SENIOR WELLNESS PROGRAM
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What is Elevate Martial Arts Wellness?
A: Elevate Martial Arts Wellness is a specialized wellness program that combines martial arts training, cultural education, and community engagement to enhance the physical and mental well-being of participants. Our programs are designed to be accessible to all skill levels, with a particular focus on seniors.
Q: How intense is the martial arts training?
A: The physical part of our program utilizes gentle, slow hand strikes and blocks. All of our techniques can be done from standing or in a seated position. All of the activities can be done individually, practicing the techniques in the air. Students may have the opportunity to gently do some partner work depending on comfortability levels.
Q: What is in a typical class like?
A: Most classes will follow this format:
Greetings/bow in
Guided breathing/meditation
Cultural education that may include optional take home assignments
Martial arts inspired exercises that tie into the culture learned this class
Cool down
Salutations/bow out
Q: What types of martial arts will I learn?
A: You will learn exercises inspired by a variety of martial arts, including Taekwondo, Kung Fu, and Hapkido.
Q: What is involved in the cultural education portion of class?
A: To honor Eric’s late Japanese grandmother, students will be introduced to Japanese culture. This will include the option to take home and learn to draw Kanji (Japanese characters) and learn basic terminology/counting. In addition, our physical techniques are based on the four Japanese elements - Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. We will learn about each element, and how it ties into our martial arts.
Eric and his grandma at school, 1992.
Q: Can I earn a black belt?
A: One of Elevate’s goals is to bring a traditional martial arts school to seniors. This includes a rank system similar to martial arts belts. New students will receive an Elevate lanyard with their name (in English and Japanese). As they complete classes and gain more experience, they will earn badges to pin to their lanyards based on the Japanese elements, culminating in the highest rank - a Harmony badge.
Q: How long are classes?
A: Each class is one hour long, and each “semester” of classes runs 9 weeks. This includes 8 weeks of instruction and a final week that is a promotion ceremony/celebration.
Q: What should I bring to class?
A: Wear comfortable clothes and sneakers. Be sure to wear your lanyard. You are also encouraged to bring water. If you require snacks during class, please let the instructor know beforehand.
Q: What qualifications do the instructors have?
A: Eric currently holds a 2nd degree black belt and has earned his certification as a Senior Fitness Specialist with the National Academy of Sports Medicine. All of our instructors are certified in CPR/AED/First Aid.
If you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.