At Reveal Martial Arts, we know that testing for the next belt or level can sometimes raise questions for parents. You might be wondering, "Should we test every time? Wouldn’t it be better to wait? Shouldn’t progress slow down once my child earns their black belt?"

Bullies. Predators. Broken confidence. Let’s be honest—the world throws a lot at our kids. And if we’re not intentional about preparing them, the world will teach them something else instead.

There’s a clip going around on social media—comedian Jimmy Carr offering surprisingly serious advice for parents of toddlers. He says: “Hard choices now, easy life later.”

Bullies. Predators. Broken confidence. Let’s be honest—the world throws a lot at our kids. And if we’re not intentional about preparing them, the world will teach them something else instead.

Parents, as summer approaches, the choices you make for your child can have lasting effects. And no—this isn’t an exaggeration!

Self-respect is about recognizing one’s intrinsic worth and treating oneself with kindness and dignity. It’s the cornerstone of personal growth and healthy relationships.

For us martial arts has never been about just producing fighters. It was built to forge leaders. To shape character. To help people become stronger—inside and out.

If you’ve ever peeked into class and seen your child making silly faces during warmups, doing air punches with a little too much flair, or laughing with their partner during drills—you might wonder: Are they taking this seriously? Are they even learning anything?

There’s a concept in traditional martial arts called “The Five Poisons.” These aren’t physical techniques or rival opponents. They’re the inner challenges that every martial artist, and every child, faces at some point in life: Fear, Frustration, Fatigue, Doubt, and Pain.