Jones Elementary Karate Class Week 2.

I am really having a great time working the kids in Jones Elementary Terrific Thursday Program!  Any chance I get to help kids learn and grow is a gift, especially with great kids like these.  

In the first class last week we discussed the true nature of self defense.  These days self defense does entail stopping physical violence, but there is so much more to it than that.  I think Martial Arts Master Tom Calos summed it up well when he said,

Wise words indeed.  I couldn’t have said it better myself.  He summed up a vast portion of what I try to teach everyday as a Martial Arts educator.

In this effort, this week in class we discussed bullies, specifically from the www.StopBulliesInAshevilleNow.org project that we have launched at the White Oak Martial Arts Center.  Contrairy to popular belief, bullying is nothing new.  To be honest, I’m not entirely convinced that it’s on the rise. 

However, what is on the rise is mediocrity, lack of self esteem, apathy, and ignorance. These things create situations where kids lack the ability to deal effectively with bullying, as well as almost every other challenge that comes their way.  So how do you fight this?

By acquiring specific skills. Kids need to learn something specific that  builds self discipline, goal setting, perseverance, and sense of achievement by getting really good at something.  

Martial Arts are an excellent way to do this.  The positive lessons learned from the process of earning a Black Belt stay with you forever.

Personal achievement leads to self confidence and self esteem. The best way to stop bullying as well as a whole myriad of other problems our kids face these days is to put them in the position to have real successes, real achievements.   

It is my hope for the kids in the Terrific Thursday program to experience at least a taste of this kind of personal achievement and that this program can be one of many positive,enriching events in their lives.

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