Our own kids

[Dent]

Osu!

With so many family members training together, I thought it a good idea to see the different approaches taken to getting kids to class?

Also, how are the grading conducted if you are the senior?

What difficulties do you face as parents of Karate kids?

Osu!

[tmd]

getting kids to class?

They all want to go more often than we can afford to train; do some home work sessions too to teach them a more rounded approach, the funny one is A (youngest) he was short on training for his grading so we tried to take him on a different night, "can't - not Karate night". was his blunt reply "come on it will be fun mummies helping!" I said cheerily, he turns and looks up at me as only he can "Dad, Wednesday is cubs, Thursday is Karate, Friday and Saturday are football, Monday is swimming, can I please have Tuesdays off!"

He still trained though I think is point was valid, and worth noting that if you make it automatic it's no big thing.

Also, how are the grading conducted if you are the senior?

Not that far in front of them!!

What difficulties do you face as parents of Karate kids?

Not pushing them too hard, they are (in general) at least in the top 10% of the class for knowledge and technical ability, C is also a dancer so her Kata and kihon look fantastic (though my eyes) and she picks it up so quickly he hurts but B looks a bit awkward and sloppy next to her and doesn't like knockdown training too much yet, sometimes I push him too hard in class and it does bring him along but you can see in his eyes that there's resentment there too coz the other kids aren't being treated so harshly, I do always talk to him about it afterward but the guilt is still there.

[Lucy]

getting kids to class?

Ive always let my boys do it in their own time. I think with my first lad i was eager for him to start training and maybe he was too young he had a break for a few months then came back and took his 10th kyu. He trains twice a week with me.

Also, how are the grading conducted if you are the senior?

Being an instructor at my club i have the privilege of watching the gradings at the table. Part of me wants to be there, but a big part of me does'nt! I would rather hide outside with the other parents! A very nerve racking experience! I was very anxious.

What difficulties do you face as parents of Karate kids?

Well i can only say it has been a positive experience in my case! Before my son started he was very aggressive and had a fair fews 'incidents' in the playground. Since he has got into karate he has become alot more placid and will walk away from trouble. The discipline has taught him not to attack. Also he is alot more confident in his abilities and his concentration has vastly improved

[Deaken]

Since we run our own dojo our kids are growing up since infancy hanging around Kyokushin. Our son is 4 and 1/2 and he's been in the 4-6 year old class for 6 months and just loves it. Asks every day if today is "boys karate"

Our little girl is only 13 months but she always tries to scoot into her brothers class if we put her down during training. We took her to Japan with us to the WT in Novemebr (she was too young to leave at home).

Here he is in his size "0" Ichigeki gi with one of fhis classmates.

[Aunty Ichigeki]

Sigh! Our boy was very hard work. He's very shy & reluctant to try new things so we couldn't get him to participate in karate or other activities. Hence we started a peewees class with small numbers & where parents were allowed to help out. Even then it was hard work. He was too comfortable in the environment & thought he should be up with Dad not down the back! It must have been a confidence thing because after he fought in Japan he was fired up & trained several nights a week for a while. He still has panic attacks (tears at our Nationals 2 weeks ago) but once we force him he's so proud he did it. I don't think we'll have the same problem with our daughter, she's 2yrs in this pic & she has a mean back control!

[Dent]

Osu! Deaken,

Originally Posted by Deaken

Since we run our own dojo our kids are growing up since infancy hanging around Kyokushin. Our son is 4 and 1/2 and he's been in the 4-6 year old class for 6 months and just loves it. Asks every day if today is "boys karate"

Our little girl is only 13 months but she always tries to scoot into her brothers class if we put her down during training. We took her to Japan with us to the WT in Novemebr (she was too young to leave at home).

Here he is in his size "0" Ichigeki gi with one of fhis classmates.

Great picture! That's one that he can keep with him as he grows, and remember his time in the Dojo.

Osu!

[Dent]

Osu! Aunty Ichigeki,

Originally Posted by Aunty Ichigeki

Sigh! Our boy was very hard work. He's very shy & reluctant to try new things so we couldn't get him to participate in karate or other activities. Hence we started a peewees class with small numbers & where parents were allowed to help out. Even then it was hard work. He was too comfortable in the environment & thought he should be up with Dad not down the back! It must have been a confidence thing because after he fought in Japan he was fired up & trained several nights a week for a while. He still has panic attacks (tears at our Nationals 2 weeks ago) but once we force him he's so proud he did it. I don't think we'll have the same problem with our daughter, she's 2yrs in this pic & she has a mean back control!

Are those your kids? Wonderful! I thin you and Deaken have inspired me to get my own little critters into a session later today!

Osu!

[Bloke]

Ill try and ressurect this thread in a few years when Emma is old enough but I have already been thinking about how I would approach it if she wanted to train.

[ksan]

Cool pics Deaken & Aunty Ichigeki..... thnx for sharing

osu

[Aunty Ichigeki]

Originally Posted by Bloke

Ill try and ressurect this thread in a few years when Emma is old enough but I have already been thinking about how I would approach it if she wanted to train.

Firstly, great choice of name (my girl is Emma-Jane). Secondly, remember how you planned out your first full contact fight & then when you actually got on the mat how nothing turned out as you expected? .... same with kids!

[Bloke]

Thanks Aunty

I know that you are right because nothing ever turns out exactly as we had suspected.

[tmd]

As we're shearing this is one of my favorites - Alex just prior to going into the Waterfall this winter.

[Dent]

Osu!

Nice pic, TMD. Looks like several of us have kids in the same age range. I hope they can all meet one day too!

PS: Was the shearing slip in response to the haircut?

Osu!

[tmd]

Osu! Dent didn't even notice that! No was the standard boys in the family haircut = now I'm the only one - thirteen year old looks Like Phil Oakley even though he doesn't know who Phil Oakley is.

And yes it would be great to think of the next gen of K4L's getting together in year to come.

[Bloke]

Originally Posted by tmd

Osu! Dent didn't even notice that! No was the standard boys in the family haircut = now I'm the only one - thirteen year old looks Like Phil Oakley even though he doesn't know who Phil Oakley is.

And yes it would be great to think of the next gen of K4L's getting together in year to come.

From the Human League?

[tmd]

Originally Posted by Bloke

From the Human League?

Yeah only blond LOL! - Haven't the heart to tell him his rebellious hair growing has led him to have the same hair style his Dad did in 1983!

Could be worse could have been like David Sylvian! (JAPAN)

[tmd]

Originally Posted by Dent

Osu!

Was the shearing slip in response to the haircut?

Osu!

Just realized Dent this was in Wales so may have been more Freudian than I thought

[Dent]

Osu!

Originally Posted by tmd

Just realized Dent this was in Wales so may have been more Freudian than I thought

Hhahahahahahaa!

You'll have to be a bit careful though, TMD. You do want to be invited back.

Osu!