Are martial arts classes really necessary?

The answer depends mostly on three things.

1. What are your core values as a parent, and what do you want for your children.
2. Who is your instructor.
3. What does he/she offer.

If you are not involved in your child's moment-by-moment growth, if you are a hands-off kind of
parent, who likes to leave the child to make his/her own decision, from as early as 5-6, to 18. If
you plan to provide everything for your child, so that they never have to know hardship, like you and
your parents did. If you what you care about are grades, grades, and even better grades. Then by
all means, martial arts training is not for your child. To put it concisely, you can't afford it.

Martial arts training aim to develop the whole person. Their physique, as well as their attitude. In martial arts, we welcome failure, just as we welcome success, for one does not exist without the other. We strive to do our best, and we learn to improve our limits and expand our comfort zone. Martial artist tend to be leaders. They don't want Mom/Dad to provide everything they want or demand, rather what they truly need. An opportunity to succeed, and the coaching to help them through it, not to guarantee success.

Martial artist put family and academics as top priorities, but realize that there are more important issues at stake here, then just great grades, great college, and high-paying jobs.
They are members of their society/village. They actively seek out to help others, not just themselves. They seek to become richer as a person, but not just in a monetary way.

So you see, the price to pay for a martial artist to become a black belt and reach beyond that, is more than the tuition you pay, it is more than the time you put to help your instructor. It is the love you put toward your training, knowing all the while that you only get, as much as you give.

Who is your teacher is a great factor. If you are a MAC-DOJO type person, whose only goal in bringing their child/themselves to class to get a belt, then you might as well not start. Because the type of training you get from those types of teachers, is only good for the four-walls that they teach in. It is a commercial enterprise, falsely presented with façade of self-improvement. If you don't want to be patient, work hard, give of your self and your talent to your friends in the martial arts school, contribute to your society, build strong character and courage. Then, don't start.

What your teacher offers, is not just a curriculum that he/she teaches. Anybody can teach you how to punch or kick, but only a master can guide you to a higher level of being. If all you think
about is punching, kicking, winning tournaments, or getting medals or trophies, so that you can show it on your college resume, then don't start.

One should start martial arts training, karate training, or other such undertakings, if one is looking beyond the obvious prize. What is this thing that I plan to do, what is its nature. That
should be your key concern. How will it make me a better person, what will do for me, that I can
then take to my family, community, and nation. How can it help me, leave my mark in a rightful and effective way on this world. If these are too complex of a question for you, then don't start.

Are martial arts classes really necessary? Well, if you can not see the importance of being courageous, kind, decisive, tenacious, hard-working, giving, active person, with tremendous amount of confidence and can do attitude, then no! They are not necessary.

If making a life is more important to you than just making a living, if being involved, is more important to you, then what you are entitled to, if you can see how important your role, as a single individual contributing, to his/her society is more important, then what you alone want.
Then may be you should be starting martial arts.

Remember, better to never start. But if start, better finish.

Being a Father

Father's day is upon us, and there a lot to be thankful for as father. My kids bring me tremendous joy, and fantastic challenges every day. Each of them are different in some ways, and share many similarities in many other ways. There's not a day that goes by, that I do not receive unconditional love from them, or learn something new. The blessing has been all mine.

I am confused though, when I hear someone say "I am a great father, I provide for everything that my child wants." When I ask what is everything? I generally get the same answers. Good school, nanny, nice house, great clothes, their own TV, various gaming consoles, etc. That raises an eyebrow or two from me.

One, how much time do you spend with your child, one-on-one. How many school award ceremonies do you attend? I mean really attend in person, and in spirit. When was the last time, you took your child out (just the two of you), and spent a day just hanging out. More importantly, should children get everything they want, or everything they need?

There's no doubt about the importance of the role that we play in our kid's life. If mothers are the nurturing earth, fathers are the pillar of strength, the wall of reason and the roof that protects them from harm. At the same time, if mom is the cradle of love, warmth and tenderness, dads are the spirit of discovery, adventure, risk taking and confidence.

Those qualities that fathers possess, are what shapes the mentality, responsibility and the ability of their children. What we provide then, should be more than monetary freedom. More than materialistic ventures, more than things to have.

The day we become fathers, we are given a gift. The ability to shape the future of a precious life, and indirectly, help benefit others as well. We are not here just to pay for tuition, books, games, and things, we are here to nurture, coach, guide, direct, counsel and teach by example.

Children may look to their mothers for love, but LOOK UP to their dad for leadership.

Happy Father's Day.

Price of Shyness

Often when I ask about a young boy/girl, I hear that they are "a good boy/girl." What does being good really mean though? How do we measure goodness, and are those the standard for everyone.

The answer is that goodness, or being good is relative. There are no set standards, and parents often compare their child, to the noisy, rambunctious kids they come across. Therefore, a quiet, unassuming child, that keeps to their own, and doesn't "bother" the parents, is considered good (most of the time).

But, is that good for the child. Children are meant to be exploring, prodding, and yes, causing some trouble. Now I am not talking about setting fires, or destroying property. But a child needs to be physically active and moving.

A child that keeps to himself, is not physically active, does not compete or train regularly, will develop substantial amount of obstacles in their teens and adult life. Whether we want it or not, life is competitive, and it is better to fail in controlled environment, where coaches and parents are there to soften your landing, then to never learn the price of a failure or defeat, and have to face it, as an adult.

The price of shyness for a child, is the exorbitant toll that it takes on the child in their childhood, and their lives as adults. Without knowing how to deal with situation, without getting out of the comfort-zone, without experiencing the discomfort of trying new things, and living the adventure that life is, their life will be uncomfortable, their achievements limited, and their personal experiences could be harsh.

To combat this, parents should make regimented trainings like martial arts, an important part of their child's upbringing. Learning how to set goals properly, working toward them, fair play, camaraderie, honesty, perseverance, tenacity, and friendship, is what martial arts are all about.

Why Should Lineage Matter to You

In general many karate schools operate as they wish, holding no standard of ranking or lineage. The importance of lineage to a client about to embark on this path, should be of absolute importance. Simply put, you are about to invest thousands of dollars, a great amount of your time (which is irreplaceable), and your health and well-being in the hands of another person. A guide if you will, to help you become a better person. If this was a medical or financial matter, you would ask for some credentials, or at the minimum do a local check on the legitimacy of this person.

Fortunately and unfortunately, internet is both our friend and foe on this task. A friend, if you know where to look, and a foe if you only believe your eyes. If you love seeing and training with an instructor that leaps in the air for acrobatics, is in the movie business, and has a lot image, then you are probably looking at an empty shell. You will be guaranteed to receive your black belt in 3-4 years, or sooner. You will execute dynamic looking, fancy kicks. You may even do some acrobatics.

However, the black belt you receive from that instructor, is good only within those four walls that you trained in. Sooner or later, you will find yourself either in another school, that teaches the same art, but in a traditional manner, or worst, in a situation requiring not only physical, but mental prowess i.e. defending yourself (physically or otherwise). You will in either case find yourself overwhelmed, under-trained and your training is not worth the paper that your black belt is printed on.

That rank that you received was a waste of your money, time, and efforts. May be you can impress your friends in parties, but in real life, you have gained nothing of value.

Such is the case with over 90% of current martial arts studios. Their black belt ranks are meaningless, and useless. When training in West Hills Karate Academy, you will receive your black belt in three stages.

Stage 1: Probationary black belt. Shows that you are 85-95% technically able to perform at a level of black belt. But you require seasoning and time, to hone your skills and your inner strength. You receive your probationary rank from a nationally known instructor, who finds you to have the potential to be better. Your black belt is plain or in case of juniors, has a white line through it. Signifying that imperfections exist.


Stage 2: National black belt. Shows that you have made substantial improvement within yourself physically, mentally and spiritually. You are at a higher level than before, but still lack the perfection level that is required. Your instructor provides you with a new certificate. However, your belt loses its white stripe if it had one, or your name and your national school name will be embroidered in Japanese, if you are an adult student.


Stage 3: International black belt. You test with an original Japanese certified master instructor, going through his detailed training and examination, as he notices and scores every movement you make, with his keen eye for perfection. You receive a diploma that is hand inscribed with your name and rank in Japanese. The authentic, original award of rank. Your belt now has the international organization embroidered on it.

You look back at your achievement, and know that you invested your ever so precious resources correctly. Time, effort and money well spent. You go anywhere in the world, and can hold your own in any Japanese karate school. Your diploma is instantly recognized. Your efforts appreciated, and you are now part of fraternity/sorority, that is unique and special.

We are here for you!

The West Hills Karate Academy is based on principles of Respect, Humility, Discipline, Tenacity, and Honor as building blocks of a productive lifestyle. The mortars by which these principles are bound are Love, Passion, Perseverance, Tenacity and Courage. With this, I believe that a human being can lead a productive and fruitful life, that benefits himself, his family and his country. The questions that come next, are natural ones. Where do you develop these attributes, how do you refine them and nurture them. In a word, Karate-do.

The “do” (pronounced doe) arts of Japan, are designed to test the and teach the human body and psyche, to reach its higher potential. Indeed, it is after we have gone through certain hardships in life, that we learn about the better, stronger and more resilient parts of our beings. Whether physical, mental or spiritual, challenges, severe and at times life-threatening challenges, seems to polish the armor without, and the mettle within. However, in today’s modern society the very extreme is not possible, except under most adventurous or dangerous circumstances. Therefore, a tamer yet still challenging mechanism must be made available to bring us to our full potential. In a word, Karate-do.

In today’s McDonalds society, were fast everything is prevailing, and patience and hard work, has given way to the sense of entitlement and demanding spirit to the youth of today, where responsibility and citizenship has given way to the what’s-in-it-for-me attitude, with no end in sight. Where it is uncool, if you don’t have a tattoo or two, rings and piercing in every possible part of your body, or if you are person who actually reads a book, or studies – in such environment, where God is less and less appreciated and respected, and at times completely forgotten about, where does one find a sanctuary to support life-building, family values to save one’s self, and sanity? In a word, Karate-do.

It has become more and more acceptable to take the easy way out. To have others take care of the problem. To not to get involved, and to look the other way. Our schools are in shambles, the religious institutions who were once trusted with our youth, have abused them, and now hiding behind their so-called spirituality. There is a fight brewing amongst those who wish to let things slide, and those who believe in humanity, kindness, love, charity, hard work, productivity and responsibility. Where do you train for such fight, how can you ensure that you can win your part of the battle. In a word, Karate-do.

We are the West Hills Karate Academy, and we are here for you.