Onegaishimasu Parents, Can you find your child on this list? Rita, age 11, used to be confident...ready to take on the world. But after starting middle school, she seems like a different person. She has become hesitant and unsure of herself. Ryan’s mom, Becky, worries because Ryan is so easily wounded. Things said to him by the other kids at school hurt his feelings so easily. Ryan’s hypersensitivity is a constant source of stress for Becky. The peace of the household is frequently disturbed. Everything is a battle. Getting ready for school, dinner time, homework, even things that used to be enjoyable family activities are now potential battles. Screaming matches occur on a regular basis.
Alex’s mom notices he spends too much time staring at his phone or playing video games. His mom fears his screen time has become a dangerous addiction.
Paula is so concerned about being popular. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, worry that this will make her an easy target for negative peer pressure.
Tyler, age 4, does great when he gets it right the first time when learning something new. When he doesn’t get it on the first try, though, he becomes totally frustrated and says “I’ll never be able to do it!”
Mr. and Mrs. Hall are frustrated at the level of disrespect demonstrated by their children. The kids never used to talk like this before! The Halls think, “If I had talked like that when I was a kid, I would have gotten clobbered!”
Suzanne, new to high school, is constantly down on herself, often saying, “I’m not as pretty as Elizabeth,” or “I’ll never be popular like Marta”. She has even begun to isolate herself in her room and rarely comes out. Mom and dad are becoming very worried.
Scott used to be a nice, kind child. Lately, though, he has become increasingly aggressive. His parents, Vern and Becky, are concerned. They’ve already had two calls from the school about Scott’s bullying of younger children.
The teachers say that Charlie can’t focus in school, and might need to be medicated. Nicole and Bryan, his parents, hate that idea. They feel that Charlie just needs to learn listening and focus skills. They are frustrated. How can they build the skills Charlie really needs?
OK parents.....If you’ve “found” your child on the checklist (and most people do!) we may just have that big BREAKTHROUGH you’ve been seeking for your child!
Fellow Parents, at Keiko Martial Arts we are fully committed to helping you help your child discover their unlimited potential. If you’re new to the dojo you are probably thinking “come on...how can punching and kicking improve my child’s self confidence, focus and self control?” Well, I’m here to tell you, in many more ways than you can begin to imagine.
Over the past 17 years of teaching martial arts in our community we have worked with thousands of kids just like yours!, and seen incredible breakthroughs time and again!
So, back to the question.....“How can karate do all this?”
Look at it this way. Your child’s first and biggest challenge comes not from “fighting for their rights on the street”, or “beating up the neighbourhood bully.” It comes, instead, from battling more sinister and debilitating forces. Your child’s own fears and self doubts! “I’m not as smart as John.” “I’m just not good at math.” “I wish I was as (strong, pretty, popular) as Sally.” “Why does Jim keep picking on me?”
Well here is the secret: Karate is less about your child learning to fight others, and more about learning the skills to master themselves and their innermost fears and self doubts. Conquer them, and your child unleashes within themselves a powerful, unstoppable force. A force that gives them the strength to kick down the doors of their own self doubts, a force that presents your child the ability to reach their full and unlimited potential.
Have an amazing week
Sensei
Keiko Karate – “Actually we do make Ninjas and Superheroes here………………we turn kids into Ninjas and we turn their parents into their superheroes!”