A samurai sword and a birthday cake

Most kids' birthday parties end with someone cutting the cake. At Safeguard Martial Arts, the birthday child does it with a real samurai sword, “under close supervision, of course.”

The parties, for ages 6 to 12, start with an hour of martial arts instruction, then 30 minutes of pizza and cake and 30 minutes of games like Nerf Gun Wars, dodgeball and Musical Karate Shields. There's board breaking, too. It's a playful side of a dojo whose owner takes the serious side very personally.

“My sanctuary”

“Hello, I'm Troy Parker, the heart and soul behind Safeguard Martial Arts,” the dojo's about page begins. He writes that his story with martial arts is “a deeply emotional journey” tied to his experiences with ADHD, especially since he was diagnosed later in life.

“From the age of 4, martial arts became my sanctuary,” he writes, “a place where the challenges of ADHD transformed into opportunities for focus, achievement, and self-expression.” He trained in Shotokan karate, kickboxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and XMA (Extreme Martial Arts weaponry), and holds a 4th-degree black belt in karate.

Troy took over Safeguard in 2014. He says he saw a chance to build “a community that's not just about martial arts, but about belonging, understanding, and mutual growth.”

“To me, being an instructor is about much more than teaching kicks and punches,” he writes. “It's about nurturing hearts and minds, guiding those who see the world through a different lens, and helping them harness their unique talents through the discipline and joy of martial arts.”

A family behind the dojo

Troy writes that his wife, Kirsten, works with neurodiverse youth and shares her own journey with ADHD and autism. “Together, we pour our hearts into making our studio a place where everyone, especially those facing similar challenges, can feel supported and successful,” he says.

Reviewers also name Sensei Tina alongside Sensei Troy.

From Tiger Tots to the competition team

Classes are grouped by age. Tiger Tots is for 3- and 4-year-olds. Junior Karate runs in two groups, ages 5 to 7 and 8 to 12, and teaches Shotokan fundamentals along with what the school calls Bully Buster and Stranger Danger lessons. Teen and adult karate starts at 13.

Tiger Tots keeps its spots limited and promises “personalized attention and a close-knit learning community,” and the junior programs aim to channel kids' energy into focus, respect and practical self-defence.

Kickboxing has a youth class for ages 8 to 12 and a teen and adult program that mixes basics, conditioning and application classes. Students who want more can try out for the SMA Competition Team, which trains in kickboxing, karate and weapons for regional and national events.

What parents notice

Safeguard has a five-star Google rating, and parents tend to write about attention and patience. “We love Safeguard!! Sensei Troy & his staff are incredible!” one wrote. Another said their son had trouble paying attention and following direction, and “the change that I have noticed in his focus and behavior in a short time is amazing.”

Another family said their son started at Safeguard “when he was just 3.5 years old.” A parent of a two-year student praised “the core values the children are taught inside and outside of the dojo.”

A parent whose family moved away wrote, “The tots class is the perfect length to keep their age group engaged.” That same parent had one wish: “My only wish is that they offered the tots class more than once a week.” If you have a preschooler, ask about the current Tiger Tots times when you book a trial.

Photos: Safeguard Martial Arts.