Armand is Southwest Karate & Aikido Center's Student of the Month.

He has been involved with our program since he was 3 years old. He started in our Koi program, and then moved through our advanced Koi. Now he has moved into the tiger program.
He has already participated in multiple exhibitions and community out reach demonstrations. Armand helped coach a class of at risk 5TH graders at Barton hill at the age of four! He is currently coaching our advanced Koi every Saturday morning and on Tuesday afternoon Beginning Koi. Then he trains in his Tiger class.

Armand is not only a future sensei; he's a future community leader. People wonder about the future of leadership in our communities. These students of the month from our South West Karate & Aikido Center give all the adults peace of mind that in our community not all the youth are foolish. Some of our youth are developing greatness of not fighting but leadership with proven good character.

The proof of selflessness achievement for the love of humanity without the need of medals from Karate tournaments... Armand has inspired humility and compassion in our community and the dojo, without the need of senseless violence.
Students like Armand give me a burst in energy and peace of mind. Master Funakoshi and Master Ueshiba taught with the knowledge and wisdom from years far in the past. And from lands very different and far away. Yet today their teachings are invoking the same call to action in our youth today.

The challenge of developing Character, as Master Funakoshi stated “start with a bow and end with a bow.” “Seek perfection of charter.” Armand is well on his way to these statements from Master Funakoshi. Armand's family has made a home around the dojo. And the dojo has made Armand's family our extended dojo family, forever growing in positive numbers.

Southwest Karate & Aikido Center martial arts training programs for kid’s compliments what we’re doing at home to raise our child.

Armand is a well rounded boy. He enjoys physical challenges. He likes to wrestle with his Dad and play pick-up baseball, basketball and soccer. He likes bike riding, swimming, riding his Razor scooter, and his action figures and toys too.

Armand has done well academically as a Magnet student. Out of a kindergarten student body of 100+ students, Armand was unanimously selected by all of the Kindergarten teachers at his campus to introduce his class winter recital due to his keen public speaking and communication skills.

This boy displays confidence and poise in all that he endeavors. Armand has distinguished himself in school by repeatedly receiving the September 2007 Citizenship Award and the September 2008 Student of the Month Award.

His Magnet first grade teacher recently noted that Armand is well beyond grade-level in reading and comprehension. Armand’s reading scores are off the chart. A score of 60 is at grade level. A score of 80 is beyond grade level. Armand scored 102 (WCPM) *words comprehended per minute, in standardized testing.

…it takes a village to raise a child.

Raising a well rounded child is a challenge.

…It takes good parenting. It takes a good school community environment. It takes a good dojo and Sensei Steve Gancherov’s Southwest Karate & Aikido Center to raise a well rounded child.

…I am an artist and I must express myself—Armand.
Classical Shotokan Karate and Aikido training techniques compliment what we’re doing at home to raise our child to function as a leader in the community.

~ George O. Del Campo, M.A. Behavioral Science:
Negotiation & Conflict Management