Summer looks a little different at Freedom Martial Arts.
One week, campers are racing through time, solving challenges, and laughing their way through themed adventures. The next, students are stepping onto the mat for our On the Rise Summer Sparring Series, learning new skills and testing themselves in a supportive environment. Somewhere in between, our competition team is traveling to tournaments, representing our school with pride, while regular classes continue helping students build strong fundamentals.
At first glance, those things may not seem connected.
But they all have one thing in common.
They bring people together.
One of the greatest things about martial arts is that while every student’s journey is their own, no one has to walk it alone.
During camp, we watch friendships form between children who had never met before Monday morning. Older campers naturally step in to help younger ones. Teams celebrate solving challenges together, and by the end of the week, everyone is cheering for each other like they’ve known one another for years.
During our On the Rise Summer Sparring Series, students are learning that improvement doesn’t come from winning every round. It comes from having partners who challenge you, encourage you, and help you become better every time you step on the mat.
At IMAS Worlds, we saw that same spirit on an even bigger stage. Students celebrated each other’s victories, picked one another up after difficult moments, and reminded us that success is always more meaningful when it’s shared.
Research continues to show that experiences like these matter. Children who participate in cooperative learning and positive peer interactions develop stronger communication skills, greater empathy, improved problem-solving abilities, and increased confidence (Johnson & Johnson, 2009; Burns et al., 2024). In other words, learning alongside others doesn’t just help children perform better—it helps them become better teammates, friends, and leaders.
That’s one of the reasons summer is such a special time at Freedom Martial Arts.
Every activity, whether it’s a camp game, a partner drill, a sparring round, or a tournament, gives students another opportunity to practice working with others, encouraging one another, and growing together.
The skills they’re building aren’t just for martial arts.
They’re learning how to welcome someone new.
How to communicate.
How to support a teammate.
How to handle challenges with confidence.
How to celebrate someone else’s success.
Those are lessons they’ll carry into school, sports, future careers, and their relationships for years to come.
As July comes to a close, we’re incredibly proud of everything our students have accomplished.
Not just because of the techniques they’ve learned or the goals they’ve reached.
But because of the way they’ve encouraged each other, supported one another, and continued growing together.
Those moments may not always earn a medal.
But they’re the moments that matter most.
References
Burns, S., Yu, E., Brathwaite, L., Masum, M., White, L., Dhuey, E., & Perlman, M. (2024). Improving Young Children’s Peer Collaboration in Early Educational Settings: A Systematic Review. Review of Education, 12(2).
Johnson, D. W., & Johnson, R. T. (2009). An Educational Psychology Success Story: Social Interdependence Theory and Cooperative Learning. Educational Researcher, 38(5), 365-379.