Kickstart Kids

Kickstart Kids uses martial arts as a vehicle to teach character and social emotional learning to give students the tools to grow personally, avoid self-destructive behaviors, resist negative peer pressure, improve mental health, and make responsible decisions. Kickstart Kids reaches at-risk adolescents at a critical time in their lives and instills character, resilience, life skills, self-esteem, and social emotional well-being, improving the likelihood of high school graduation and success in adulthood. Independent studies have proven that students of the program have achieved higher levels of academic and social success, and become more productive members of their schools and communities. It has also been documented that the program enjoys strong school administrator and parent support, and provides critical services for students as they enter and transition through middle school. Kickstart Kids positively impacts students, schools, families, and communities.