06/29/2026
Dear ATA Families,
A Fresh Start There's something I love about the beginning of every new cycle. It reminds us that growth isn't measured by one class, one belt test, or one difficult day. Growth comes from choosing to show up again—with a positive attitude and a willingness to keep learning. Whether your child celebrated a new belt recently, is preparing for a make-up test, or simply has a goal they want to accomplish this cycle, tomorrow is a fresh start. Every student walks into class with the same opportunity: to become just a little better than they were yesterday. That's what martial arts is really about.
This cycle we'll be focusing on Respect for our Color Belts and Belief for our White Belts. I can't think of a better time to remind our students that progress isn't about being perfect—it's about continuing to move forward.
Color Belt Life Skill: Respect Our Life Skill this cycle is Respect. You'll hear our students saying: "Respect is not what you know... it's what you do." This week we begin with the first pillar of respect—respecting ourselves. Students will be encouraged to:
- Give 100% effort in every class.
- Maintain strong eye contact when speaking with instructors and classmates.
- Take pride in doing their very best, even when something is difficult.
Family Challenge This week, encourage your child to practice respectful eye contact while speaking with you at home. It's a simple habit that helps develop confidence, listening skills, and respect for others.
White Belt Life Skill: Belief Every Black Belt was once a White Belt. That's why our newest students begin their journey with one of the most important Life Skills we teach: "Belief is YES I Can!" Learning something new isn't always easy, but confidence grows every time we choose to try. This week we'll encourage our White Belts to approach every challenge with a positive attitude, knowing that mistakes aren't failures—they're simply part of learning. One of the most important messages we'll share with them is this: Your parents believe in you. Sometimes knowing someone believes in us is exactly what gives us the courage to believe in ourselves.
From My Heart One of my favorite moments from last week was working with one of our students who was struggling to remember one of our advanced forms. Instead of asking them to memorize a long sequence of movements, we turned the entire form into a story about trying to swat an annoying fly (or squash a pesky mosquito!). Suddenly everything clicked. The next morning, that student came running up to me before class with the biggest smile, proudly performing the entire form from memory. They couldn't wait to show me they had done it. Moments like these remind me that every child learns differently. Sometimes all it takes is finding the right way to explain something, and confidence begins to grow. Watching that excitement and pride on a student's face is one of the many reasons I love what I do.
Happy Birthday!
Little Rock
🎂 Thomas Kelley
🎂 Thao Tran
🎂 Bryce Ebsen
Maumelle
🎂 Kaiden Cranford
🎂 Kevin Delk
🎂 Ty Miller Bentonville No birthdays this week—but we can't wait to celebrate with you next time!
Happy Birthday to all of our ATA family members celebrating this week! We hope your year is filled with success, happiness, and plenty of new belts!
School Updates Independence Day Closure All three schools will be closed Friday, July 3rd and Saturday, July 4th in observance of Independence Day.
If you're traveling, we wish you safe travels, wonderful memories with family and friends, and a fantastic holiday weekend. We'll look forward to seeing everyone back on the mats soon!
Missed & Make-Up Belt Testing If your student missed their scheduled belt testing or needs to attend a make-up test, please speak with your Instructor or Program Director this week so we can help get them scheduled.
Thank you for allowing us to be part of your family's journey. Teaching martial arts has never been just about punches, kicks, or earning the next belt. It's about helping young people become more confident, more respectful, more resilient, and more prepared for life.
We are grateful for the trust you place in us every time your child walks through our doors.
Stay safe, take care, and if you can… take care of someone else.
We'll see you on the mats!
With gratitude, Master & Mrs. van Tonder and the wonderful ATA Teams
