Why be a part of the program?
 As a part of the Assistant Instructor Program, you will get a permanent 5% discount off of your tuition, will have access to free training workshops, and be invited to exclusive activities/trips (Assistant Instructor Program participants only).  There will be other little material perks as well, such as instructor t-shirts and other gear, awards, etc.  The things you will do as a part of the program will greatly enhance your training, and make you increasingly ready to wear that black belt.  Not only that, but it will be fun!

How do I become a part of the program?
There is no cost to be in the program.  There is no age limit.  You can start the process to be eligible for this program as early as blue belt (and are encouraged to do so).  To be eligible, you must do the following six things:

1. BLUE GI - You must earn your blue gi.  You can start working on this as early as blue belt, but you must be a purple belt to actually get your blue gi.  Click here for more info on how to earn your blue gi.

2. INSTRUCTOR TRAINING - Take a free instructor's training session with Sensei Brian.  We will be scheduling these periodically throughout the year for those who are interested.  Sign up for the next one that comes around.  This workshop can be taken by purple belts or above who are interested in the program, at no cost.

3. ASSIST IN CLASS - Sign up with Kristina to regularly assist with at least one class per week.  You must pick at least one class, for instance the kids yellow belt class on Thursday, and be at that class to help out every single week.  You don't need to do this until you're late-PII or brown, unless you want to do it earlier for practice.  At that point, you must continue it in order to continue to be a part of the Program.  If at any point you stop assisting in class, your participation in the Program will end at that point.  You can start back up again any time.

4. SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT - You must complete a special age-appropriate assignment: IF YOU ARE A KID (age 17 or under) you will have an essay to write, assigned by Sensei specifically for you.  IF YOU ARE AN ADULT (age 18+) we will send you to a 1-day class to learn about recognizing signs of child abuse and what to do, how to teach children to avoid it, and how to avoid liability yourself when you're working with kids.  This class is taught through the KIDS Center in Bend and is held at the Rosie Bareis Community Center.  The dojo will cover the $15 cost for the training.  If you've already done this, you're all set.

5. BE YOUR OWN SENSEI - You must find a training partner in the school and train regularly with them.  Start this when you are a PII.  Your partner could be anyone within one belt level of you, and doesn't have to be someone else trying to get into the Assistant Instructor Program.  If could be someone in your own family, can be adult or kid, just must be a student at the dojo within one belt level of you.  Training regularly doesn't mean every day or even every week.  It could be every other week, once a month, whatever.  It could mean meeting once a week at the dojo for a half hour before your class.  It could mean meeting at their house twice a month to practice in the yard for an hour.  Whatever works for you - you decide.  To complete this requirement, you must tell Sensei Brian who your training partner is, how often you meet, and be prepared to tell him what you've been working on when he asks.  You must continue to meet regularly in order to continue to be a part of the Assistant Instructor Program.

6. BROWN BELT - All of the above requirements should be completed prior to earning your brown belt (or shortly thereafter).  The last requirement to becoming a part of this program and for the discount to go into effect is to earn your brown belt.

Once you meet all of the above requirements, you will be eligible for the free training sessions, activities and discounted tuition.  If you have all of the requirements in place prior to your brown belt test, your discount and official participantion in the program will start immediately when you earn your brown belt.  A student's access to these things and the discounted tuition will stop if the student fails to meet any one of the above requirements for one month.  For instance, if a student fails to meet with their training partner for a whole month, or if they stop assisting in classes, they will no longer be considered a part of the program.

Please speak to Kristina with any questions.

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