Frequently, parents bring their child to the dojo with despair in their eyes. “We’ve tried everything to get Johnny to calm down, but nothing seems to be working!”
Parents enroll their child in the martial arts as a last resort, desperate for him to learn to cope with the stressors of life and school. Many times, the parents are at the end of their ropes, not knowing what to do about the bad attitude, the poor grades, and the defiance.
Nothing special is done for these children. They learn the same techniques as the other students, they are expected to pay attention and follow along.
Within three to six months, the parents come to the sensei (teacher) amazed that their child’s grades have improved, his attitude is better, and he is more outgoing and gets along with others.
This used to puzzle me. Yes, the instructors were great, but what makes the difference in such a short time? Continue reading “A Word About the Martial Arts”