“a quick story regarding how Level 10 has had a positive impact on Nathaniel.  Monday night he attended a tryout for the local 9-10 year old little league baseball all-star team.  One of the assistant coaches stopped me afterward and said that Nathaniel was the only player out of the 24 invited to the tryout that looked the coaches in the eye, answered loudly and confidently, and said respectfully "yes, sir" and "no, sir".  The coach went on to say that they knew from that behavior alone that they wanted him to be a member of the team.  In addition, Nathaniel reminded me last night that we needed to tell Master Theros that we would be testing Thursday instead of Wednesday because he now has baseball practice tonight.  That's a side of him, taking responsibility to do things on his own, that I've been beyond frustrated at times while waiting for him to develop the initiative to do so.  Little victories sometimes mean the most. “ 

Scott Uecker, Franklin, father of Nathaniel (age 10)

Master Theros,

We had a little excitement this weekend that turned into a testament to our training at Level 10. I get some resistance from family and friends in regards to the martial arts training; there is the fear of Eastern Religious influences and the fear of Ethan becoming a bully with all the training we do. I feel it is right for us and this weekend was proof of why it is so necessary.

Sunday, Ethan and his older brother were playing on the porch swing. They got playing too rough when things got out of hand. Westin jumped up and the swing lifted and came down on Ethan’s leg. A bolt that holds the chain on stuck in his leg and ripped a gash across his leg just below the calf muscle.

I heard the scream and rush over to find him in the grass in front of the house. I saw his leg and took him into the house to bandage it together enough to travel. We packed up and headed off to the Hospital; my wife was calming him down and holding ice on the leg. He was terrified of going to the hospital. He settled down until the doctor said that he was going to have to have stitches. The area had been numbed, but he was terrified of the impending procedure. He immediately started breathing really fast, his blood pressure shot up and he started to fight and get scared. The doctor said I would have to hold him down and they brought in another nurse to help.

I leaned in a told him to remember his training; I told him to breath deep and meditate on happy thoughts. It was like a switch was thrown. He took a deep breath and immediately started to calm down. Within a few minutes his body had relaxed and he all but fell asleep during the procedure. The doctor was amazed how quickly he settled down and that no one had to hold him to the bed. It took 8 stitches to close the wound.

I have seen some remarkable changes in myself over the last year and a half, but to see him age 6 use the training and for us to have a common ground to relate to at that time of need was incredible. He new what it meant to breath deep and to meditate, the words had meaning.

This is a wordy way of saying thank you. In that moment, all the training and money spent was justified. I have appreciated the strength and integrity of your school and the fact that you hold everyone up to a higher standard.

Thank You!

Nathan Linville (Adult student and father of Ethan, age 6)