Why don’t you wear Chest Protectors when sparring?

Because students let the chest protector do the job of blocking and don’t learn good defense. The very thing that frustrates the kids most, getting hit, is what they need most. Every time we get hit, it motivates us to focus on defense and learn to block and move. In fact, almost all the kids that come in and tell me they got into a fight at school tell me “I didn’t even kick or punch, the kid tried to hit me and my hands just moved!” That skill is learned one way. Sparring.

Does my son/daughter have what it takes to become a black belt?

Yes or I wouldn’t have taken him/her as a student. I promise that it won’t be easy. But if they have the desire, the commitment, and a positive attitude, they will become black belts and hopefully more.

My kid has an injury or illness, should he/she spar?

If you bring your child to class, assume they will spar. Just let us know if they have an injury or illness and let us decide whether he or she should spar or not. Since we spar ourselves, we know what really prevents people from sparring and what doesn’t. Many times what looks minor to adults we think is major and vice versa. If parents start making the determination of when the kids spar, the kids start to make up phantom injuries, “tummy aches” and “headaches” to avoid sparring if they aren’t in the mood to spar that day. Something they do not do with us.

Why do we pick at the kids?

Well, toughening someone up physically and giving them the skill to defend themselves is useless, if the first time someone calls them a name they crumble. Well over half of all kids today succumb to bullies from just verbal teasing alone. It doesn’t help that most kids in today’s society are softer than the generation before. They spend more time in front of a TV playing video games or texting on a phone than they do out doors. Gone are the days of playing cowboys and Indians with sticks and stones, and the occasional bloody knee. We rag and tease the kid’s in class in order to build immunity to the verbal component of a possible confrontation. Thus they learn to resist and respond accordingly. That response will ward off more attackers and bullies than you think! And it keeps the situation from escalating by showing a bully that they are a hard target. Besides, most students enjoy the attention! It lets them know that the instructors know when they are slacking off or just being a “Knucklehead!”

How do I know when my son/daughter is ready for testing?

If we say they are ready to test (they get their red stripe), they should test. Parents should never judge for themselves. Parents can be biased (both positive and negative) and you don’t know what is important at each level. Also, be careful when asking the kids if they are ready. Many of our perfectionists kids expect too much of themselves and tend to play it safe instead of taking a little healthy risk. Something they need to learn. If someone isn’t prepared or I don’t believe they can pass testing, I won’t let them test.