YRUMAD (YOUTH RESPECTS UNIVERSAL MARTIAL ARTS DISCIPLINE)

Youth economic advancement

Central LA East LA South LA West LA City of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a citywide benefit)

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

It is a fact that Physical and mental activity promotes life learned skills and a healthier lifestyle, both in youth and adults. Physical activity promotes longevity, improves the digestive system, overall joint health and mental longevity, as well as builds self confidence. Our program thrives to change the way Martial arts is viewed, not as a weapon of defense but as a tool to promote basic life skills fundamentals through respect, discipline, commitment, mentoring the youth on how to make good life choices, community awareness and involvement, the importance of maintaining good school grades, which is a requirement to participate in our program and being responsible to compete on a level while still showing respect and discipline. The program is a safe haven for youth to as an after school program, giving them an alternative and positive environment. We strive to reach all youth to keep them active and off the streets, the penal system and out of gangs.

The program promotes higher learning and mentors the youth to obtain scholarships to attend Ivy League colleges as well as obtain sport scholarships. This is achieved by mentoring youth through vision planning to make good life choices to achieve higher goals. Our program gives the youth the life tools to live by, a foundation of respect, discipline, self- confidence, and a greater appreciation for the community they live in. By exposing the youth to activities such as community involvement, volunteering, achieving high grades, respecting others, learning the art of discipline and mentoring on making good life skill choices we have seen the positive results and many of the youths have gone on to be successful,

The program aims to make youth better prepared by respecting others and by demonstrating leadership skills, leading by example. Short term our vision is to expand our outreach opportunities to the community and increase youth participation in the program marketing to retain youth by adding more activities and further community involvement activities. We strive to lessen the juvenile system, give youth better opportunities and choices, give the youth a safe haven while mentoring on life skills. We strive to reach all youth to keep them active and off the streets, out of the penal system and out of gangs making the city a better and safer place. The youth are the future of Los Angeles County and without mentoring and alternatives, options to see past their own circumstances they will not be fully equiped to obtain high goals.