Welcome to information about the InSPIRE Program curriculum. InSPIRE is a counseling-based martial arts program designed for children with special needs such as attention deficit disorder, anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders, poor self-esteem, oppositional defiant disorder and lack of focus. The program curriculum includes a non-contact (no sparring), non-competitive martial arts program, peer group support counseling and a classroom component, which are all integrated. Depending on your students' needs, you can supplement the program with either individual and/or family counseling.  As in any other martial arts program, children can work to earn colored belts up to black belt, depending on how you implement the program. InSPIRE is recommended for students in grades 6-9 who are in alternative school programs, self-contained classes, and can be implemented through community-based services.

The program is integrated to reinforce character education principles which will help students gain mastery of their lives.  The martial arts portion teaches self-discipline and self-control through repetition of choreographed movements called "forms" and meditation.  It helps students set and achieve short and long-term goals gives them opportunities to work through their successes and failures through the peer group support counseling.

The peer group support counseling reinforces lessons learned in the martial arts class as well as the regular classroom and gives students an opportunity to process issues typical to their developmental stage, such as improving self-esteem and good decision-making.

It is recommended that students also receive individual and family group counseling to support their success in the InSPIRE program.