| In this continuing series, let's address more issues and | | | | conflict by talking it out? If a child is fully capable of |
| frequently asked questions that concern parents who | | | | defending himself or herself, why should he or she |
| seek to enroll their child in a martial arts program. The | | | | pursue a physical fight?As adults, we know that the |
| first question in this part is possibly the most | | | | diplomatic approach to a physical conflict will not |
| important one of all.How do I find the right martial | | | | always work, but it is worth a try. Our children need |
| arts teacher for my kids?You will know when you | | | | to look at social skills, awareness, and courtesy as |
| have a face-to-face meeting and observe him or her | | | | survival tools. Whether they are walking down a |
| teach a martial arts class. The chemistry between a | | | | street, or entering the workplace, these skills are |
| prospective martial arts teacher and you should be | | | | extremely important.Know your goals and your child's |
| good.After all, your child is supposed to learn | | | | needs. Please make sure your reasons for enrolling |
| courtesy, respect, self-discipline, goal setting, and | | | | your son or daughter in martial arts classes are |
| many more life skills from his or her martial arts | | | | sound. Martial arts for your child, is his or her personal |
| instructor. If the martial arts teacher you are | | | | endeavor. You can share in the feeling of |
| considering, displays none of the above-mentioned | | | | accomplishment by being supportive and watch them |
| qualities, please continue to shop around.It makes no | | | | grow to be successful. Success is one of the most |
| difference if your child is learning Karate, Jujitsu, | | | | important gifts we can give to our children.The ideal |
| Aikido, Judo, Tae Kwon Do, or Kung Fu, when the | | | | martial arts instructor should have knowledge of |
| teacher is not a good role model. You don't need to | | | | sports medicine and CPR training. This may be one of |
| expose your children to hazards or questionable | | | | the reasons why serious injuries are rare. Make sure |
| characters in order for them to learn martial arts. The | | | | that the safety of each child is a priority with the |
| martial arts school philosophy, and the instructors, | | | | martial arts school you choose.Some parents may |
| should meet your standard - never settle for less.Are | | | | feel I play it too safe within a karate class, but they |
| you looking for discipline, academic improvement, life | | | | have not seen a child knocked unconscious, a broken |
| skills, tournament competition, self-defense, or a | | | | nose, or loss of blood, in my school. When I was a |
| positive activity? Martial arts studios are not created | | | | Sport Karate coach, referee, and judge, I saw all of |
| equally. A life skills school may not meet the needs of | | | | those things in tournaments, and children were all |
| a competitive parent or child. A "tournament school" | | | | wearing protective equipment.Therefore, safety |
| that teaches Sport Karate, Sport Jujitsu, or enters | | | | precautions are a very important factor, when |
| many competitions, may be lacking in life skills and so | | | | deciding which martial arts school you should choose |
| forth.This is not meant to take away the value of | | | | for your child.Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the |
| any aspect in martial arts training, but to make you, | | | | director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness |
| as a parent, aware that the emphasis will be | | | | Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a |
| different from one type of school to another. Also, | | | | certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a |
| the self-defense aspect will be taught differently | | | | master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black |
| within each martial arts school. Some martial arts | | | | Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was |
| schools teach more of one technique such as: | | | | recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of |
| punching, kicking, joint locks, sweeps, and throws.At | | | | Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to |
| our wellness center in North Providence, Rhode | | | | children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence |
| Island, we teach all of those aspects, and we also | | | | area. Recently he wrote: Yoga: The Key to |
| teach self-defense through communication. For | | | | Self-Mastery. |
| example: Wouldn't it be better to prevent a physical | | | | |