United Martial Arts Center celebrates 12 years

Warwick — To show its appreciation to the community, students, friends and family, United Martial Arts Center is celebrating its 12th year in business with several public events. A Belt Graduation, a Martial Arts Demonstration and a Child Safety Seminar. There will also be refreshments, games, prizes and fun. In the Child Safety Seminar, children have the opportunity to learn and practice different ways of being powerful to be safe in workshops that are short, upbeat and experiential. The skills they practice can stop most abuse, abduction, assault and bullying. United Martial Arts Center will be holding the next Child Safety Seminar at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18. Workshops are tailored to the ages and life situations of the children, but all UMAC Child Safety workshops have the following elements: • Focus on the positive. This means we use workshop time to explore and practice skills that can prevent, avoid, de-escalate or stop a problem as soon as possible. We do not use scare tactics or stories that focus on children being victimized. • Create opportunities for “learning by doing.” Instead of spending much time discussing problems, we have children practice what to do to prevent or stop those problems. This means our students actually practice n with their bodies and with their voices n the skills they are learning and they are coached so that they experience success. • Use matter-of-fact language that is not fear-based. This means, for example, that students practice skills for stranger safety, not “stranger danger.” We coach students to be aware, not “wary.” We practice skills to stop unwanted touch and attention, rather than talking about “bad touch.” Space is limited, so call 987-1853 to reserve a space today.