Community Partner Spotlight: SEL and PBL and Martial Arts? | E2

Guest: Matt Eyler, owner of Trinity Martial Arts Studio in New York

Matt's Why:

He opened his martial arts studio to create an atmosphere where students could learn social, emotional, and mental skills that would help them be successful in other areas of their lives. In his studio, Matt relates martial arts to academics, sports, and personal relationships.

Connecting Martial Arts to PBL:

Matt’s approach to teaching martial arts has several connections to project-based learning.

• Character Development: Like PBL, Matt's martial arts instruction focuses on the whole child. He emphasizes character traits such as confidence, courage, and respect, believing that these traits empower students to resist bullying and meet challenges in other areas of their lives.
• Authenticity and Engagement: While his martial arts studio is not a school, Matt faces some of the same challenges as classroom teachers, such as student apathy. He addresses these challenges by being authentic with his students, helping them set goals, and connecting martial arts skills to other areas of their lives.
• Community Partnerships: Matt actively partners with schools in his community. He encourages classroom teachers to reach out to him for support and collaboration.

Key Takeaways:

• Teachers can learn from professionals in other fields. Matt's experience shows that PBL principles can be applied in a variety of settings, not just traditional classrooms.
• Character development is key to student success. By focusing on the whole child, teachers can help students develop the skills they need to be successful in all areas of their lives.
• Community partnerships can enhance PBL. Teachers should seek out community partners who are passionate about working with students.

CONNECT WITH MATT:

Matt Eyler, Trinity Martial Arts Studio

Website: trinitymartialartsny.com

Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok: @trinitymartialartsny

Call to Action:

Consider a martial arts studio as a potential community partner for your next PBL unit!