting back. Sometimes, it takes empathy in action.

Exercise, body movement beforehand makes it easier for the brain to focus on learning.

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How martial arts can support the neurodivergent brain.

Trying to convince even our youngest students that our classes are a safe space to make mistakes has been a surprisingly uphill battle.

Just last week, we noticed a student who we noticed had been quietly saying mean things to herself every time she made a mistake while prepping for her belt test.

In sharing with her that we were very familiar with that inner voice that says that we’re dumb, not _______ enough, or we’ll never be good at whatever task we set out to achieve. We lets her know that despite how loud or negative that voice may get, it’s NOT her. That is the voice of doubt and insecurity, and that when that inner voice’s words come out of our mouths—and we hear it with our own ears—we give validation to everything the naysayers have ever said to us.

So we suggested a number of options for her to choose:
a) Turn down the volume or ignore that voice,
b) Tell it to shut up while you face the challenge,
c) If we’re going to allow that inner critical voice an audience, we need to start or amplify the voice that congratulates us on even the smallest accomplishments.

Interestingly enough, occasions to repeat that lesson showed up in all of our other classes that day, including adult students in the Advance Class.

“They aren’t just teaching kids kicks and punches.” 🥋

We couldn’t have said it better. A huge thank-you to for bringing Edison in, and for these incredibly kind words.

Since 1991, our classes have been built around one idea: child development first. We teach kids the why behind every movement — focus, boundaries, communication, and the kind of confidence that follows them off the mat and into the rest of their lives. Coordination and flexibility come with it. But the real win is a kid who listens, leads, and believes in themselves.

Curious what a class looks like for your child? Book a trial at AlonzoMartialArts.com —

Or drop in for a complimentary class at 12474 Washington Blvd in Culver City. RSVPs highly recommended.

This may be controversial, but family isn’t always the first place where we learn to set healthy boundaries. Many of us don’t learn until after we’ve been hurt, disrespected, or embarrassed. Imagine how much guilt, shame, and heartache we could have avoided if we’d learned those skills earlier.

The younger kids are when they learn to respectfully self-advocate—and the more adults encourage and honor those boundaries—the more likely they are to trust themselves, choose healthier friendships, and recognize when something doesn’t feel right.

When kids practice boundary-setting early, they build the kind of confidence and self-trust that predators have a much harder time manipulating.

Imagine being freed from slavery, but not realizing it—or the immediate world around you not acknowledging it—for 2 1/2 years. Juneteenth is more important than most people realize.

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Flashing back to this gem from when we first opened in Santa Monica.