Last Saturday our dojang filled with goblins, ghouls, heroes and sea creatures for our 32nd annual Kick or Treat. It was a night of games, laughs and a few good scares. Like everything we do, it also had a lesson at its heart: taking responsibility.
Kids tested their control and accuracy by kicking a card off the top of a plastic cup. The goal was to knock the card out cleanly so the creepy rubber rat or spider sitting on it dropped right into the cup. Game stations on each end of the dojang kept everyone busy, laughing and cheering each other on.
Every time Thriller played in the background, the whole room broke into a zombie dance. It was a lot of fun, and it also builds camaraderie and asks the kids to pay attention with all their senses.
Only healthy snacks and water were served, and we had zero complaints from the goblins and ghouls! Our staff also talked about why healthy food matters for strong bodies and sharp minds.
Then came the moment that seems to get better every year. When the kids finished their snacks, every one of them cleaned up after themselves. Frankly, this is the whole point. Traditional martial arts discipline carries into every part of their lives, and that is the real-world self-defense they use every day, all day.
After a short movie (fun, scary, but just scary enough to keep everyone’s attention), our teen staff, led by some of our amazing teen black belts, gave a talk on trick-or-treat safety. These young leaders grew up on the mat hearing these same talks for years. Now they deliver them with the experience to understand why each lesson matters.
The kids also built their own scary story, one part at a time, as we went around the room. It was fun to watch the story start out spooky and end with a happy resolution, with every child adding their own piece.
The night wrapped up with the Tug of Doom, with teams matched by size, and Zombie Musical Chairs. We announced the costume contest winners and gave away four sets of training equipment, including gloves and hand targets.
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