GMAU Academy—The Oaks Academy
Children's Classes 1st–8th Grade
2301 North Park Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46205
Contact Ministry Director Brian Gordon for more information

On January 8, 2004, The Indianapolis Chapter of the GMAU started a new children's karate ministry at The Oaks Academy. The Oaks Academy is a Christian school that approaches education in a classical teaching and learning style. The class has been received well and has "nothing but positive comments to-date" from parents and students alike. (Granted, some of the fellow classes may have not enjoyed all the noise.) Students range in age from 1st to 8th grade and attend as part of their after-school program electives. Karate meets on Thursday afternoons, and with nearly 30 students each week it's one of the largest after-school programs at The Oaks. Training semesters have been divided into 8-week training schedules. So far in our first 8-week semester the students have learned and met substantially all of the requirements for obtaining junior yellow belts.

A round of applause goes to Mr. Hart, Head Master at the Oaks, for his desire to train young children and his willingness to allow martial arts to be a part of that training. With his help, this ministry got rolling in a very short time. It came about as a result of an announcement at one of our local churches. Someone in the congregation read the announcement and passed it along to the school. The school was looking for after-school programs and in just a few short weeks the class was up and running. As a word of encouragement to those wanting to start new schools, God knows what He wants to accomplish and all things are possible through Him.

God bless,
Kohai "Stiffy" Gordon