'Leaders by example' At Lee Matthews Black Belt Academy, we believe that one of life's most valuable skills is mentoring. We have many students at our Academy who demonstrate natural leadership qualities and therefore are natural mentors. As our students increase their martial arts abilities, they are encouraged to help other members in their training at the Academy. Some of these students demonstrate a high level of personal integrity, an excellent commitment to their own training, possess good characters and a desire to teach others. They are students who are willing to learn to become good leaders and responsible role models, who always show themselves to be a good example to others. Such students are invided to join our S.W.A.T Team - a team of highly motivated students, (both children and adults), who illustrate a 'Special Winning Attitude' towards their fellow members. Students showing such skills are personally invited to become S.W.A.T members by Head Instructors of the Academy. Members of the S.W.A.T Team must attend and assist a minimum of two classes per week, well as keeping up their own martial arts training schedule. They help to assist the Instructors both in class and outside the Dojo. Members are also expected to attend regular S.W.A.T meetings, to continually develop their skills. This helps maintain a positive attitude, develops leadership characteristics, builds communication and inter-personal skills through working with others We have 20+ S.W.A.T members, spread throughout our many schools, all of whom play a vital role in the continued growth of the Academy. The Team is headed by Rose Roe, who has been a student at the Academy since 2005, and is currently training hard to achieve her First Dan Black Belt later this year. Rose became a S.W.A.T member at the end of 2006 and is now in charge of organising the S.W.A.T Team for important events, such as Graduation Ceremonies, where the S.W.A.T Team help the younger students to prepare for and achieve their next belt grading.