Back-to-school time is a chance for kids and youth to get learning again, but a martial arts club in Surrey is doing its best to provide education for the whole family.
Promoting both a family atmosphere and affordable ways to get everyone active comes naturally to the Humphrey family at Twin Dragon Taekwondo, running out of the Port Kells Community Centre.
Master Jason Humphrey, who this summer successfully tested for his fourth-degree black belt, and wife Angela, who just achieved her third-degree black belt, oversee the club, which is celebrating its third anniversary.
The summer test also saw each of their children step up to the next level of black belt: daughter Alanna, 24, reached her third dan, while her sister Nakita, 12, and brother Leland, nine, each earned their second dan.
Fun and fitness for the whole family
Twin Dragon makes it easy for families to join the fun.
“We’ve managed to wrangle some parents who have been sitting on the sideline for up to a year watching their children reach their goals. I think having us as a family, it opens the eyes up to other families,” Angela says.
Here’s some ways you can get involved through a back-to-school special on now through Sept. 20:
- New students to the club, of any age or experience level, receive two months of instruction plus a free uniform for $79 plus tax, nearly 50 per cent off the regular fee
- For parents or siblings unsure about whether taekwondo is for you, the club is also offering two weeks of classes free to allow people to try it out
- The club’s regular rates provide discounts for multiple family members
Whether it’s siblings or moms and dads with their kids, the various promotions offer options for multiple family members to get onto the mats.
“For us it’s not about the money, it’s about getting the families out there training together and learning something new and having fun,” Angela says, noting that people at similar skill levels work out at the same time. “We’re actually blessed that way because of our class schedules parents can join the students in the classes.”
While the back-to-school special runs only until Sept. 20, the club accepts new registrations at any time of the year. For now, it’s “back to school, back to sport, but we’re open throughout the year.”
