"Everyone at Integrity has been so supportive of Emily and she has really progressed over the last couple of years. I really fell strongly about Karate as being a very positive part of a child's education, both in school and at home."
Mother of Emily age 5
November 9, 2007

My son Kyle is a wonderful 10 year old boy who suffers from an illness called Bi-Polar disorder. He was diagnosed with this illness since he was 5 years old. Since then he has been in and out of hospitals and treatment programs. He has consistently had a very difficult time in school and any activity that required him to focus.

This summer I made a lot of changes to his life as he knew it. I have also become a huge advocate for his illness. Through research and guidance from his doctors, we lowered the amount of medication he was taking and introduced Kyle to new programs that seemed to help him. However, Kyle still seemed to feel out of place and had trouble fitting in socially.

Kyle brought home a brochure for karate classes. I was very hesitant at first; I surfed the internet and looked at several local martial arts schools to make an informed decision. Integrity Martial Arts stood out among all I had seen. I called and enrolled Kyle and it has been the best decision I have made for him in a long time. I am extremely impressed with the staff and how they interact with the students and give the students a great sense of pride and accomplishment. I am equally impressed with how the students respect the staff and want to please them.

Kyle has been in the class for 2 months and his self esteem has risen like never before. He is overcoming challenges that he would previously had difficulty with and give up on. He also takes on more responsibility at home without being told. This is the most focused I have ever seen Kyle. At report card conference time I was really nervous about Kyle’s progress given his situation. I was extremely pleased and surprised when I found out Kyle, normally a C/D student was getting B’s across the board.

The changes I had made in Kyle’s life were working, but the discipline and self esteem he gained from Integrity Martial Arts really made the difference. Kyle is focused know on his martial arts, school work and being a great little boy. Kyle seems very goal driven now and keeps trying to achieve when in the past he would have struggled and may have given up. This is most evident when he is wearing his IMA uniform; I have never seen him so proud.

Thank you IMA

Laurie, Mother of Kyle

Town of Enfield Recreation Department

Amy Skrzyniarz, Recreation Coordinator

Dear Janice and Staff,

On behalf of the Enfield Recreation Department, I would like to thank you for adding such a wonderful program into our summer activities. The Martial Arts for Kids Camp has been quite a success for our community. I was very impressed with the ability to provide an atmosphere that was both educational and fun. Through the staff’s teaching and participants’ dedication throughout the program, it is quite evident that the students are fully learning the life skills and values such as self-discipline, personal commitment and the importance of verbal conflict resolution. I enjoyed reading the notes that the children shared at each class about how they had used these skills and values on a daily basis at their homes.

I know that the life skills that the children have learned will serve them well, and hopefully they will continue to practice what they have been taught. We look forward to working with you again soon to help the children in our community, and thank you again for working with us this summer.

Sincerely,

Amy Skrzyniarz
Recreation Coordinator

The After School Program

Claire C. Hall, M. Ed., Executive Director

Dear Jonathan:

I would like to acknowledge the wonderful progress we have seen with The After School Program students who are participating in the Integrity Center’s Martial Arts instruction. These classes have had a profound impact on The After School Program students because of the respect, self-discipline, and self-control that your instruction has instilled in them.

Since the children in our program are at risk for school failure, we feel that they are an exceptionally challenging group. Many lack direction and focus and come from homes where families struggle with poverty, low academic achievement, limited social skills, and parental substance abuse.

Martial arts instruction has given these children a heightened level of self-discipline and provided positive peer pressure to affect change. Our all-inclusive approach of including feedback from their families and their teachers has proven to be a motivating force.

Thank you for the time and energy you and your staff have put into working with these students. Your efforts have made a difference in the lives of many young people.

Sincerely,

Claire C. Hall

Enfield Public Schools

Office of the Superintendent of Schools

Dear Jonathan and Staff:

I would like to thank you again for coming to Enfield High School and giving a four day presentation to our junior and senior Physical Education classes on self-defense and personal responsibility and self-control. The physical education teachers and students were very impressed with your ability to create such a quality atmosphere for learning self-discipline, personal commitment, and the importance of verbal conflict resolution. Your staff’s teaching style and progression of activities throughout the week helped all students to understand more fully the importance of respecting others, self-discipline and self-control.

Hopefully, our students will practice what they have been taught about reacting non-violently to conflict and to use the tools they learned to de-escalate bad situations. We look forward to working with you again next year to help educate our students in making the right choices and taking responsibility for themselves and their community.

Sincerely,

A.J. O’Brien
Physical Education Department Chairman

Enfield Town Councilman

Cynthia Mangini

Dear Mr. Metcalf,

I am delighted to accept your invitation to the After School Program’s Martial Arts Belt Advancement. It is very encouraging to see the positive impact the United Studios, through the special school program, the Integrity Centers has had on our youth.

Unfortunately, our society has suffered from numerous tragedies where children have been the victims of senseless acts of violence – in some cases at the hands of their peers. Research has shown that children lacking in self-esteem do not have self-respect. Consequently, this results in a lack of respect for others. Martial arts programs not only discourage violence, rather they build and stimulate self-esteem within the child.

If we are to attain a gentler, more caring society, we must teach our children how to care for and show respect for one another. Therefore, I wish you much success for the future and will continue to wholeheartedly support your martial arts program.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Mangini, Enfield Town Councilman