LOCAL BUSINESS DEFIES ECONOMY BY EMPLOYING COLLEGE STUDENTS AS SENIOR STAFF

Auburn, June 3, 2003 -- In an economy that many believe is oppressive, especially for college age students, McCoys Action Karate of Auburn and Spencer has provided not only employment for local college students, but has trained them to take responsibility for the growth and development of other peoples dreams and goals. 7 out of 10 of their full time employees are also full time college students. They work 30+ hours a week teaching over 400 students in their local communities the skills they need to defend themselves and overcome many of the obstacles we all face in our daily lives. McCoys Action Karates goal was to provide a meaningful opportunity for its teenage students to contribute to their communities while being employed, but many of their staff have decided to make marital arts their career once they have graduated, and are in fact defying the economy by providing their clients more of what they want and need.

To change the world, one student at a time," says Dan Palacios, the head instructor of McCoy's Action Karate Auburn, when asked why he has chosen karate as his employment during college. It is not about us, its about them," he says when describing why the karate schools have had such success reaching, retaining, and promoting over 150 students to Black Belt in just 8 years. Paul McCoy, one of the systems 2 owners says, Our staff is amazing. When I started karate in the 70s it was about punching a kicking, something anyone can learn in a short time, and something that has little virtue in and of itself. My wife and I opened this school with the express purpose of teaching not only self-defense, but all the qualities of a black belt too, rather than just assuming that our students would pick them up. We so strongly believe that it is NOT about karate, but about the students, that our younger adults picked up on the difference, and asked if they could contribute. They have, and we are now defying the nay-sayers of the economy by not only running a successful business, but doing it with 70% college age employees!"

McCoys Action Karate does not just employee college students; they are instrumental in running one of the most successful karate businesses on the east coast. We have found that they learn quickly, take others needs as more important than their own, notice when a student, child or adult, is in need, and have no problem asking for help when their experience or knowledge does not provide a needed solution. We recently took 11 staff members to Florida for training at Black Belt Schools of America, and they not only learned from other instructors from around the nation, but felt secure enough in their skills, both physical and teaching, to contribute to the sessions for the advancement of others. Pretty remarkable in an economy where the television and magazines of the nation are daily telling us how bad it is, especially for young adults. McCoys Action Karate teaches students of all ages from 3 to 63, and these young adults do it all!

More information is available from Paul McCoy, McCoys Action Karate 614 Southbridge Street Auburn MA at 508-832-4110.