A REAL AMAA Story!

“The American Martial Arts Academy (AMAA) has had a positive impact on both of our children (ages 5 and 11). Our son always looks forward to his next visit after every lesson. Our daughter has been a student in a couple other martial arts places; however, her experience at AMAA has been the happiest.

AMAA is not like the traditional dojo, where ‘punishment’ is used to get young students to behave like mature adults.  The caring instructors, who are always hard at work, have helped our children discover their own talents and strengths in a fun, energetic, and friendly environment. AMAA’s achievement program fosters the right attitude in our children while promoting their level of confidence, focus, leadership abilities, fitness and self-discipline among other areas. The development of these personal traits are consistent with our parental goals in equipping our children with necessary life skills to someday become responsible citizens.

When we started at AMAA, we were impressed by the staff’s display of camaraderie and by the family atmosphere. As we got to know other families there, we grew to admire how AMAA has touched their lives in a special way. It is not all about belt ranking but also recognizing and respecting each other’s qualities and potential. We feel very fortunate to have a place like AMAA in North Orange County, where our children can go to and grow in the years to come.  For these reasons, we highly recommend AMAA to friends and family who strive for personal excellence and want the best for their children. “

- Shirley F.

This letter was written 11 years ago. Today, Rafael (age 16) is an honors student at Sunny Hills and Keili (age 22) is studying at University of California: San Diego.

The Drops of Oil...

Below is a story from Paulo Coleho's The Alchemist. An excellent book I highly recommend.


A certain shopkeeper sent his son to learn about the secret of happiness from the wisest man in the world.

The lad wandered through the desert for forty days, and finally came upon a beautiful castle, high atop a mountain. It was there that the wise man lived.

Rather than finding a saintly man though, our hero, on entering the main room of the castle, saw a hive of activity: tradesmen came and went, people were conversing in the corners, a small orchestra was playing soft music, and there was a table covered with platters of the most delicious food in that part of the world.

The wise man conversed with everyone, and the boy had to wait for two hours before it was his turn to be given the man’s attention. The wise man listened attentively to the boy’s explanation of why he had come, but told him that he didn’t time just then to explain the secret of happiness.

He suggested that the boy look around the palace and return in two hours. “Meanwhile I want to ask you do do something,” said the wise man, handing the boy a teaspoon that held two drops of oil. ‘As you wander around, carry this spoon with you without allowing the oil to spill.”

The boy began climbing and descending the many stairways of the palace, keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. After two hours, he returned to the room where the wise man was. “Well,” asked the wise man, “did you see the Persian tapestries that are hanging in my dining hall? Did you see the garden that it took the master gardener ten years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?”

The boy was embarrassed, and confessed that he had observed nothing. His only concern had been not to spill the oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.

“Then go back and observe the marvels of my world,” said the wise man.

Relieved, the boy picked up the spoon and returned to his exploration of the palace, this time observing all of the works of art on the ceilings and the walls. He saw the gardens, the mountains all around him, the beauty of the flowers, and the tasted with which everything had been selected. Upon returning to the wise man, he related in detail everything he had seen.

“But where are the drops of oil I entrusted to you?” asked the wise man. Looking down at the spoon he held, the boy saw that the oil was gone.

“Well, there is only one piece of advice I can give you.” said the wisest of wise men. “The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon”
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

June Placentia KarateOC Newsletter