08/05/2026
SHOULD I LET MY CHILD QUIT KARATE
N.Greenstreet
Iām writing this as I ponder students, especially kids, quitting karate. After running a dojo for over 20 years, I canāt count the number of kids Iāve sat back and quietly watched walk out the door and never return. I hear the following from parents over and over again: āhe/she isnāt interested anymoreā or āItās too much of a fight to get them to goā. I always wonder if parents realize exactly what they are giving up when they allow the child's wishes to prevail.
I immediately think back to when I was a child and wanted to quit karate numerous times. I remember the times when my friends were doing ācooler thingsā, summers when I wanted to stay at the lake swimming, laziness when I just wanted to watch TV (other screens werenāt a thing back then) and times when Karate class pushed me outside my comfort zone. As a quiet, introverted child I didnāt always like that. All of these times my parents told me: āToo bad - get in the car, youāre going to karate!ā I am so thankful they did. Iām eternally grateful that they saw the long term benefits which didnāt even cross my mind when I was a kid.
While I totally understand Karate isnāt for absolutely everyoneā¦ a program like the one at SLK where each student moves at their own pace, instructors are diligent about working with students in a way that challenges and assists them in succeeding, and offers adapted classes for those with different needs, SLK makes getting a black belt achievable for the majority of youth and adults.
When I now think of the skills I was able to put on my resume as a teenager and adult black belt, l and canāt imagine what opportunities I might have missed without them. As a head instructor, I frequently write references for my black belts and these are some of the many attributes that Iām able to talk at length about.
Commitment & Discipline: No one gets through the SLK program and earns a black belt without a minimum of 5 years of regular training in, usually more. This training is generally year round, multiple times a week, and it's hard. Sometimes the challenge is physical, sometimes mental and sometimes emotional, but those challenges will all surface at some point in the journey. Anyone who makes it to black belt has shown commitment and discipline beyond what most non-martial artists have.
Dedication: The dedication I talk about not only references the students own training, but once at Sr belt level, the dedication to others is demonstrated in numerous other ways. Dedication to assist in the support and training of others, dedication to the dojo facility, and dedication to behaving and presenting themselves in a certain way, all of which would benefit future employers.
Leadership: Sr belts and black belts in the Dojo are leaders, to progress they have to prove to the head instructors that they are leaders to the group. The newer students watch, listen and emulate them. These are big expectations, and those that rise to the occasion always stand out. Planning and assisting at events like gradings and camps again sets these students apart from most people.
Teaching and Problem Solving Skills: With our program, Sr belts start assisting at green belt and by 1st Kyu brown are expected to be able to run a class on their own. This incorporates teaching students of varying abilities as well as time management skills to run an efficient and effective class. Being able to plan a class, while keeping students focused and learning, is not an easy task. They are expected and required to deal with any issues that arise during class in a professional and courteous manner.
Public Speaking: This ties into the teaching skillset. By yellow belt students start getting up in front of a class and leading a warmup by example. This is the first step to being able to teach and function in front of a class by Sr Belt. Being able to talk and teach in front of a group is a huge deal, especially for employers.
Setting and Achieving Goals: This is a mainstay in the martial arts. Belts and ranks make it very easy for students to start learning how to set realistic goals and work hard towards achieving them. Itās easy for me as a reference, to talk about how well any black belt has done in achieving their goals.
Active Listening: Listening can indeed be a learned skill. No student gets very far up the rank system without listening to instructors and converting that knowledge into action.
Respect: Respect for themselves, respect for cohorts, respect for juniors and respect for authority
There are many other sports out there, and I played many of them as well as training in Karate as a child. I understand that other sports do install some of these skills, however I would argue that no other sport results in the comprehensive and well rounded skillset that is enjoyed by any student that has made it to black belt level at SLK. I certainly donāt have any of those other sports I played listed on my resumeā¦.
So, a huge thank you mom and dad! For not allowing me to quit Karate the times that I was 100% sure that was what I wanted. Itās because of you, that Iāve gotten to continue this journey in the martial arts that is, as Funakoshi says, āMy way of lifeā.
