10/06/2022
EVERY PARENT OF A KARATE STUDENT SHOULD READ THIS POST FULLY....
(This was taken from my good friend Renshi Michael Kiefer dojo Members Page at Kiefer's Martial Arts, Inc. in Rhode Island. Definitely worth the read, parents.)
I haven’t done a post on this topic in a while but before summer starts is the perfect time...
Parent: “Hi Renshi, my child is getting bored and wants to quit.”
This is far more common than many parents believe it will be when their child starts karate. My response... well, what is it that you want your child to learn from martial arts? Do you want them to learn self-discipline and perseverance? Do you want them to learn how to face their challenges and overcome them? Do you want them to learn that to accomplish any significant goal in their life that they will have to overcome adversity? Do you want them to learn that hard work and dedication pays off? Or do you want them to learn to quit at the first sign of any adversity, discomfort or failure?
It’s a big, big question for parents. As the picture says, NOBODY is ALWAYS motivated. EVERYBODY will go through ups and downs in their enthusiasm level. Remember that unlike most activities that kids do, this one is year round with no breaks. To accomplish the goal, you must learn self-discipline. As teachers and parents, our job is to help kids learn this. Invariably kids will want to do what is EASIER, not always what is RIGHT. Pushing through obstacles is hard. Getting past the “I’m bored” phases are tough. But I can truthfully tell every parent out there this... Never in my 24 years of teaching karate to children have I ever had a child who achieved his or her black belt come up to me after and say “Sensei I wish I had quit back at blue belt (or green belt or brown belt) when I wanted to.” Never once. They are always so thankful to have stuck with it and so thankful to their parents & Sensei for pushing them through the tough times.
This topic always reminds me of a story that one of my very best friends in karate, Renshi Stephen Ferraro tells. When he was I think 13 years old he was a brown belt in karate and wanting to quit. He asked his mother, “ If I quit karate will you be disappointed in me?” His mother paused for a second, looked him in the eye, said “Yes” and walked away. Thirteen year old Stephen did NOT quit, and has now earned a 6th Degree Black Belt in Karate and owns one of the most successful dojo in all of Canada. Kids don’t always know what’s best for them... even though they may think they do.
So when the topic comes up, don’t give in, don’t give up. Team up with us... let us know they need our help to overcome their lull in motivation or whatever other challenge may have come up. The road to black belt is neither smooth nor straight. Push your kids to push through the obstacles. Use it as an opportunity to TEACH some valuable life skills. I promise you when they walk across that stage to receive their black belt, they will be thankful that you did.
