| We live in a fast paced world, technology seems to | | | | positive life skills like, achievement, humility, |
| be taking over, so where is it all heading for the kids? | | | | determination, respect, effort, etc. |
| No longer do kids go play in the park, or build a camp | | | | A karateka (someone who practices karate), will be |
| in the local woods, instead, they stay cooped up at | | | | taught to respect their fellow karateka, showing |
| home, sitting In front of the TV, with the latest | | | | respect to people in the dojo, will lead to the same |
| offering from the computer games universe. It is so | | | | being shown outside of the karate dojo. |
| easy for kids to become inactive and end up | | | | Achievement plays a big part in a good karate dojo, |
| overweight or even obese! | | | | this could be anything from learning a new karate |
| The kids who go learn karate, not only get much | | | | technique or combination, entering a competition or |
| needed exercise and social interaction, karate also | | | | belt test, perfecting a karate kata (form), etc. |
| encompasses character building and life skills. | | | | Karate classes for kids should be both fun and |
| Karate is steeped in philosophy as well as ancient | | | | serious, check out your local kids karate classes and |
| fighting techniques. Great karate masters of old, | | | | ask if you can observe a typical class. They should |
| preach character building over fighting. Master Gichin | | | | encompass all of the above and much more. if they |
| Funakoshi said, "The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in | | | | do, encourage your child to have a go. |
| victory or defeat, but in the perfection of character | | | | So, are karate classes for kids, good for them? YES! |
| of its participants". | | | | And I believe it should be compulsory in all schools, |
| A good karate instructor will not only teach karate | | | | but then again, I am a little biased! |
| moves, a good karate school will encourage all the | | | | |