| New Year's day means different things to different | | | | Belt Hall of Fame, The Inside Kung-Fu Hall of Fame, |
| people. Certainly, spending time with family and | | | | and The Fighter Hall of Fame. In addition, he's been |
| friends and watching some great college bowl games. | | | | listed among the 100 Most Influential Martial Artists of |
| In our house, a new year also means making | | | | the Last Century by Black Belt magazine. I've had |
| resolutions. | | | | many talks with Keith about goal setting and how he |
| It started about 15 years ago when my wife and I | | | | reached the pinnacle of his sport. |
| were on a ski trip together - before kids. It was one | | | | Nobody who starts out is great their first day, but |
| of those days in Taos, New Mexico where the snow | | | | they can think big. The trick, as Keith taught me, is |
| was coming down so heavy that you couldn't see | | | | to break your dream into manageable steps - |
| your hand in front of your face. For some people, | | | | something that's hard to do, but achievable. When Mr. |
| the fresh powder might make for great snow | | | | Hirabayashi first started Wushu as a boy, he couldn't |
| conditions, but for us, it was a great day to sit by | | | | envision becoming "Competitor Of The Year" so he |
| the huge fire in the ski lodge and "plan our lives". | | | | started with something easier. There was a kid in his |
| We had a great talk that included when we wanted | | | | class who was "great". So, Keith wanted to one day |
| to have kids, financial planning and lots of resolutions - | | | | be as good as that guy. One day, he was that good. |
| including our goals for work, working out, sports, and | | | | Then, he wanted to be as good as the assistant |
| how we wanted to work out our relationships with | | | | teacher. |
| the people in our lives. Believe it or not, we sat there | | | | Finally, he surpassed his teacher, became the best in |
| for 9 hours and we had fun doing it. Now, every | | | | the world and now founded Champions Martial Arts, |
| year, we talk about goals with our kids. | | | | a studio in Brentwood, California. |
| All of our kids already have goals, but they may not | | | | In order to accomplish each of these resolutions and |
| share them with us. Our job as parents is to help | | | | goals, there are a few rules that you need to follow. |
| them focus on the correct goals, help them achieve | | | | You need to know what you are trying to |
| their goals, and later, we need to help them deal with | | | | accomplish. The goal needs to be specific, |
| the disappointment of not reaching their goals. | | | | measurable, and have a time limit. A person also |
| Goal Setting With Kids | | | | needs to know why they want to reach the goal |
| The first thing we need to work on with all of our | | | | and then lay out a real, manageable plan on how to |
| kids is education. For each kid, at every age, they | | | | accomplish their goal. |
| can focus on their schoolwork; improve their skills, | | | | Being a great martial artist, or being great at |
| and getting their homework done on time. Of course, | | | | anything, requires a plan. Start by setting small goals |
| they can also work on their relationships with parents | | | | to ultimately reach a larger goal and understand each |
| and their siblings - something that never seems | | | | step. A kid needs to layout a plan for practice, |
| exactly where it should be. However, as you know, | | | | competition and study of their sport. Realizing that |
| we at SportsKids are all about youth sports - so let's | | | | practice makes permanent, parents need to make |
| focus on sports. | | | | sure their kids are practicing the right fundamentals. |
| All the kids I know say they are going to be | | | | Playing a sport only during the organized practices |
| professional athletes. Now, there are some kids who | | | | and the games won't get a kid to reach their |
| say they are going to be doctors, lawyers, business | | | | potential. If your child plays an instrument, you |
| people, the president of the United States, or | | | | wouldn't allow them to not practice between lessons. |
| something else, but again, this is SportsKids. My eight | | | | "Pistol" Pete Maravich, one of the 50 greatest NBA |
| year old son, who doesn't really know who Danny | | | | players, practiced literally all the time because he |
| Ainge is, wants to follow in his footsteps and be both | | | | knew that some other kid was practicing and getting |
| a professional basketball player as well as a | | | | better than he was. Set small, measurable and |
| professional baseball player. | | | | achievable goals, lay out a path of how the goals will |
| Now, maybe some of our kids will end up being | | | | be accomplished, and then watch the results. |
| professional athletes, but the statistics say otherwise. | | | | Dealing With Disappointment |
| Most kids won't be playing organized sports past the | | | | Starting with the premise that our kids aren't going |
| age of 12. Very few high school athletes will ever | | | | to reach their ultimate goal of becoming a |
| play NCAA Division I sports and almost none of | | | | professional athlete should in no way diminish the |
| those will ever play professionally. Knowing this, of | | | | benefits of dreaming, setting goals, and working to |
| course, shouldn't diminish our kid's dreams - that's | | | | accomplish each of the resolutions. It's imperative not |
| what they are supposed to be doing - dreaming! So, | | | | to forget the many benefits to playing youth sports, |
| as parents we have to help our kids reach their | | | | including teamwork, good sportsmanship, developing |
| potential. | | | | motor skills, learning to win and to lose, and the |
| How Should We Help Our Kids? | | | | friendships that are created along the way. Most of |
| Keith Hirabayashi is a good friend of mine. Many of | | | | our kids will figure out and realize for themselves that |
| you may not know who Keith is, but if you like | | | | they won't be a professional athlete, but if we help |
| martial arts you would know; he has been five time | | | | them set small, achievable goals, practice proper |
| Grand Champion at the US World and US Open | | | | fundamentals, and set out a specific plan to |
| Karate Tournaments. He was named Weapons | | | | accomplish their goals, all of them will benefit and |
| Competitor of the Decade, thanks to his expertise | | | | maybe some will actually be able to fulfill their dreams. |
| with the staff, the broadsword, and the | | | | It all starts by setting your New Year's resolutions. |
| three-sectional staff. He's a member of The Black | | | | |