Achieving Fitness, Earning Respect

The way the world is changing is reflected in our children. That’s why Bryan Kautzman, owner of Family Karate Academy, has kick-started a new program aimed at getting kids re-energized and healthy while they learn how to become disciplined individuals. And no matter what sport your children play, these techniques help them stay on top of their game.

By: Ken McEntee
Date: 03/12/2008
A lot of kids today spend most of their free time playing video games. That’s good, because it may contribute to the development of strong fingers.

Unfortunately, says Sensei Bryan Kautzman, owner of Family Karate Academy, in Middleburg Heights, it doesn’t do much for the rest of their bodies.

“Kids today are too overweight,” says Bryan, a Fourth Degree Black Belt. “When I was a kid we were outside playing all the time and getting fresh air and exercise. Today, kids are sitting in the house and they’re not eating properly. The lifestyle a lot of children lead is a problem.”

That’s why Bryan is launching a special fitness and nutrition program aimed at kids.

“Every child might not be interested in learning martial arts, but every kid could benefit from healthy eating habits, making wise foods choices and getting exercise, like calisthenics,” he says. “They may not realize how poor diet and a lack of exercise affects their attention span and how they feel about themselves.”
Case studies, he says, have shown that many kids diagnosed with such conditions as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) have shown improvement through a change of eating habits.

Bryan, who is now 32 years old, with two kids of his own, has studied karate since he was nine. He and his wife—a schoolteacher—share a passion for teaching kids, which led him to open his karate studio five years ago.
After graduating from Kent State University in 1998, he went to work selling software, and later, work uniforms.

“I never had a real connection with what I was doing,” Bryan recalls. “I loved martial arts and I loved building relationships and working one on one.”

After spending a lot of time on the phone analyzing his goals with his former karate instructor Paul Keller—who also was a bodyguard for Malcolm Forbes—Bryan realized how he should spend his career.

“He always saw my potential and he took me under his wing and convinced me that I should teach martial arts,” Bryan says.

Family Karate Academy teaches mixed martial arts with a focus on karate. Bryan explains that martial arts training has many benefits for kids and adults.

“It teaches discipline, respect, fitness and self-defense,” he says. “It is also phenomenal for developing basic athletic skills and hand-eye coordination, which is important if you are playing sports like soccer or football.”

He accepts students as young as four years old (as long as they are ready and able to do the program) as well as adults. Family Karate, he says, is not a “black belt factory” that advances students though the program regardless of whether they’re ready to move to the next level.

“I have a curriculum-rich school that goes beyond the physical part of martial arts. The bottom line is that who you become really counts in the world. We all need to learn self-discipline. I think there is a real lack of respect in American culture today. There needs to be a greater respect for yourself and a respect for others. I don’t think genuine respect can be gained by somebody giving you something. You have to earn it,” he says.
Bryan invites new students to try two free lessons to see whether they are interested in the program.
“In most jobs you are drained by the end of the day,” Bryan says. “I’m lucky to be in a profession where I am more energized at the end of the day than when I started. I see the energy of the students and the progress they are making and it is inspiring.”

For more information about Bryan’s fitness and nutrition program for kids, or to sign up for your two complimentary karate classes, call 440-842-5425. Family Karate Academy is located at 7790 W. 130th Street, at Sprague Road, in Middleburg Heights.

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