08/29/2026
Hey there Shugosha parents, students, alum.
We've been away from the dojo for a while so some of you may not be familiar with the Shrader clan. That's alright, I'm going to offer some testimony to share what the journey you're on likely leads to.
Liberty (our youngest) hasn't been in the dojo for almost three years at this point. Just wasn't her passion and vibe. She hung in there for a long time because dear ol' dad wanted her to.
Then tonight... tonight we were doing driving practice for a kid that is now 16. She's capable, skilled, and responsible. Yet, when I challenged her to stretch into new that she has never done before, she paused. I saw the emotion well up and she doubted.
Then she said the magic words, "Dad, I'm scared."
I looked across from the seat to where she was at, and I offered this advice.
"You've done kata in the black square when you were scared. It's ok to be scared. Just do it scared. Take a deep breath, drop your shoulders, and let's begin."
And then she did.
Sure, Shugosha teaches your kid how to kick and punch, but if that's where the learning stops, you're missing out on so much more. The mats are indeed where defensive mindset is learned, but that's just scratching the surface.
