Aditya Hariharan, a 14-year-old student at Walter Panas High School in Cortlandt Manor, NY, is the founder of E.Dojo, a virtual martial arts platform designed to make karate training affordable and accessible to all. As a recipient of the 2024 i.Invest Rising Start-up Youth Entrepreneur Grant, awarded by LifeSkills Foundation, Aditya will receive $500 to help develop his business model. LifeSkills Foundation, based in New Orleans and led by Executive Director Michelle Jackson, has been dedicated to supporting young entrepreneurs since its founding in 2015. Through E.Dojo, Aditya is transforming the traditional approach to karate instruction, making it flexible, enjoyable, and tailored to each student’s needs.
Below is a Q&A discussion with Aditya about his work to build the E.Dojo platform:
Q: Describe your product or service.
E.Dojo is a virtual martial arts platform that offers a range of lessons designed to accommodate students of different skill levels and learning styles. The platform provides on-demand video lessons covering various karate techniques, such as kihons (basics), katas (forms), kumite (sparring and self-defense), and even weapon training. Each lesson is customized to a student’s belt rank and age, ensuring a personalized learning experience.
Students can also participate in interactive activities like follow-along videos, training assignments, and competitions with their peers. After completing their assignments, they submit videos for evaluation by certified instructors, who offer feedback and award BUDO Points—a reward system that motivates students by allowing them to earn eco-friendly products and other prizes. To ensure flexibility, students can also attend live virtual "Dojo Hours" for real-time instruction and feedback from instructors. After mastering their techniques, students test for their next rank through a method of their choice, reducing anxiety and stress.
Q: What inspired the creation of your product?
The inspiration for E.Dojo came from my personal experiences with martial arts. As a black belt and employee at a local karate school, I’ve spent eight years learning and four years leading classes. Throughout my journey, I noticed many challenges with traditional karate instruction, particularly the rigid scheduling. It was difficult to fit classes into my already busy school and extracurricular schedule, and I often had to switch locations or miss classes altogether. Many of my peers faced similar struggles too.
E.Dojo addresses these issues by offering an on-demand curriculum that allows students to learn at their own pace, anywhere and anytime. By offering flexibility and affordability, E.Dojo ensures that martial arts education is accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial or scheduling constraints. E.Dojo helps students overcome the obstacles I faced and ensure they could enjoy martial arts training without the burden of rigid structures.
Q: What social impact does your company/product demonstrate?
E.Dojo is committed to democratizing martial arts, making karate training accessible to children from all walks of life, including those from underprivileged or remote communities. By providing affordable virtual lessons, E.Dojo empowers children to learn martial arts in a way that promotes fitness, discipline, and self-confidence. Our platform’s adaptability also ensures that children with different learning styles or abilities, including those with disabilities, can participate and succeed.
In addition, E.Dojo emphasizes sustainability. We recycle uniforms and encourage students to repurpose household items for training. Students also earn BUDO Points by engaging in community service activities like tree planting and volunteering. By promoting environmental consciousness and social responsibility, E.Dojo encourages students to improve themselves and their communities.
Q: What are the benefits of your product for kids?
According to the National Institutes of Health, martial arts training improves determination, consistency, and motivation, as well as enhanced strength, agility, endurance, flexibility, and cardiovascular health. However, traditional training often comes with high costs and rigid schedules, making it difficult for many families to access. E.Dojo solves this problem by providing a more affordable and flexible alternative.
With our platform, students can access a wide range of on-demand lessons and practice at their own pace. This ensures that students, regardless of their backgrounds, can enjoy the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of martial arts. Whether they’re learning for fun, fitness, or discipline, E.Dojo helps students set and achieve their goals in a way that works for them.
Congratulations to the E. Dojo team! To connect with him and provide support and/or mentorship, please contact Michelle Jackson at mjackson@i-investcompetition.com.
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