2012 Media Placements ~ The Abbi Agency.

Pro Martial ArtsTable of Contents

Date Publication Title

12/6/2012 Lifetime Moms Anti-Bullying Awareness: Best Products To Support The Cause

11/27/2012 She Knows Parenting Keep Kids Active in The Winter11/27/2012 Huffpost Living Canada Seven Skills Martial Arts Can Teach You11/13/2012 Current In Fishers PRO Martial Arts To Hold Grand Opening Saturday

10/25/2012 Member SolutionsKicking Bullying, CyberBullying, and Predatory Behaviors To

The Curb

10/22/2012 Fox Business Own A Piece Of A Karate Franchise And Keep Your Day Job

10/8/2012 GSA Business Martial Arts Business Opens On Augusta Street10/5/2012 Earnest Parenting 5 Ways To Bully Proof Your Child's School Experience10/1/2012 Smart CEO Magazine Ed Samane9/27/2012 NBC Philadelphia Suspicious' Man Waves Towards Children: Cops

9/16/2012 East CobberLocal Business To Open With Intentions Of Helping Kids Beat

Bullies This School Year

9/12/2012 The Reporter Pro Martial Arts Opening Saturday In Montgomery Township

9/2/2012 I(We) Like It Frantic Bully Proof Your Students9/1/2012 Franchise Times Just For Kids

8/28/2012 Patch PRO Martial Arts Grand Opening

8/25/2012 CBS Denver Martial Arts Event Teaches Kids How To Deal With Bullies

8/23/2012 Fox Carolina Martial Arts Classes Help Kids With Bullying8/23/2012 metromix Pro Martial Arts Grand Opening 8/22/2012 Your Hub Business Focus: Pro Martial Arts, Englewood

8/17/2012 Nerd Family Things Back To School Giveaway

8/9/2012 Mom's Best Bets Back To School Giveaway

8/6/2012 The Divine Miss Mommy Back To School Giveaway

8/6/2012 Sweet Pennies Back To School Giveaway

8/2/2012 Guide to Sweet Shopping Back To School Giveaway

8/1/2012 Patch PRO Martial Arts- North Wales, PA

8/1/2012 Franchising World Life Skills Development Empowers Pro Martial Arts

8/1/2012 Mom Giveaways Back To School Giveaway!

7/12/2012 Blog Talk Radio Pro Martial Arts Franchise Meets With Franchise Interviews

6/26/2012 Englewood business Scene Pro Martial Arts Grand Opening Event 6/1/2012 Entrepreneur Making sure the kids are all right

5/31/2012 Franchise Direct The Rise Of Martial Arts Franchises

5/31/2012 How to Gain Self Esteem Ed Samane, Pro Martial Arts: Teaching Kids To Fight Back

Against Bullies-Huffinton Post

5/29/2012 IFA SmartBriefEd Samane, Pro Martial Arts: Teaching Kids To Fight Back

Against Bullies

5/29/2012 Huffington PostEd Samane, Pro Martial Arts: Teaching Kids To Fight Back

Against Bullies

3/30/2012 American Express Open Forum How One Entrpreneur Is Leading the Charge Agaisnt Bullying

3/24/2012 NoviPatch New Martial Arts in Now Aims to Bild Character3/22/2012 Observer & Eccentric New martial arts business focuses on whole person3/19/2012 The Oakland Press Pro Martial Arts opens in Novi3/11/2012 9 News Experts say bullying starting as early as preschool

Pro Martial ArtsTable of Contents

Date Publication Title3/1/2012 MomsEveryday.com Bully-Proof Parent Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe

1/13/2012 Philadelphia Business Journal Once bullied, karate teacher shows how not to be victims

1/3/3012 The Mercury Business news in brief

1/3/2012 PottsMerc.com Business Pro Martial Arts announces successful parents night out

Soccer's Over —

Now What? As the cold temperatures set in for much of the country, the soccer fields and the baseball diamonds

are abandoned until spring. And for the kids that play, it means no after-school rush to get to practice

or early weekend mornings to get to a game. But that doesn't mean that kids shouldn't stay active doing

something else.

Hey, baby, it's cold outside... but that doesn't mean your family needs to hibernate! While

popular outdoor sports like baseball are benched until the air warms again, there are plenty ways

for kids to stay active in the winter.

Winter sports

This is kind of the obvious answer — but it's also a really good one. Really — in winter, what's

more natural than cold-weather sports? Strapping on skis, lacing up skates or grabbing the sled

can be just the thing to keep kids moving in wintertime.

“Taking up skiing as a family has really helped in getting my children (ages 6, 8, 10, 12, 14)

excited about a winter sport, as has ice skating and sledding,“ says Anastasia Gavalas, MS, SDA.

“Keeping children physically active just takes some creative planning and if skiing is not in the

budget, then a game of tag in the backyard also works.“

Karate

Don't want to head outside? That's OK! Your kids can try some awesome indoor activities like

karate instead. Those crisp white uniforms are pretty fab — but that's not why karate is a good

choice for winter. “Karate is always available. With children’s obesity growing at an alarming

rate the fitness factor of martial arts helps children through the winter time,” says Ed Samane,

PRO Martial Arts president grandmaster.

But there's another benefit to incorporating karate: It can teach some important lessons. “The

most important benefit from children being involved with martial arts is that it teaches them

about respect and discipline,“ says Samane.

Dance party

For a less structured winter activity, try having a dance-off in your own living room. Your kids will love it.

“Throw a living-room dance party! Turn up your favorite tunes, and start dancing! Encourage the kids to

pick the music — they’re more likely to continue participating,“ says Mindy Pierce, director of

programming for Sport & Health Clubs.

Indoor sports

If your kids are really into sports, there are plenty of options for winter. In addition to basketball,

kids can join indoor soccer leagues (look for athletic centers in your area that might host these).

Swim lessons for learning swimmers and swim teams for experienced swimmers are also a great

option for staying active in the winter.

The key to staying active in the winter? Make it a priority. There really are many ways to be

active — both inside and outdoors — so find what works for your kids and go for it.

One of the most effective ways to tackle the problem of bullying is to build a strong foundation

in the mind of a child by strengthening it with confidence through martial arts training.

Schools should have marital arts training as part of its curriculum so that children will have basic

training to strengthen their minds and body and have confidence to stand up for themselves.

Our schools should take heed from Mr. Ed Samane, a business entrepreneur who has created an

extensive program called ARMOR, which educates and equips kids to protect themselves against

bullies and predators. With 13 franchise units open and 44 more in development, as indicated by

Janean Chun, Samane hopes to empower kids throughout the United States.

Samane explains how bullies have stopped harassing him. "It stopped within six to 12 months of

my starting martial arts classes. One time in the sixth grade, after taking karate, this bully came

up to me and said something like "let's see what you know." It could have been a physical

confrontation, but I stood up for myself, and he never bothered me again. I think the biggest

weapon that a child has is self-esteem, and that's one of the biggest things martial arts does for

youth."

Martial arts is the effective way for kids to develop self confidence and to be able to defend

themselves against bullies. This is what Tess Zavenbergen has concluded also after being the

victim of bullies herself.

"Well as a parent I decided to give my son the tools he needs to defend himself by enrolling him

in martial arts," she stated. "He has been going for four and half months and I already see a

dramatic shift in how he handles and carries himself. Martial arts are the best defense I can arm

him with against future bullies."

Bullies are coward creatures who are like balloons filled with nothing but air. While the balloon

looks humongous in size, it contains no substance of whatsoever and can loose its ground if it

comes in contact with the smallest object.

Martial arts is certainly not the solution to all forms of bullies but it can certainly make the

difference in the lives of many kids by building their personalities. It would be worthwhile even

if it saves one soul in the long run.

It teaches discipline and confidence. No matter how tough you are and how much you excel in it,

you will always know that there are others who are far better than you and this will make you

know your limits and respect boundaries. You will learn to be humble for knowing that there are

others who are stronger than you.

Children can learn a lot more than just how to do a good roundhouse kick at their local karate

class, wrote Mike McLaughlin, a maritial artists who has taught martial arts to thousands of

children in the Phoenix area.

"The physical lessons in martial arts are definitely important but the mental lessons learned in the

dojo can benefit children in many areas of their lives including in the classroom," he added.

Blog continues below slideshow...

Focus -- Whether a child is punching a pad or breaking a board, he or she must have a

tremendous amount of focus in karate class. When a child learns to focus energy on the task at

hand in the dojo, this same focus can be applied to reading a book or completing a homework

assignment.

Memorization -- Most karate organizations teach a series of forms called katas. These katas

require students to remember specific techniques in a specific order. Many karate classes also

require students to remember a series of self defense moves that they must perform. The

memorization skills developed in martial arts can help children as they prepare for tests in

school.

Discipline -- Karate classes tend to be very strict when it comes to behaviour. Most instructors

will not tolerate excessive talking or goofing around in the dojo. Improved behaviour in karate

class often translates into improved behaviour at school. Improved behaviour at school often

translates into improved grades.

Goal setting -- There are many opportunities for goal setting at karate class. Most martial arts

systems have a belt ranking system with white belt being the lowest rank and black belt being the

highest. This ranking system encourages students to strive to reach the next level. This teaches

children to work toward the achievement of a goal. A habit of goal setting often develops in

martial arts students and they work toward other goals such as getting a high school diploma or a

college degree.

Effort -- Karate dojos are a place where students are pushed to give 100 per cent on a consistent

basis. Students are encouraged to kick a little higher or punch a little stronger at nearly every

karate session. This encourages them to never accept less from themselves and it makes them

realize their true potential. Karate teaches children that they can be far more than average and

that they can achieve far better than average grades.

Confidence -- As karate students become stronger physically and they begin to realize they can

handle themselves in dangerous situations, they become more confident individuals overall. A

heightened sense of self confidence will likely benefit children throughout their lives.

Respect -- One of the most important words in martial arts is respect. Students are taught to

respect their instructors, each other, and themselves. Many karate instructors spend time in class

discussing the importance of respecting school teachers and parents. Respect is often missing in

many facets of today's society and when children are taught lessons about respect it can have a

major impact on the future of our world.

PRO Martial Arts To Hold Grand Opening Saturday

Posted by Dan Domsic 11/13/2012

A new martial arts studio is holding its grand opening this weekend.

The Fishers branch of PRO Martial Arts offers a system that combines aspects of Korean martial

arts, Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido, according to a press release.

In addition, the business teaches a course called the Armor Bullying and Predator Prevention

program. Students will participate in 12 weekly sessions focused on bullying prevention, as well

as another 12 on predator prevention. The program is aimed at kids and parents.

The Fishers branch of PRO Martial Arts wants the public to come visit the location on Saturday,

from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The new business plans to have food, drinks, karate demonstrations, board-

breaking and more throughout the day. Guests at the grand opening have the chance to register to

win six months of lessons for free. An iPod Touch will also be available as a prize.

PRO Martial Arts is located 8962 E. 96th Street. For more information, visit

ProMartialArts.com/Fishers or call 913-9139.

Even though National Bullying Prevention Month is coming to an end, we as Martial Artists are in a unique and powerful position to make a difference well beyond the month of October. When I was 11 years old, I was 215 pounds. I had extremely low self-esteem because of it, and I was bullied a lot. I was beaten up or picked on two to three times a week. I sought out the Martial Arts at that time, and it completely changed my life for the better. The Martial Arts raised my self-esteem and confidence. It made such a positive impact on my life that I want to do that for others. To address bullying, the Pro Martial Arts Corporation implemented the ARMOR™ Bullying & Predator Prevention program. Predatory behaviors are also common, need to be addressed and need to be prevented, so we felt it necessary to address both bullying and predator prevention in the program. The ARMOR™ Bullying & Predator Prevention program is based on research from reputable sources specializing in child safety, child psychology, and crime prevention. The program is comprised of 12 weekly lessons on Bullying Prevention and 12 separate lessons on Predator Prevention – acknowledging the serious safety threats children face today both online and in their everyday lives. Here I’m sharing an infographic that is part of the Pro Martial Arts ARMOR™ program. Bullying and predatory behavior have left millions of U.S. parents seeking a solution and Martial Arts can make a positive difference. These startling statistics alone are a good reminder of the national bullying epidemic. I welcome you to print a copy and share with your staff by clicking on the image below.

5 Ways to Bully Proof Your Child’s School Experience October 5, 2012 by Master Ed Samane, CEO and Founder, PRO Martial Arts

Bullying and predatory behavior are national epidemics driving millions of parents to seek protection for their children. PRO Martial Arts ARMOR program offers a solution. Designed by Grandmaster Ed Samane, ARMOR incorporates comprehensive bullying and predator prevention tactics into martial arts training. Parents can implement simple steps from the program at home to ensure their kids have a positive back to school experience.

1. Boost your kid’s self esteem. The number one weapon a child can have against bullies and predators is a strong self-image. Confidence comes

from accomplishment, the kind gained from participating in extracurricular activities. While athletics and Karate are great, any activity where your child can experience a victory will work. Explore your child’s favorite hobby and provide positive reinforcement.

2. Hey Mom, what’s a bully? Children can be unaware they are being bullied. There are three main types of bullying: physiological, physical and cyber. Parents need to help their children understand how to identify the signs of each one.

3. Communication is key. Make your home a safe haven for communication. Children need to feel comfortable telling you what’s happening in their lives without fear of punishment. Start simply by asking about their day at school. Know who your child’s friends are. Make sure they have an adult at school they can talk to, someone they like and trust. The greater interest you take in your child’s life, the more comfortable they will feel about coming to you with their problems.

Earnest Parenting: help for parents who want their kids to avoid bullying.

4. Be dialed in as a parent. Bullying is no longer limited to the playground. Cell phones and computers have become the new means for bullies to target their victims. Use tools like My Mobile Watch Dog and other parental controls to monitor children’s cell phone and computer activity.

5. Show no fear. If your child is being bullied, they need your complete support. Facing a bully can be a hard and scary thing for a child, so they need to know that you believe them and have their back. Confronting bullies is an opportunity for children to face their fears and learn to stand up for themselves.

What to watch for: Some signs that your child may be a victim of bullying include: fear of going to school, negative self talk, drop in grades, and sudden change in opinion about a specific person.

'Suspicious' Man Waves Towards Children: Cops Police are investigating a suspicious incident outside a karate school in Delaware County.

Sep 27, 2012

Police are investigating a suspicious incident outside a karate school in Delaware County. Investigators say it happened at Pro Martial Arts on the 3200 block of Chichester Avenue in Boothwyn. The director of the school tells NBC10 a man outside in a car waved for an 8-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy to come out to his car. Surveillance video shows the children stay inside as the boy runs to an adult for help. Program manager Donna Nather didn't take time to question the kids. "We went running out to get the license plate," said Nather." By that time however, she says the car was gone. Nather tells NBC10 she's proud of the children for reacting the way they did. The boy had just finished a class on "stranger danger," according to Nather. Hannah Thomas, the mother of one of a girl who also took the class, says she's relieved by the outcome. "Everything they taught those kids is exactly what happened," said Hannah. "Not only are we reinforcing it, we're also reinforcing their behaviors." Police say they consider the man a "suspicious male" but at this point are not calling the incident an attempted luring. Police describe the suspect as a black male wearing a blue shirt and driving a silver 4-door vehicle with a dent in it. The vehicle was last seen on Chichester Avenue, according to police. If you have any information on this incident, please call Upper Chichester Police at 610-485-8400.

Local Business to Open with Intentions of Helping Kids Beat Bullies this School Year

September 16, 2012

PRO Martial Arts East Cobb is hoping help local kids “kick” bullying with their ARMOR bullying and Predator Prevention Program. Just in time for Back to School, help your kids gear up for the new school year and fend off bullies through extracurricular activity.

Kids, parents and anyone who has an interest in Karate are invited to a Ribbon Cutting on Friday, September 21 at 2 pm and to the Grand Opening on Saturday, September 22nd from 9 am-3pm.

Bullying and predatory behavior are both national epidemics that have left millions of U.S. parents seeking a solution. A renowned martial arts Grandmaster is providing answers by incorporating a comprehensive new bullying and predator prevention program into the world-class martial arts training at his national chain of martial arts franchises.

The Armor™ Program is being launched this summer at all PRO Martial Arts franchise locations across the country. The program gives PRO Martial Arts franchises a mix of the physical discipline of martial arts and the mental, social and psychological tools that allow children to defend themselves from the devastating effects of physical, verbal and online bullying and predatory behavior.

PRO Martial Arts was founded by internationally certified Grandmaster Instructor Ed Samane, who holds a seventh degree black belt in Tang Soo Do and an eighth degree black belt in Sin Moo Hapkido. Franchises are located in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Connecticut, Delaware, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana and Colorado.

The Armor™ Program was developed as a result of eight months of consultation with national experts in psychology, law enforcement, medicine, education and martial arts. The curriculum focuses on increasing a child’s awareness of bullying, teaching practical tactics to avoid becoming a bullying victim and educating participants on how to defend themselves against predators.

“The Armor™ Program is all about empowerment. It is about empowering children to be their own best advocate,” said Grandmaster Samane.

The theme of the program is “I Am My Own Superhero™,” a message of self-confidence and self-esteem that teaches children to stand tall and stand up for themselves. Twelve weekly bullying prevention lessons are followed by 12 predator prevention lessons. The program has been designed so that students can enter the program at any point and pick up on the learning, regardless of the stage the class might be in the curriculum at that time.

The program targets a growing national concern over bullying in schools, online predators, sexual predators and other abusive behavior toward children. One in 4 students is either a bully or a victim of a bully. Each day 160,000 students don’t show up for school out of fear of being bullied, and 56 percent of students have witnessed a bullying crime take place at school.

PRO Martial Arts founder Ed Samane, a victim of bullying at a young age, himself, realized that although bullying was grabbing national headlines and television coverage, little was being done to solve the problem. The solutions to bullying — increased self-esteem, confidence and discipline — coincide perfectly with world-class martial arts training. So the Armor™ Program formalized much of the character training already existing in the PRO Martial Arts program, and added the skills and techniques gleaned from national experts on the subject.

The result is a practical, skills-based program specifically designed to be easily understood by children of all ages.

“This sets PRO Martial Arts apart from every other martial arts program out there,” said Samane. “There is no martial arts program or curriculum that comes close to this program.”

PRO Martial Arts franchises across the country will also be offering a free adults-only bullying and predator prevention seminar to teach them practical skills to pass along to their children.

Pro Martial Arts is located at 4880 Lower Roswell Rd, Suite-610 next to East Cobb Library.

Charles “Chip” Beaverson has some numbers that parents could find troubling to hear at the beginning of the school year.

Citing various sources, Beaverson said one in four K-12 students are either a bully or the victim of a bully; and one in four girls and one in four boys become victims of sexual predators.

“You hear statistics that kids 9, 10, 11 years old are taking their own lives because they can’t take it anymore,” the Delaware County resident said.

For the sake of safety and peace of mind, Beaverson is opening a Pro Martial Arts franchise in the Montgomery Commons Shopping Center off Welsh Road, with grand opening festivities set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

The ARMOR bullying and predator prevention program featured at the Montgomery Township dojo. “We stress the need for self control in how you react to these situations,” said Beaverson. “Every parent knows building character is one of the responsibilities of good parenting, and we’re just a vehicle for that,” he said. “Parents are free to make (an) appointment or stop by.”

What sets Pro Martial Arts apart, according to Beaverson, is the dojo’s Life Skills Training program that promotes leadership skills, self discipline and pride in individuality. “Number one is character education. Number two is health and fitness, and number three is personal safety,” he said.

Pro Martial Arts’ curriculum includes martial arts techniques drawn from the Korean arts of tang soo do, tae kwon do and hapkido, plus a women’s kickboxing program. Beaverson described tae kwon do as focused on foot movement, tang soo do as focused on hand movement, and hapkido as a discipline that harnesses the power of your opponent.

The grand opening will include free food, board breaking, the Pro Martial Arts mascot Rocky the Rhino, Pro Martial’s CEO and black belt Grand Master Ed Samane and a drawing to win six months of free lessons and an iPod Touch.

Also, ask about the back-to-school promotion that includes two free lessons and a free uniform.

In recently joining the PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce, Beaverson said that he’s understood the importance of being the member of a chamber since the time he ran a management consulting business and was a member of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

Call (215) 412-0322 or visit www.promartialarts.com/northwales.

Follow Brian Bingaman on Twitter @brianbingaman.

For breaking news SMS alerts from The Reporter, text LANNEWS to 22700 from your mobile phone. Msg & Data Rates May Apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.

Bully Proof Your Students

September 2, 2012

Tips Brought to you by: Master Ed Samane, CEO and Founder, PRO Martial Arts

Bullying and predatory behavior are national epidemics driving millions of parents to seek protection for their children. PRO Martial Arts ARMOR program offers a solution. Designed by Grandmaster Ed Samane, ARMOR incorporates comprehensive bullying and predator prevention tactics into martial arts training. Parents can implement simple steps from the program at home to ensure their kids have a positive back to school experience.

1. Boost your kid’s self esteem. The number one weapon a child can have against bullies and predators is a strong self-image. Confidence comes from accomplishment, the kind gained from participating in extracurricular activities. While athletics and Karate are great, any activity where your child can experience a victory will work. Explore your child’s favorite hobby and provide positive reinforcement.

2. Hey Mom, what’s a bully? Children can be unaware they are being bullied. There are three main types of bullying: physiological, physical and cyber. Parents need to help their children understand how to identify the signs of each one.

3. Communication is key. Make your home a safe haven for communication. Children need to feel comfortable telling you what’s happening in their lives without fear of punishment. Start simply by asking about their day at school. Know who your child’s friends are. Make sure they have an adult at school they can talk to, someone they like and trust. The greater interest you take in your child’s life, the more comfortable they will feel about coming to you with their problems.

4. Be dialed in as a parent. Bullying is no longer limited to the playground. Cell phones and computers have become the new means for bullies to target their victims. Use tools like My Mobile Watch Dog and other parental controls to monitor children’s cell phone and computer activity.

5. Show no fear. If your child is being bullied, they need your complete support. Facing a bully can be a hard and scary thing for a child, so they need to know that you believe them and have their back. Confronting bullies is an opportunity for children to face their fears and learn to stand up for themselves.

What to watch for: Some signs that your child may be a victim of bullying include: fear of going to school, negative self talk, drop in grades, and sudden change in opinion about a specific person.

Bullied as a child, the founder of ProMartial Arts arms students with confidence. The owners of Soccer Shots and British Swim School USA, too, say working with kids is the big payoff.

Sometimes, bright ideas spring from truly dark places. In the case of Ed Samane, inspiration for his martial arts and self-defense franchise stemmed from the playground and hallways of his grade school, where classmates harassed him about being overweight. “In sixth grade peer groups tend to develop, and based on my weight I was bullied and picked on,” Samane said. “Kids at that age are tough, and of course it affects your confidence.”

Sick of the abuse, Samane turned to karate, hoping to change his body and protect himself. However, his first lesson was not auspicious. “At my first class, I threw a kick and landed on my butt,” Samane said. “My instructor told me I should probably look at another activity.”

Despite the grueling practice sessions and dog-eat-dog atmosphere, Samane resolved to stick with karate, losing roughly 40 pounds and gaining the courage to stand up to his grade-school assailants. “Naturally when you change your body like that it changes your mindset, your self-esteem,” Samane said. “A person bullied me and I stood up to him in a very confident, direct manner. I wasn’t bullied again after that.”

With bullying behind him, Samane continued to pursue the martial arts, honing his skills and breaking down mental and physical barriers with each new belt he earned. Even before he graduated from college, Samane knew he wanted to run a karate school of his own some day.

After opening his first karate school in 1991, Samane went on to start the ProMartial Arts karate studio franchise in 2008, ignoring those who said such a franchise model would be unsustainable. The core program, which differentiates it from other karate schools, is one close to Samane’s heart: the Armor Bullying and Predator Prevention Training Program.

“Armor is kind of the centerpiece that all kids get regardless of what additional program they’re in,” Samane said. “We teach the kids techniques on how to verbally assert themselves, how to use avoidance techniques, how to go through the proper channels and who to talk to if they’re being bullied.”

The program teaches confidence as the most powerful bully prevention tool, instructing children to use their physical skills only in self-defense, and even then in a limited capacity.

“We don’t want to teach the kids to fight,” Samane said. “We try to teach them compliance techniques, to use minimal force. If a kid punches another kid, the kid might take that punch, put him in a quick hold and wait until help arrives.”

With physical and cyber bullying on the rise, Samane said he hopes to help as many children as he can to avoid the abuse he endured as a child. “My goal is to get every child into the program,” Samane said. “I think nowadays kids really need these tools, and that’s a big driver for me.”

No more shame

To kids who are being bullied, Samane said the most important first step is to reach out to someone. “For kids, when something negative happens they’re not exactly happy to talk about it,” Samane said. “A lot of times kids who are bullied are ashamed. The first thing they need to do, though, is talk to a teacher or a parent.”

Having survived the economic recession, staying afloat for 18 months despite minimal business, the ProMartial Arts Franchise, based in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, has now opened 16 units nationwide, with 51 more in development. Samane believes his concept’s relatively low investment cost—$126,000 to $154,000—will attract franchisees.

“I’m optimistic about the next 12 to 18 months for sure,” Samane said. “As long as the economy stays on track, even if it improves slowly, we’ll continue to grow. Hard work pays off at any time.”

Samane said ProMartial Arts franchisees are not expected to be skilled in karate. Rather, franchises are primarily sold to people with business management experience who have a desire to work in the child education space. Company management hires technicians and instructors for the franchise units separately.

Everything mapped out

“We’re heavily systems driven, not style or personality driven,” Samane said. “Everything we do is mapped out, systemized and congruent across the country.”

Samane believes the skills he learned from karate will help him in the franchise industry. “The three things martial arts taught me were drive, discipline and determination,” Samane said. “I’m convinced the lessons I learned in the process of getting my black belt will help me to really push this brand forward.”

Martial Arts Event Teaches Kids How To Deal With Bullies August 25, 2012

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4) – Students

practiced their self defense skills at Pro

Martial Arts in Englewood on Saturday.

The children learned karate and kickboxing

moves. They also heard some advice on how

to deal with bullies. It was all part of the

open house and “Books for Bishop” event.

The books collected at the event will be

donated to the elementary school.

Martial arts is a great way to build

confidence when dealing with bullies.

“Today we’re teaching

discipline, tae kwon do, tang

soo do … teaching kids the

value of martial arts,” the

program director said. “We’ll

also be teaching a bully

prevention class … teaching

kids what to look out for as

far as bullying goes.”

Other martial arts

demonstrations included

board breaking and nun

chucks.

Martial Arts Classes Help Kids With Bullying Aug 23, 2012

GREENVILLE , SC (FOX Carolina) -

A new martial arts program is teaching bullying and predator prevention to kids in Greenville.

The Pro Martial Arts Armor program offers classes geared towards teaching kids about fitness and life skills, including bullying and predator prevention.

Doug and his wife Laura Stout decided almost a year ago to open a facility like this in Greenville after the recent spike in bullying.

"My wife and I wanted to do something where we can give back to the community. We also wanted to work with kids and help them develop self confidence in themselves," Doug Stout said.

They told FOX Carolina the goal is to help kids identify a bully or even a predator and most importantly how to protect themselves.

More information about Pro Martial Arts' classes or their grand opening this Saturday is available on their website.

Franchising World August 2012

Pro Martial Arts Franchise Meets with Franchise Interviews Thu, July 12, 2012

We are meeting with Ed

Samane, the founder of The Pro

Martial Arts franchise system.

The Pro Martial Arts System is

the result of decades of training

and teaching experience. It

encompasses an exciting and

diverse curriculum of martial

arts techniques drawn from the

Korean arts of Tang Soo Do,

Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido.

What sets Pro Martial Arts apart

from the average martial arts

school is the addition of our

inspiring and motivational Life

Skills Training program. Pro

Martial Arts students acquire

more than just Black Belt kicking and punching skills: they learn the value of a Black Belt

Lifestyle, a lifestyle of quiet confidence, poise, and fulfillment. Pro Martial Arts students are

taught how to set and attain goals, be their own greatest advocates and proactively pursue and

achieve success in all aspects of life.