My 8 year old's a Green Belt!

[MacUser]

I was proud of my 8 year old son yesterday for completing his 2 hour testing and becoming a Green Belt in Tae Kwon Do


This was right after he was dismissed. See the sweat!


This is his personal instructor a 3rd Degree Black Belt. He has a glass right eye from to many scuffles! See it gleaming?


He tested at the Grandmaster's Dojo (Southern Regional Representative) in Downtown Greenwood.

I'm proud of him! The blue belt is next.

[Pastor Bill]

Tell him Congrats from me, Karate is a good sport, but often gets a bad rap due to people assuming it is all about fighting. It builds self-esteem (for real accomplishment), good exercise, sportsmanship, respect and self-control.

Wish I had kept up with it, I earned my Black Belt (first degree, Shorei Goju style) in High School, but moving away for college, then marriage and ministry kind of got pushed aside, but although I don't remember all the katas and specifics, I will say there is much that I learned and it was a big effect on who I am today.

[Shellie]

Aww..congrats. He's a cutie, but he looks like a pistol.

[dolfan]

I'm regrouping for round 2 in the "enroll-my-kid-in-martial-arts-class." I got outflanked for enrolling in dance instead. Basically, I got steamrolled by every female in the family, especially my wife and daughter, but all of my wife's sisters and even my brother for crying out loud, for wanting to put my daughter into a karate class instead of letting her attend dance classes. The deadline came to register on Saturday and the mother of all guilt trips was heaped on me and I gave in.

I had my reasons ---- and I'm going to see to it that she gets into martial arts because the benefits far outweigh anything she'll learn in a dance class. She's all girl, though, and all that flitting around in pretty dance clothes is just her thing. She needs some self-confidence and another context besides home and school in which to learn and demonstrate respect. Martial arts classes drill that into you, respect for your opponent, your superiors, and ultimately yourself. I can think of no other place that particular instruction is so regimentally delivered than a martial arts class. Plus, it is a good idea to learn early that life itself is oppositional, and how to navigate having adversaries and people who don't like you and who disagree with you, etc. The only thing you get in dance is how to flit around like a fairy or jiggle like a chic in a rap video (if that happens, we'll be leaving).

[Pastor Bill]

Yeah dolfan, and it also doesn't hurt for everyone to know a little about self defense, BUT what does SHE want to do? If she's not interested in the martial arts class, don't push it, she won't get what you want her to out of it that way.

[free]

I'm wearing my black belt as I type...It's a beauty...I bought it at S&K!

[dolfan]

Yeah dolfan, and it also doesn't hurt for everyone to know a little about self defense, BUT what does SHE want to do? If she's not interested in the martial arts class, don't push it, she won't get what you want her to out of it that way.

She would love it if she got properly introduced to it, I believe. The outfits, belts, the moves, the presence of other kids. I think she'd like it a lot.

[MacUser]

Pastor Bill, Shellie,
Thanks. Yes he really likes it and does well at it.

He's gifted to the point he has a fantastic memory, doesn't give up easily and is extremely flexible. So he impresses the Black Belts immediately with his limberness and ability to kick over his head, splits etc.



dolfan,
I understand completely. My 6 year old wants to take it also. She's ALL girl and took dance etc. She loves it also.. but seriously wants to try Tae Kwon Do like her brother. The only draw back is that she is nowhere as serious as him and is always chuckling and making people smile.



So I have my son teaching her the basics (see her with his first white belt uniform on) . Then we can see if she retains that and still wants to go forward.. I'm all game. I've expressed this to Chase's instructor and he says when I am ready.. let her come and try it out.

[dolfan]

I'll save that and show it to her later. I want her to enjoy dance, really. And, I want her to get from it every benefit possible, and I'll encourage that. But, I know my daughter, and I know better than her what is good for her even if she knows what is "more fun". Karate is "boy-y", as opposed to being "girly" like dance, she says. So, I'm selling it to her. My brother's daughter is 15 and she's been dancing since she was 4, and competitively, so he's very bought-in to the whole dance thing. My wife and I always, without exception, have agreed that we would not do dance because we didn't see where it was all that much help to my niece. She's in her 3rd dance school, just now changing to that 3rd one, because she didn't get a chance to solo in any competitions or recitals at the last one (the one before that ran into some financial issues and wound up basically stealing people's money ... criminal cases erupted, etc., so I understand why she left that one). She also wants to enjoy it with a little less intensity at this new school, which is smaller. I understand all that, too. But, from what I've observed in years of watching her, listening to the litany of needs and demands of dance, it's all a big money pit. And, look, I've seen these award-winning kids dance ...... they finish well in competitions, but as far as I can tell can't none of 'em really dance all that well. I'm just underwhelmed tremendously by the local dance class quality. And, trust me, we're not shopping around for the best one, either. My niece has been in the so-called "best" ones around here, and, well, like I said, it just isn't all that grand. (She's okay, mind you, and I love her to death and she's a great kid, but literally tens of thousands of dollars and 11 years ought to get you a little more than she's gotten at it, and she's been as devoted to it as you can ask for one to be.) For that kind of money, my kid better become something different than she could be by playing public tee-ball and school basketball or volleyball or whatever --- a kid with some decent athletic ability.

On the other hand, martial arts promises something more. It is based on something more than learning moves. It sets out to teach you something about character, respect, discipline and yeah, self-defense and great coordination. And, the local folks who I want her to learn from are very good, Christian people, and are very very good as a karate school. I don't buy into this notion of letting her choose what she wants to do so much. She's 4. She hasn't got sense enough to know what's good for her yet. She knows what she enjoys, and that's important, but it is not determinative. This is just not a good move, IMO. But, I've been wrong before, and I've deferred to my wife's judgment on it, and to the judgment on about 5 or 6 other people who think I've lost my mind about it.

[Pastor Bill]

completely understand dolfan, and with an older cousin doing it, there is probably some of that "I want to be like her" thing going on as well.

One thing that may help as well is pointing out more of the katas than the sparing. Depending on the style of Karate there are some that are very dancelike (I've seen some that are more dance than martial art, and don't care alot for those, but others that are very flowing, but still basically punches and kicks)

I personally studied Shorei Goju style, which is very flowing (as opposed to Tae Kwon Do which is a little "blocky" and would come across a little more "boy-y" as she said) Our advanced class studied other styles and things as well, which is why I point this out, the beauty of some of those katas really resembles dance, and would probably be more of a draw than sparing to a girly girl (at least it would be with my daughter)

[MacUser]

I personally studied Shorei Goju style, which is very flowing (as opposed to Tae Kwon Do which is a little "blocky" and would come across a little more "boy-y" as she said) Our advanced class studied other styles and things as well, which is why I point this out, the beauty of some of those katas really resembles dance, and would probably be more of a draw than sparing to a girly girl (at least it would be with my daughter)

You are right.. but our instructor (shown above) has several gifted girls (actually are the best and brightest advancing fast in the group) and has taught them additional almost ballet style katas to offset the traditional blockly Tae Kwon Do. So those extra options are available.. I'm sure in any style chosen.

The key is like dolfan said on choosing the right instructor. Also.. I make it a point to be at each and every practice. Myself personally in a seat watching and taking notes myself.. so I can be educated on helping him train, test, and basically look out for his overall well being. The instructor knows I am highly involved and fully aware of everything going on.

I also made him aware on the first date we met that we follow Jesus Christ and anything that attempts to divert my son from that path will be removed. He then revealed that he too was a Christian and would do his best to represent that. That's all I could ask for.

[rjc]

My granddaughter here in Melbourne took Karate for 2 years. She started when she was 6 and went with her brother (3 years older). At the same time she was taking gymnastics and ballet. She loved it and was good at it and was ready to test for her orange belt when she decided she wanted to take piano and voice lessons, she also dropped the gymnastics but continues with dance. I really think the 2 years of karate helped her learn discipline plus she still works out with her brother.

[Pastor Bill]

MacUser,

Sounds like a good teacher, and yes, in any style, most people bring in katas from other styles to enhance the experience, my main experience with Tae Kwon Do was a black belt that began joining us for class in order to learn from us, as well as share from his style. We also in the advanced class took a look at any style or method that came around and someone had a chance to pick up and share, we added in a little bit of weapons work (Shorei Goju normally sticks with traditional Karate which technically means "Empty Handed"), we also worked with a newer style that focused on pressure points (not the most effective IMHO, but neat) and some small circles ninjitzu (Think Steven Segal, first time I saw one of his movies I think I kind of surprised my girlfriend, it was the first time I had seen some of those moves done full force since we don't care to really break bones in class, and I spent most of the movie analysing the techniques). pulling in different styles and techniques just adds to the experience, especially if it can help to keep things interesting, and help you to find what best fits you.

As for the religious aspects, yes Karate started in India, mainly in Hindu and Budist temples, but most today don't pull the religious side in, the most we ever really saw (and I can't say my teacher was a Christian, only a good man) was a rare time or two meditation was mentioned vaguely, and it was listed as a time to focus and/or pray, not a bad thing for a Christian either, and one time we did have a moment of silence when Master Robert Trias died (he was the man who first brought Shorei Goju Karate to America, we also learned that lineage as well for one of the earlier ranks)

[MacUser]

Interesting, I'm mostly aware of our Korean Style know as Tae Kwon Do.

It was mostly Buddhist born self defense methods. Our class states these basically peasant farmers were extremely poor and had to develop fighting styles against much more battle prepared with armor, weapon, and horse mounted enemies. He elaborates.

Tae Kwon Do literally translates as: The Way or Method of Destroying with the Hands and Feet. "Tae" (foot), "kwon" (fist), and "Do" translates as the way or the path in a more philosophical sense.

Our Katas and/or forms are based around specific Korean men in this recorded history and the movements they developed or were dedicated to throughout that struggle.

You also learn the basic Korean words for all the movements and forms also as you progress.

[Pastor Bill]

Yes, Shorei Goju was a Japanese style, actually I believe a combination of Goju Rue and Shorei Rue styles, it started in India, then moved to China, Macheria, Mongolia, Okanowa, and Japan, then moved to the US in 1946 with Master Robert A. Trias, who taught Master Douglas Dwyer who taught Master Sid Bennett who taught Master Ozzie Mitchell who taught Mr. Mark Molle, who taught Mr. William Pelfrey. (that's the lineage we had to learn, although by now my teacher as probably increased in rank and has achieved Master (6th degree black belt and above).