COVID-19 Impact on 36 Year Old Martial Arts Dojo
Donation protected
Hello. My name is Justin Liang, and I am 17 years old. I have been studying Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu Ninjutsu for about 12 years under Shidoshi Julie Elrod and her family at the American Academy of Martial Arts, located in Ellicott City, Maryland, USA (I am also a junior instructor at the dojo).
THE BACKSTORY
Ms. Elrod’s dojo has been around for 36 years, and has produced thousands of students since its founding. Ms. Elrod, who came from a rough background of constant physical and emotional abuse from her peers, sought to provide kids a chance to protect themselves, the source of guidance that she never had. This specific martial art is focused on quick finishes and submissions of opponents, as well as versatile techniques against weapons; an ideal art for defense. Not only does Ms. Elrod strive to teach her students self defense (and never to be the aggressor), she also ingrains a strict moral code into her students, including honesty, respect, compassion, attitude, strength, self discipline, courage, and perseverance - it is perhaps these words that have had the most effect on her students, at least certainly for me.
MS. ELROD’S IMPACT ON ME
Ms. Elrod’s physical and moral teachings have shaped the kind of person I am today, and I try every day to live by those 8 words. Through some of my darkest times in my student and teenage career, Ms. Elrod has always been there to support me. Never once did she yell at me, nor did she ever fire me when I wasn’t committing my best as an instructor. She always believed the best in me, and has pushed me to grow as a person and student. Her teachings have gotten me through some tough times, including the recent pandemic. During the pandemic, I have tried to look at things with a positive attitude, and count my many blessings.
(November 2nd, 2013, when I received my Junior Black Belt with Ms. Elrod)
THE PROBLEM
However, due to these unprecedented times, my dojo was forced to close like so many others for over 3 months and continues to stay closed. My dojo didn’t believe it was right to continue tuition payments during this time, even with online lessons. Subsequently, they became burdened with a massive debt (about 69,000 dollars), and have to close their 36 year old business. It broke my heart so see the pain they are in, a pain that I could never imagine. They sacrificed blood, sweat, tears for the dojo; Ms. Elrod's children, Mr. Wyatt and Ms. Kami, gave up their childhood and friends to support the dojo.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
For all that they have done for me, and as a student and employee of Ms. Elrod, I feel a personal obligation to try to help them. To do so, I have created a go fund me page to help pay some of their debt. While I realize that they may never be able to open up again, I hope that with donations, their debt may be relaxed.
I humbly ask as a teenager, as a student, as an American, as a kid just trying to help, that if you are in the financial position to donate, to please consider giving any amount of money to the American Academy of Martial Arts.
This money will be spent on helping them get out of debt, so they can reopen at a different location with a clean slate. The limit is currently being set at 30,000 but we are praying to raise the limit so we can help them as much as we can. Their dedication to their art has had a profound impact on my community.
Please help them, so they can continue to nurture future students into confident and respectful people.
AAMA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAMABlackBelt/
AAMA Website: http://www.aamablackbelt.com/
THE BACKSTORY
Ms. Elrod’s dojo has been around for 36 years, and has produced thousands of students since its founding. Ms. Elrod, who came from a rough background of constant physical and emotional abuse from her peers, sought to provide kids a chance to protect themselves, the source of guidance that she never had. This specific martial art is focused on quick finishes and submissions of opponents, as well as versatile techniques against weapons; an ideal art for defense. Not only does Ms. Elrod strive to teach her students self defense (and never to be the aggressor), she also ingrains a strict moral code into her students, including honesty, respect, compassion, attitude, strength, self discipline, courage, and perseverance - it is perhaps these words that have had the most effect on her students, at least certainly for me.
MS. ELROD’S IMPACT ON ME
Ms. Elrod’s physical and moral teachings have shaped the kind of person I am today, and I try every day to live by those 8 words. Through some of my darkest times in my student and teenage career, Ms. Elrod has always been there to support me. Never once did she yell at me, nor did she ever fire me when I wasn’t committing my best as an instructor. She always believed the best in me, and has pushed me to grow as a person and student. Her teachings have gotten me through some tough times, including the recent pandemic. During the pandemic, I have tried to look at things with a positive attitude, and count my many blessings.
(November 2nd, 2013, when I received my Junior Black Belt with Ms. Elrod)
THE PROBLEM
However, due to these unprecedented times, my dojo was forced to close like so many others for over 3 months and continues to stay closed. My dojo didn’t believe it was right to continue tuition payments during this time, even with online lessons. Subsequently, they became burdened with a massive debt (about 69,000 dollars), and have to close their 36 year old business. It broke my heart so see the pain they are in, a pain that I could never imagine. They sacrificed blood, sweat, tears for the dojo; Ms. Elrod's children, Mr. Wyatt and Ms. Kami, gave up their childhood and friends to support the dojo.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
For all that they have done for me, and as a student and employee of Ms. Elrod, I feel a personal obligation to try to help them. To do so, I have created a go fund me page to help pay some of their debt. While I realize that they may never be able to open up again, I hope that with donations, their debt may be relaxed.
I humbly ask as a teenager, as a student, as an American, as a kid just trying to help, that if you are in the financial position to donate, to please consider giving any amount of money to the American Academy of Martial Arts.
This money will be spent on helping them get out of debt, so they can reopen at a different location with a clean slate. The limit is currently being set at 30,000 but we are praying to raise the limit so we can help them as much as we can. Their dedication to their art has had a profound impact on my community.
Please help them, so they can continue to nurture future students into confident and respectful people.
AAMA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAMABlackBelt/
AAMA Website: http://www.aamablackbelt.com/
Organizer and beneficiary
Philip Liang
Organizer
Ellicott City, MD
Julie Elrod
Beneficiary