Ah! The ever present question in today's culture of Me, Entitlements for Me, and Why Should I Wait! Such is the culture of McDonald society that we have brought upon ourselves. Fast, and immediate satisfaction, irregardless of lack of value, the damage it causes, or future return.
If you are a parent at a age of 40 and higher, you most certainly remember the many valuable aspects of the life of your childhood, that is either denied, or forgotten by today's kids. Playing in street with neighborhood kids, making things work when there was a disagreement, working hard to get what you wanted, learning to do with what you had, until your hard work paid out. Fighting your own fights, and owning up to your mistakes. A babysitter or a nanny was a luxury, neighbors took care of each other, because they knew each other, on their kids. Just to name a few.
Rap, was hip music that was cool to listen too, and didn't have derogatory words in it. You frowned upon racial slurs, and cops and firemen were heroes that we looked up to.
Teen years were spent delivering paper, or working somewhere to gather the money you needed for that first car, "the car." Mom and dad were glad to help, but the burden was on you. And, you still try to live your life that way.
Somewhere along the way, we were turned in to a "Consumer Nation," that was meant to be a herd of cattle or sheep, to buy, buy, buy. When you look around, there are 10-15 holidays per year, that you "must" spend money on. Woe, be upon you if you don't.
Criticizing bad workmanship, service or performance became a bad thing. In competition everyone had to get a prize. Not just 1st, 2nd or 3rd place. Because the psychologists told us that it is not good for our kids "self-esteem." God forbid, looking like a bad parent. We were taught that kids need to try everything, do all kinds of activities, before they found their niche.
Now I am not against trying new activity, but some decided to have Soccer, baseball, karate, art and chess, ALL AT THE SAME TIME. As a result, we have a generation of Jack of All Trades and Masters of None growing in our society.
Fortunately, those idiotic ideas have been backfiring. A return to a more normal, natural flow of life is being introduced back to our lives. Whether it is lack of money from decades of overspending to our limits, lack of time from having both parents work, to make ends meet, or it may be, just may be, the fact that we looked around and had the intelligence and wisdom to snap! and wake-up.
Karate is one of those root activities that will be here for those who understand the values of a strong family, and strong work ethics. Those who rather limit the quantity, in lieu of receiving more of quality of what they have. When physical prowess (western sports), is not enough. When the individual in mind and spirit, needs to be nourished.
Yes! you will sweat, feel pain from the workouts, be sore for some days, and come to tears at times. Yes! you will be elated, uplifted and feel an exhilaration like nothing before. Yes! if you take your son or daughter with you, you will share a bonding that is so rare, it can not be duplicated in any other activity. Yes! even if just your kids did it, you will instill in them a sense of serenity, perseverance, resiliency, and power, that will never be taken away from them. OR YOU!
Is karate for you and your kids? Yes! But only if your really want to make a change in your present and future.
Welcome! I hope you find what you are looking for. My intent in creating this page, is to guide parents and prospecting practitioners in the methods of TRUE KARATE and its goals and values.
