Once upon a time, in the stunningly scenic state of Connecticut, known for its colorful autumn leaves and the tastiest maple syrup, a quirky group of kids discovered a magical world of Aikido. These kids, hailing from the quaint seaports of Mystic to the bustling streets of Hartford, were not your typical superheroes, but they sure felt like them whenever they stepped into their Aikido dojo! Every day, they trained under the watchful eye of the world's most splendidly unusual Aikido master, Sensei Squirrelly - a real, live squirrel! Sensei Squirrelly, with his fuzzy tail and twinkling eyes, had a black belt wrapped around his furry midriff, making him the coolest and the tiniest Aikido master in all of Connecticut. The kids, who were just normal students by day, transformed into Aikido warriors by night. They would bow to their sensei, and with a twirl and a jump, they'd start their training, spinning like tops and rolling like roly-polys. The dojo echoed with laughter, as kids slipped, tripped, but also fearlessly flipped, all in the name of Aikido. Magnificently, these young Aikido warriors from Connecticut learned more than just martial arts. They learned about respect, harmony, and the power of inner peace. Plus, they learned that anyone, even a squirrel, could lead, teach, and inspire. So, if you ever find yourself in Connecticut, feeling a little adventurous, find the dojo and join the fun. Just remember to watch for Sensei Squirrelly's acorn throws during training - they're a real nutty surprise!
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What began in a humble New York City apartment with just a single student, Spark, has since blossomed into an enriching program impacting thousands of children. Our unique educational approach combines the elements of art, yoga, meditation, and nature to create a holistic learning environment. This distinctive blend is what sets Spark apart, allowing us to reach and inspire a multitude of children in truly meaningful ways. With an array of offerings to accommodate various schedules and needs, Spark has something for everyone. Our services extend beyond the standard after school and weekend classes to include holiday and summer camps, birthday parties, portfolio preparation, private classes, and custom pods. We also welcome homeschool groups and are thrilled to announce the recent addition of a forest school program to our repertoire. You can find Spark on-site in various schools and at our main studio located in the Upper West Side. But we're not stopping there - we're also planning to expand to the Upper East Side and Brooklyn. For our families in Pennsylvania, we run the program from our family studio there. And if you're not in close proximity to any of our locations, don't worry. We offer in-home instruction and virtual options to ensure that Spark can reach you, no matter where you are. We invite you to explore all the ways you can experience Spark and look forward to helping bring our program to you.

At Xtreme Martial Arts, we believe in the power of self-defense and sport-based martial arts. Our certified instructors are dedicated to providing a quality learning experience for students of all ages and abilities. Whether you are looking to compete in tournaments or just to learn the fundamentals of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, we have a class for you! Led by 3-time champion, Vitor Shaolin, and his team of certified instructors, Xtreme Martial Arts is committed to helping students progress in not only Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but also in lifelong learning and self-improvement. With classes for all levels, we strive to create a supportive learning environment where students can build confidence and reach their goals.