Testimonials

What our son likes about TaeKwonDo:

  • Fun
  • Good exercise
  • Basics of self-defense.

What we like about MAFCI:

  • Classes are offered throughout the week, so attending fits into a busy schedule.
  • TKD requires discipline to achieve mastery. It teaches hard work and determination. We’ve noticed that our son used to whine about completing tasks before, now he persists.
  • Respect is integral to TKD. It encourages respect outside the martial arts center. Our son has actually called us ma’am and sir.
  • Training and coaching is positive and helps the student build confidence and self-esteem. A quiet confidence has taken over our teenager.
  • After years of hockey, soccer and baseball, we were pleased to find an environment where students can achieve, without pressure from parents.

Thank you for all that you do. We are really pleased to have found MAFCI.

John & Paula Biermann

TEENAGE BOY

Our son at age 14 was diagnosed with Aspergers (a form of autism). At first we tried counseling. The doctors were knowledgeable, but we didn’t see the results that we had hoped for. We hear that martial arts training builds self-esteem and confidence. So we decided to give it a try.

Our son has been training in Taekwondo at the Martial Art Fitness Center for about 3 years now. He is now more outgoing and has an easier time communicating with people. He just received his red belt and will soon begin instructor training. We are expecting that he will gain even more confidence through this leadership program, so that he will be better able to function in the adult world.

Margie Strissel

ADULT MALE

Master Gommels, I just wanted to send you a short letter to thank you for all the help and guidance you’ve given me during testing and some of my visits to the fitness center.

Prior to starting Tae Kwan Do I was seeing a Chiropractor about twice a week. I have Arthritis in my lower back, hips, and shoulder. I also have a ruptured disc in my lower back that causes muscle spasms that lock my hips up and make it hard to walk. After getting an adjustment I’d be OK for a few days until the spasms would start again. I started training in Tae Kwon Do in December of 2004, originally to spend extra time with my two sons. Within a few weeks I noticed an improvement in my lower back. The spasms weren’t as severe and my hips wouldn’t lock up like they had been. That let me cut down to getting adjusted once a week. By early spring of 2005 (I believe in February) I was able to stop seeing my Chiropractor. As none of my medication had been changed and recent CT scans show the disc is still bad. I can only contribute the improvement in my lower back to Tae Kwon Do. Of course there are still days when I’m stiff and sore, but my quality of life has greatly improved. I just wanted to thank you and all of your instructors for the superior training and giving me a better quality of life.

Thank-you,
Jeff Hartson - Green Belt

YOUNG BOY

Master Gommels,

Our six year old son has been doing Tae Kwon Do for about six months now, and we have been impressed not only with the Martial Art Fitness Centers, Inc. and its staff, but with the changes we've noticed in our son. He has always been a rather "high strung" kid, with tendencies toward worry, and emotions worn on his sleeve. Over the past couple of months, we've noticed that he seems to channel his energy more appropriately, he is learning to accept responsibility for his actions, and he demonstrates more respect for others, and for himself.

One could argue that these changes are simply evidence that he's "growing up" or that he was just "going through a phase." But we know that much of the credit for these positive changes goes to his training in Tae Kwon Do. When we encountered one particularly bumpy spot on the parenting road, I approached you, Master Gommels, because so many others have spoken so highly of your insight and genuine interest in helping kids do well in ALL areas of development: physical, emotional, spiritual, and relational. Your questions of me were poignant, and your advice to me has yielded immeasurable results. You reminded my husband and me to get back to the basics: short, easily understood words delivered without emotion, clearly defined expectations, and swift, consistent consequences, all in the context of a loving, nurturing environment. We appreciate your support and the professionalism of the Martial Art Fitness Centers, Inc. We're thankful to have found an organization with values consistent with our own!

Sincerely,
A Happy Mom


Testimonials of PRIVATE MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING


"To be taught one-on-one by Master Gommels is an experience that has changed my practice in martial arts, giving it new direction and energy. A pupil of martial arts can fly through forms learning them all quickly, pushing for the next color belt, and basically, that is what they will have, a colored belt. But when given the opportunity to work with a master, dissecting forms into great detail, learning the "why's and where's", it changes your views on the quality and meaning of the form, not the quantity you can memorize blankly. This then changes your mind set on your personal practice in martial arts giving it much more meaning and discipline.

Currently, when I practice forms on my own, it is Master Gommels voice that instructs me as I move, almost as if he is watching, correcting with his usual stern, caring direction. Somehow Master Gommels instills in his students the desire to strive to learn to see their own faults and to appreciate their strengths, thereby, becoming their own teacher.

What an invaluable life lesson!"

Stephanie Yerhot - Red Belt

"When I first heard of private training I jumped at the chance to improve my sparring abilities. I felt that over the years I had developed some very good tools, but I wasn't sure exactly how and when to apply them especially in the chaos of sparring.

John Cruz has built on what I have learned with drills and bag work and shown me how to apply them in a sparring situation. If I perform a technique incorrectly he is able to immediately correct it before it becomes a habit. I am also able to bring sparring questions and get his opinion.After only a few lessons I have seen a gradual improvement both during Tae Kwon Do classes and at the weekly sparring class. I look forward to continuing my training with John and seeing how much I can improve as a martial artist.

It is rare that you have the opportunity to work one on one with a group of individuals with decades of combined martial art experience. If you are looking to improve a specific skill or your overall technique I would recommend private lessons."

Dan Dalenberg - Red Belt

"Once I heard about the private training, I began thinking that this might be the thing that I need to improve in and better understand the techniques in self-defense as well as eventually other areas in Taekwondo.

I have done 3 private training lessons in self-defense so far. The benefits are many. Most importantly the one-on-one training has been great. Not only am I getting dedicated instruction in each technique, but I get great feedback if I am doing the technique correctly. I am also learning not only the nuances of various techniques but also some of the practical approaches to self-defense as well.

I have found the private training extremely beneficial and very worthwhile and look forward to continuing with it. I would highly recommend this for anyone that wants a little more experience in a particular area with some dedicated one-on-one time with one of our instructors."

Darcy Adamczyk - Blue Belt

"I have recently taken advantage of the opportunity to receive private instruction in Tae Kwon Do at the Martial Arts Fitness Center. The one-to-one instruction has allowed me to refine the fundamental hand and kicking movements.

During the course of several lessons, I have started incorporating these improved basic movements into the various forms and I look forward to improving my sparring techniques. The improvements I have experienced thus far allows me to start developing power and quickness, and serves as the basis for more advanced techniques."

Mike Hooten - Green Belt

"I enrolled in the Premier Training Program for Tae Kwon Do initially because I had missed so many classes during the last year. However, I'm getting much more from the sessions than simply "catching up" to my current belt-level. I feel that I'm learning the fine details of the moves and the result is a significant increase in the level of power in both striking and kicking. Additionally, I've taken up strength training with weights that will benefit more than my TKD performance. As an "older woman", maintaining bone density and strength is critical, and working on muscles that benefit TKD is a lot more fun than just lifting weights! I would highly recommend the private lessons!"

Barbara Owen - Blue Belt