Nazeli Krikorian wrote on 05-16-2015

The Best Martial Arts School in La Canada, Glendale, Montrose, LaCrescenta for Adults and Kids martial Arts

I am a credentialed teacher and hold a doctorate in education. I have been going to this studio for several years. I started back in 1997 when I witnessed my students who had been attending improve in their academics and classroom participation. Their self-esteem shot through the roof. I worked all the way through to my second degree black belt over the years, taking time off to have a daughter and work on my doctorate. What I observed over the years, and as my own daughter has taken several classes and is moving up the ranks, is a dojo with discipline, ethics, and heart. I have personally observed Master Armen Heroian working with children at many different levels and ages. He has had tremendous success with children with special needs, including with children I have personally referred. I have also witnessed Master Armen living the tenets of the dojo: effort, etiquette, sincerity, character, and self-control. He has done so with his own children, and treats my own daughter like family. He has extremely high expectations, yet meets everyone where they are. He gives each individual exactly what they need to grow. Sometimes, as we all know, some people do not like to be pushed to seek out their limits. That is an unfortunate mistake on their part. Sometimes, as parents, we coddle, our children need to know they can stand alone...to find success. We stunt their growth when we interrupt the process. Whether they learn it through the dojo, through taking tremendously rigorous courses in college while supporting a family, or whatever life has to throw at them, they need to know that they may be pushed to their limits, BUT THEY WILL NOT BREAK. That is the GIFT I have been given by Master Armen, and the gift that he gives to my daughter and my current and former students. The testing IS rigorous for black belt. As it SHOULD be. (The teens working toward their first degree black belts, by and large did tremendously well, and did us proud. Though, one or two of those especially coddled ones pouted a bit.). The test includes several hours of basics, and other exercises of endurance. There is sparring as well with equally ranked black belts. There are times, just as in running a marathon (which I have also done), when you want to give up. The higher ranking black belts work to cheer us on. Push us. At one point I needed to stop, because I had maxed out. I was told to sit out for a little bit. I had given it my all, and we all knew it. I was not chastised or ridiculed for it. When I was ready, I went back to it. Halfway through the test, we went to the beach, and got to do our combinations in the waves, which was so welcome considering the sweat we all built up. We did our forms and several other feats that created a team amongst those of us testing. We also did other fun and silly creative things. I even walked a lower ranking male student as he crawled in front of me using his belt. The whole time both of us had huge smiles on our faces. We played leap frog in the sand. And played with the sea weed. The whole time, my daughter walked along with us and observed us and cheered us on. Nearly 11 hours later, I was victorious. We ALL were. Thank you Master Armen and everyone else who has had such a tremendous impact on my life.