Headline: AIM HIGH steers kids toward activity, goals
Publication: The Des Moines Register 
Date: July 1, 2009
By: Dawn Sagario Pauls

For about 45 minutes, Crystal Wolfe watched her son, Tyler, do sit-ups, push-ups, kicks, punches, blocks and more last week at Farrell's U.S. Martial Arts and Fitness in Beaverdale.

Tyler, 9, and other kids in the AIM HIGH class also listened to instructor Brandon Miller's lessons on respect and having a positive attitude, just like "The Little Engine That Could."

Farrell's has been offering AIM HIGH - an acronym for Attitude in Motion, Having Integrity, Goals and Humility - for about three years. During the eight-week sessions, kids from first through eighth grades set and achieve at least one positive habit, while studying martial arts and learning healthful eating habits. Classes are held at Farrell's locations in Beaverdale and Waukee. The cost of a session is $249.

Wolfe, of Johnston, said she signed up her son so he could be more active and learn to make good decisions. Tyler's goal is to brush his teeth twice a day.

"It's getting him off the video games," Wolfe said. "I just want him to have goals for himself, and basically motivation for himself. I want him to have the confidence, as well."

Lance Farrell, president of Farrell's U.S. Martial Arts and Fitness, said the focus of the course is to develop better character in kids.

"We've always taught character development and education in our tae kwon do classes, but we wanted to do something a little more aggressive," Farrell said.

AIM HIGH takes the tenets of martial arts - courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit - and uses those to help kids achieve their goals, said Brandon Miller, director of martial arts.

Miller said he talks to kids and parents about setting goals that are challenging, attainable and age-appropriate and also that adults and kids can be excited about.

Kids keep track of their daily progress on a chart, and parents are encouraged to have a reward system, he said.

Participants are expected to attend class three times a week and also take weekly fitness tests, Miller said.

Families also have mentors assist them in the program. Mentor Michelle Hoops, whose two sons went through the program, also checks things such as kids' progress in eating fruits and vegetables (they have to try one of each daily) and healthy activities they're doing.

Hoops signed up her older son, Nolan, three years ago to get him to be more active. Nolan, 13, said before AIM HIGH, he watched a lot of television and didn't have good eating habits. Now, he's eating more healthfully and working toward getting his black belt in tae kwon do.

Janine Smith of Des Moines said she hopes the program can teach her sons, Adam, 11, and Reece, 6, discipline, respect, confidence and more healthful habits.

"I have been working myself to become healthier in the last year, and my kids need to learn to become healthier and eat healthier," Smith said.

The Des Moines Register has published an article featuring Brandon Miller, Director of martial arts at Farrell's U.S. Martial Arts and instructor trainer at Farrell's eXtreme Bodyshaping. Click here to view the online news article.

The Des Moines Register has published an article featuring Members of the Hall family of Adel. This family attends Farrell's Martial Arts in Waukee.

The Des Moines Register has published photos from the Black Belt Extravaganza in both the West Des Moines/Waukee and D.M. West sections of the November 18th Des Moines Register. Each section published an approximately 2/3 page spread, and the Register has also placed the photos online. Click here to view the online gallery.

The Business Record has published an article featuring Mr. Farrell. Click here to view the article.

Headline: Dostal can rely on eXtreme friends
Subhead: Folks at Farrell's eXtreme Bodyshaping hold benefit run and kickboxing marathon to help WDM woman battling cancer.
Publication: The Des Moines Register 
Date: September 26, 2008
By: David Dolmage

When Becky Dostal was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year she knew she would be able to count on her friends for support. She just didn't realize how overwhelming that support would be.

Becky's friends, working through Farrell's eXtreme Bodyshaping in Waukee, organized a benefit for her. Kickin' it for Becky started off with a 5K fun run on Saturday morning and continued with a kickboxing marathon that lasted from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Participants helped raise more than $10,000 to help Becky and her husband, Doug, offset the costs of treatment. The 5K fun run had more than 100 pre-registered runners. Event organizers estimated the total number of participants at 150.

Lance Farrell, founder of Farrell's U.S. Martial Arts and Fitness, said it was evident when he first met Becky and Doug that they were special people. He wasn't surprised to see so many people come out to support the West Des Moines woman. "Everyone loves Becky, she always has a smile on her face, and she always brings a smile to your face," Farrell said.

The couple first came to Farrell's when Doug won an eXtreme Bodyshaping course at a charity auction. Upon completing the course, Doug won the $1,000 prize for most improved. He returned the money to Farrell, asking him to use it to sponsor a child in tae kwon do. Eventually, Doug got Becky to go to Farrell's as well, where she became a part-time instructor.

Doug said, "The support we've received from Farrell's has been fantastic, they've been a second family to us. With their help all we've had to worry about is getting Becky better."

The idea for a race was proposed by a group of Becky's friends when they learned via an e-mail that she had been diagnosed with cancer this summer. Shortly before diagnosis Becky had taken up running, and had just completed her first long- distance race, running in the Dam to Dam.

"Running is a big part of Becky's life," said Liz Hiveley of Waukee, one of the event organizers. "We wanted to do something for Becky that would allow people to participate in something that she loves to do and to raise money for her." While they were finding sponsors and organizing their benefit for Becky, Hiveley realized this was something she wanted to keep doing, as well. "We formed a corporation called Kickin' it for Becky LLC, and we're going to continue raising money each year. We hope to find a different person to sponsor next year, and to keep this event going," Hiveley said.

At the start of the race Becky addressed the crowd, thanking them for all of their love and support. "I've got a mountain to climb, but then I'm going to get back to business as usual. I want to thank everyone for all of their love and support," she said.

Congratulations to all of our competitors that represented Farrell’s U.S. Martial Arts at the Iowa State Championship tournament on November 1st, 2008!

1st Place Team Trophy for “Most Competitors” 2nd Place Trophy for “Most Team Points”

Great job everyone Keep Kickin’
Farrell’s Staff and Instructors

New AIM HIGH class starts January 16, 2010, 8:00 a.m. at Beaverdale location.
Call 255-0095 For More information

Click Here for more information.