BRIDGEWATER — It all started with a phone call from a parent.

Jennifer Rosander, the parent of a special-needs 4-year-old, was looking for a program to help her son with coordination and motor skills. Many specialists had suggested that she and her husband, David, do so.

She reached out to tae kwon do instructor Anthony Christian, who has run Anthony’s American Tae Kwon Do in the Martinsville section for 12 years and has been teaching martial arts for more than 20 years.

David Rosander said that when his wife approached Christian with the idea of starting a tae kwon do class for special-needs children, Christian’s response was that he had always wanted to do something like that.

“They worked together and what Jennifer did was try to identify people that she knew … people who might be interested in the program, so that’s how it all came about,” Rosander said.

There now are three children ranging in age from 4 to 5 in the special-needs class at the tae kwon do school in its first cycle, and Christian hopes that more children will enroll in the program.

“It was always a goal of mine. I wanted to contribute in a way to help make this world a better place through tae kwon do,” Christian said.

He also stated that he teaches not only martial arts techniques but also character development using his five tenants: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit.

Christian said that from his program, the children learn balance, focus and how to follow directions. They do drills and strength exercises to help tone their muscles.

“They learn a little self-defense; they wear a uniform that has a tiger patched-paw on the right leg and right sleeve so they recognize their right side so eventually they understand left and right,” he said.

David Rosander agrees that his son has benefited from the program. He said as a result of the program his son’s focus, agility, balance and coordination have improved. He pointed out that before the program his son could not pedal a bicycle, and now he can.

Not only is the program therapeutic for his son, David Rosander added, but it’s something that his son enjoys and looks forward to.

“He likes putting on the clothing that they wear, and the belt,” he said.

The class begins at 12:30 p.m. Saturdays and lasts for 30 minutes.

Before the class, Christian works with young helpers ranging in age from 11 to 14. They volunteer their time to help the children with the routines. David Rosander said that there are usually about two to three helpers working with each child.

“They are very nice and warm to the children, making sure that they feel comfortable and at ease,” he said. “They just take them by the hand and start doing something simple to warm them up. It’s pretty touching.”

David Rosander added that his father-in-law was moved to tears one day as he watched the young helpers work with his grandson in the tae kwon do class.

Twin sisters Anjali and Pooja Patel, 12, are two of the volunteers. They learned about the special-needs program through Christian because they take classes with him.

Anjali said that she likes seeing how happy the kids get when she and the other volunteers help them.

“We teach them escape activities if someone attacks them. We try to do activities that help them improve their strength,” she said.

Pooja said the program is great “because the kids are really improving, and they feel more comfortable with their environment.”

David Rosander said he likes how caring and gentle the instructors and helpers are.

“I like that they so much want to help and how they take joy in working with the kids. … I like that it’s an activity my son enjoys and it helps him with coordination and it’s a skill that he has benefited from.”

For more information, visit www.anthonysamericantaekwondo.com.