Scottsdale Martial Arts Center, Inc. is owned and operated by Sensei Ray Hughes, a 6th degree black belt in Karate with over 30 years of experience. In addition to his numerous local and regional championships, he is a two time National Champion and has competed on five US Karate teams, two of which won gold medals and one that won silver. For more information about Sensei Ray Hughes, please click here
Though Sensei Ray Hughes teaches all age groups, his passion lies with the development of children. Self-esteem, confidence and mental discipline are the focus of the Karate program. Self-defense skills emerge through the riggers of training.
With over 30 years of experience working with children, the Scottsdale Martial Arts Center Discovery Series Karate Program was created by Sensei Ray Hughes to develop these skills.
The Discovery Series is a comprehensive program that addresses mental and physical development, social skills, manners and etiquette.
It takes time and experience to begin to grasp the concepts of the martial arts. The Discovery Series offers that time and understanding to the student and parent. When the student is ready to move from the Discovery Series into the Master Level Karate Program, both the student and the parent will have a basic understanding of the martial art studies.
The Discovery Series allows children and their parents an opportunity to see and experience how martial arts enhances the lives of its students both physically and mentally.
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By introducing many topics and quickly moving from topic to topic, the Sensei (Teacher) engages the child for increased learning.
Proper balance of content, structure and humor are the most effective means to teach children. If the child enjoys the content, the child will learn well. With structure, the child will learn in an orderly manner. With humor, the child remains mentally alert.
While doing physical training, we move mentally from topic to topic (mathematics, foreign language skills, etc.), keeping the child engaged.
Scottsdale Martial Arts Center uses a stripe and belt color system to motivate students to move to the next level. Students are rewarded when small, attainable goals are reached.
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There are three primary areas of development that are stressed in the Discovery Series: mental, physical and social.
The mental areas of development are: self-esteem, confidence, emotional control, mental focusing, memorization, handling difficult situations, stress reduction, patience and many others.
The physical skills that are developed are strength, speed, agility, coordination, balance, flexibility and cardiovascular development. In addition, good eating habits and a general overall healthy life style are encouraged.
Social skills, manners and etiquette are equally as important as mental and physical development. Appropriate social skills often minimize or eliminate conflict. The leadership skills, public speaking, cultural awareness and abstract understanding we teach prepares our students for today's world, giving our children an overall advantage.
In an attempt to keep our students mentally alert, instructors often touch on other areas, such as mathermatics, geography, grammar, vocabulary, foreign language and others.
Free sparring is not taught in the Discovery series, though self-defense skills are. Students who excel in the Discovery Series will be invited to participate in the Master Level Karate Program, at which time free sparring and additional advanced techniques will be introduced.
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Young students start out in the Discovery Series. Students under the age of six begin in the Pee Wee Discovery Series Program. Children between the ages of 7 and 12 start in the Junior Discovery Series Program. The Junior Program has the same layout as the Pee Wee Discovery Series, except the Juniors start off in a 45 minute class.
After reaching orange belt, Discovery Program students maybe invited to take their studies to a higher level in the Master Level Karate Program.
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The Introductory Pee Wee Program is offered as the first step for students between the ages of four and six.
The student will begin in a 30 minute class with no belt. The child will stand up in front of the class and recite their name, address and phone number in order to receive the white belt. This is done to begin the mental and social development, as well as having the child know crucial information for their own well-being. Public speaking ranks as America's #1 fear: by having young children participate in this activity they are given an invaluable gift that will help them throughtout their lives.
From this point forward, stripes are awarded at each measurable accomplishment. Students may spend up to 6 months in this program before they are promoted to yellow belt and invited into the Beginning Pee Wee Program. The pace of advancement is determined by the student.
Remember: "This is not a race"
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In this program, the second step of the Discovery Series for students age 6 and under, the student advances to a 45 minute Yellow & Orange Belt class.
In this class, the student will learn basic forms ( organized sets of movements ) while continually covering previously learned topics. The student will receive a stripe when each form is memorized. These stripes represent honorary ranks.
When a child reaches a 3 stripe Yellow Belt, that child is eligible to be invited to their first internationally recognized belt promotion test for Orange Belt rank.
Once the student passes their first belt promotion test and is awarded their orange belt they become eligible to be invited into the Master Level Program.
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The Junior Program is essentially the same as the Pee Wee Program, except Juniors start and stay in a 45 minute class. Because of their age, they are given their white belt immediately.
In this class, the student will learn fundamental basic karate techniques, Japanese terminology, and basic forms (organized sets of movements). The student will receive a stripe when each form is memorized. These stripes represent honorary ranks.
When a student reaches a 3 stripe Yellow Belt, that student is eligible to be invited to their first internationally recognized belt promotion test for Orange Belt rank.
Once the student passes their first belt promotion test and is awarded their orange belt they become eligible to be invited into the Master Level Program.
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The only item necessary is a Karate gi ( uniform ) which consists of pants, a top and a belt which can be provided by the Scottsdale Martial Arts Center.
When a student is invited to participate in the Master Level Program, they will be required to purchase sparring equipment. Sparring equipment consists of head, hand, foot, and body protection that can be purchased at the center.
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The Master Level Program is a limited membership comprehensive, in-depth program that takes the beginning student to black belt. Sparring, grappling and other self-defense techniques are introduced in the Master Level Program.
Because students take different lengths of time to develop martial arts maturity, students must be invited to participate in the Master Level Program. Three criteria are required for a student to be invited into the program. First, a student must be at least an orange belt rank. Second, there must be an opening in the program, which is restricted to 15 students per class. And third, the student must have a recommendation from the Discovery Program instructor. Recommendations are based on a student's performance and dedication to the martial arts.
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Will karate make my child aggressive and want to fight?
NO! Aggressiveness and the desire to fight come from a LACK of discipline. Karate will teach your child self-discipline. In addition, we have very strict rules regarding violent behavior and the general conduct of students outside the school.
Are there any religious teaching involved in karate?
NO! There are no religious teachings in the program. However, social and moral conduct are encouraged and taught. We are practicing a Japanese art. A bow in Japan is a show of respect, similar to our hand shake here in this country. Kneeling is sitting in their country. Kneeling and bowing is simply a show of respect from a sitting position.
How long will it take my child to earn a black belt?
The length of time to obtain a black belt depends on the student. There is a minunum of four years of continuous training and a mininum age requirement of 13 years.
How long will it take for my child to be able to defend him or herself?
It is difficult to put a length of time on when a child will be able to defend themselves. Each child's personality and upbringing will influence the choices they make in a self-defense situation. The longer and harder a child trains in karate, the better prepared the child will become.
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Money is a necessary evil. Bills have to be paid. But money doesn't need to be the most important issue in the world. It is this philosophy that guides our tuition policy. We do not require contracts. All tuition is month-to-month. We believe we are the only school in Scottsdale that has a no contract (agreement) tuition policy. It is our responsibility to encourage and motivate our students to train; we do not use the threat of a contract. In addition, if a student is unable to pay all or part of their dues for hardship reasons, they don't have to pay. Our philosophy is
"What goes around comes around."
Teaching Philosophy and Presentation of this Karate Program
By: Sensei Ray Hughes
Scottsdale Martial Arts Center Owner and Chief Karate Instructor
School Motto: "We Teach the Ancient Ways to the Modern World."
We are a traditional Karate school, which means we have a long martial art history with an old and proven structure and format. This school has an unbroken instructor line that dates back to the 17th century. The teachings of this art are based on discipline, advanced technique, philosophy and hard work. In this aspect, we are unlike many schools that are based on entertainment and quick rewards. Our presentation is truly unique. Though we run an old and formal program, we also smile and enjoy ourselves. We don't beat our students with a shinai (bamboo sword) like what was done in the past. We do have age and time requirements like the old systems. It is logical that age and maturity are required to be awarded legitimate ranks in Karate. Unlike the past, we do not put our instructors on pedestals. We are friends with our students and hope to be mentors to the young ones. We are all students of the art. Respect is earned and not demanded. We train hard and discuss the pros and cons of all martial arts styles, including our own. Martial art history and philosophy are discussed but never lectured. Martial art training is an honorable way of life.
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