SFCMA Parent Handbook

REGISTER BELOW

S O L D I E R   F O R   C H R I S T   M A R T I A L   A R T S

P O L I C Y   -   2 0 2 4   –   2 0 2 5    S C H O O L    Y E A R

These POLICY and REGULATIONS govern the overall operations of Soldier For Christ Martial Arts.  In attempt to establish a more effective program, convenience for all parents and parties, and maintain a high standard martial arts program, this POLICY will be effective beginning AUGUST 2019. Soldier For Christ Martial Arts will herein after be referred to as “SFCMA”.

SFCMA has instructed the martial arts team at several school locations since 2014 including; St. Cecilia Catholic School, St. Jerome Catholic School, Epiphany Lutheran School, St. John Paul II Catholic School, Christ the Redeemer Catholic School, Epiphany of the Lord Catholic School, St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School, St. Laurence Catholic School, and Holy House Academy Catholic School.  Herein after, all school locations will be referred to as “SCHOOL”.

C A L E N D A R

SFCMA will hold class for students enrolled in the SCHOOL martial arts team program.  Classes will be held beginning September 2024 and end the last day of May 2025.  We will follow the school's calendar for school practice; if school is not in session, the school's martial arts team will not practice.

In the event that our practice calendar must change due to unforeseen circumstances, SFCMA will contact parents to inform them of the change.  It is our goal to keep parents updated and to be as transparent as possible.  We strive to provide parents with a yearly practice calendar at the beginning of the year which will reflect the exact days for practice throughout the year.

The class calendar we provide is usually accurate, however changes may occur, and therefore the calendar may be adjusted by the SCHOOL or SFCMA.

L O C A T I O N

Each SCHOOL will have their own location on campus where the martial arts team (SFCMA) will practice for class.  This campus location for each school will be included in the yearly calendar for each SCHOOL.  During the agreed upon time and place, the campus location becomes the martial arts gym of SFCMA.

C L A S S   T I M E S

The official time for each class is 4:00 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.  SFCMA has a practice window of 4:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. at each SCHOOL location.  Class will begin at 4:00 p.m. for all ranks.  Students are expected to be dressed and ready for class before the start of class.  The lower ranks will be dismissed from class around 4:50 p.m.  The remaining time will be used for instruction of the higher ranks if needed.  The remaining time may not always be needed to finish class depending on the class size.  The class time may be adjusted by SFCMA. Please arrive promptly for student pickup at 4:50 p.m.

Coach Sowers often dismisses class after the scheduled class end time.  

 M E M B E R S H I P   P R I C I N G

Fall Membership: $400

Registration, Uniform, December Rank Testing,

Monthly Membership September - December

Spring Membership: $500

UNITED Martial Arts Tournament, May Rank Testing,

Monthly Membership January - May

Full Year 2024-2025: $850 (Save 6%)

Includes both Fall and Spring membership + 6% discount

If tuition assistance is needed please contact us at founder@soldierforchrist.org.

** SFCMA does not accept Cash or Check.  All payments are paid through the SFCMA website.

A service charge of 2.8% is applied at checkout.

SFCMA does not give refunds.

S U P P L I E S   A N D   G E A R

SFCMA wears the traditional martial arts uniform; including jacket, pants, and ranking belt.  NEW STUDENTS wear the WHITE UNIFORM.  Upon earning Orange Belt, students have the option to upgrade their uniform to the BLACK UNIFORM.  This encourages students to work hard to achieve the next level.  ALL uniforms, belts, and gear are ordered through the SFCMA website (www.SoldierForChrist.org).  A size chart is provided on the website to assist in ordering the right size for each student.  Returning students may continue to wear their current uniform. 

NEW STUDENTS will need to order a uniform. Students will be measured for their uniform on the first day of class.  7oz Student Uniform WHITE.  Coach Sowers will size students to ensure the correct uniform size is ordered.  Our FIRST ORDER DATE will be September 15, therefore all orders must be ordered through our website prior to September 15.

Students begin sparring once they earn Yellow Belt.  Sparring equipment is ordered through the SFCMA website.  Students do not need sparring equipment until they reach the second rank of Yellow Belt.

Ordering sparring gear is optional.  Class gear is provided for students to use and share throughout the year. Should students decide to order gear to have their own, they can do so at any point throughout the year through the SFCMA website.  Sparring gear will be a separate charge should students decide to order gear.

R A N K   P R O M O T I O N S

SFCMA offers at least 2 promotional opportunities throughout the year for students to test to achieve their next higher rank: Christmas (Mid School Year Test) and May (End of School Year Test). The testing calendar may be adjusted by SFCMA depending on the student needs.  

T O U R N A M E N T S

SFCMA hosts the Annual UNITED TOURNAMENT in the Spring each year for students to showcase what they learned in class and compete against other schools.  Our United Tournament consists of bringing together all 5 of our SCHOOL locations to compete against each other in a controlled environment.  See our website for pictures of our recent Spring Tournament.  Registration information will be provided as our Spring United Tournament Approaches.  

Attending the UNITED TOURNAMENT is highly encouraged for all students and is included in your membership payment.

R A N K I N G   S T R I P E S

SFCMA follows a rank promotion system using colored stripes.  The colored stripes are indicated on each students ranking belt.  RED indicates hard work and great effort.  BLUE indicates listening and following instructions.  BLACK means learning the ranking material for each students rank.  Students earn these stripes during class.  Please keep an eye out for their progress.  After several weeks, if no stripe has been earned on their belt, there is probably a reason.

S T U D E N T   B E H A V I O R

SFCMA is a Martial Arts Team/Club of each SCHOOL taught by experienced martial arts instructors and professional martial artists.  Those students who choose to practice and be a member of the Martial Arts Team are expected to “WANT” to be there.  The team members work hard to earn their rank and enjoy the process and environment.  Great friends are made in the martial arts team.  This being said, a constant disruption of class and rule breaking will not be tolerated.  Such behavior could result in being dismissed from class until class rules can be followed.  Being dismissed from class for behavior issues is not a reason to receive a refund.

S F C M A   W E B S I T E

SFCMA operates 1 online media website.  Our online website is www.SoldierForChrist.org.  By registering with SFCMA, SFCMA has permission to post well-mannered pictures on our private website (www.SoldierForChrist.org) and Facebook page of each of our students to promote SFCMA.  Any change to this rule must be in writing.

S F C M A   F O U N D E R

SFCMA was founded in 2014 by Certified 5th Degree Master, Colonel Tyler Sowers.  Colonel Sowers has since grown SFCMA to 7 SCHOOL locations and currently operates the only martial arts academy at the college preparatory level located at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory.  Colonel Sowers is from Houston, TX and attended Catholic school from Elementary School through High School during his younger years.  Schools he studied were St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, Seton Catholic Jr. High, and St. Pius X High School.  Colonel Sowers currently resides in Houston, TX and has a big part in operating all SFCMA locations.  Colonel Sowers is married to Sarah Sowers in the Catholic Church and have 5 children: Dean Coleman (9 years old), Lucille Ember (6 years old), Twin Girls - Liza Elaine and Liesel Elaine (4 years old), and Logann Eleanor (1 year old). 

With the growing Sowers family, working full-time, and in attempt to automate, make transparent, and simplify the SFCMA program, Colonel Sowers has introduced this POLICY to be in effect August 2019.