After-School Programs

The South Poultney Dojo welcomes new students to its after-school program. We teach traditional Asian martial arts, Kung Fu Wu Su. There is no age or experience requirement; children usually begin around age 6.

Many parents have begun to use our programs as opportunities to share experiences with their children. Moms, dads, and children often come to class together and participate jointly in our training activities. Currently, we have ten families who share their training experience. These joint exercises are good for all the family members, bringing parents and children together in fun, healthy, wholesome, social, athletic activities. Everyone gets in better shape together!

To learn more about who we are and what we do you can continue to investigate our website and to read the information below. In addition, you can contact Terry through the website or you can text him at 802-345-0471. If you would like to make an appointment to come for a Dojo visit, that would be great! If not, we would be happy to have you stop in to a class whenever it is convenient for you.

Program Description

Classes run year round. Most children attend our classes during the school year and during the summer as well. Poultney students usually ride the bus from school; students from Long Trail, Green Mountain Community School, Mettawee, Wells and Granville are dropped off at the Dojo by family and friends. We understand that arrival times will vary due to the different schedules of the 5 or more different schools whose students attend our classes. This is not a problem, our classes are arranged to accommodate late arrivals. Class runs 3-4:30 Monday, Wednesday and Friday; pick-up time is 4:30-5.

Traditional Asian Martial Arts is well known for its impact on respect, agency, strength, flexibility, cardio-fitness, self-esteem, self-control and self-defense. Additionally, it is scientifically validated for developing the executive functions of emotional control, cognitive flexibility and working memory.

Recently much attention has been payed to the lack of mentors for boys and young men. We have many male mentors at the Dojo. (We have excellent female mentors and students as well, but girls seem to be doing well in society whereas boys have been struggling). Dojo training is an excellent opportunity to connect your boys and young men to strong resilient respectful male role models.

Tuition at our school is $60 a month. This is a family plan! If you have several kids or you and your partner want to participate it is still just $60.

Upcoming Kettlebell Seminar: Saturday, January 24, 2026

Kettlebells are a powerful adjunct to strength training that build power into movements basic to martial arts practice. The squat, the hinge, the get- up are movements practiced frequently in martial exercises and are basic activities in kettlebell training.

Kettlebells are turning up more and more in gyms, and rehab centers and peoples’ homes. They are not just dumbbells with a different shape. Their unique configuration of weight and handle allow for very specific movements and exercises. Many people might benefit from greater awareness of these particular features of kettlebells, and might wonder how to take advantage of them. We will be welcoming anyone interested in learning more about kettlebells to our Dojo on Saturday afternoon, January 24th, at 2pm. We will introduce anyone who attends the most basic forms of kettlebell use such as the swing, the get-up, and the snatch.

We have many kettlebells at the Dojo from 5lbs to 105, so we will be able to provide most people with a Kettlebell to use. However, if anyone would like to bring their own kettlebell to learn and practice with that would be great.

At the South Poultney Dojo we have incorporated kettlebell exercises into our regular practice. Kettlebells were introduced to us by one of our instructors, Zack Sawyer, who has received training in their use from certified SFG instructors. Though Zack has a good understanding of kettlebell practice and his forms have been trained by certified Instructors, he is not Strongfirst certified. Anyone interested in official Strongfirst certified training instructors can find several of them here, all within about 40 miles of our area.

Zack will be the leader of the Seminar at the Dojo on Saturday. For further information you can contact Terry Bergen by texting to 802-345-0471.