Shorin-ryu Shorinkan Sunridge Park Dojo

Happy Father's Day to All.

EVERY PARENT OF A KARATE STUDENT SHOULD READ THIS POST FULLY....

(This was taken from my good friend Renshi Michael Kiefer dojo Members Page at Kiefer's Martial Arts, Inc. in Rhode Island. Definitely worth the read, parents.)

I haven’t done a post on this topic in a while but before summer starts is the perfect time...

Parent: “Hi Renshi, my child is getting bored and wants to quit.”

This is far more common than many parents believe it will be when their child starts karate. My response... well, what is it that you want your child to learn from martial arts? Do you want them to learn self-discipline and perseverance? Do you want them to learn how to face their challenges and overcome them? Do you want them to learn that to accomplish any significant goal in their life that they will have to overcome adversity? Do you want them to learn that hard work and dedication pays off? Or do you want them to learn to quit at the first sign of any adversity, discomfort or failure?

It’s a big, big question for parents. As the picture says, NOBODY is ALWAYS motivated. EVERYBODY will go through ups and downs in their enthusiasm level. Remember that unlike most activities that kids do, this one is year round with no breaks. To accomplish the goal, you must learn self-discipline. As teachers and parents, our job is to help kids learn this. Invariably kids will want to do what is EASIER, not always what is RIGHT. Pushing through obstacles is hard. Getting past the “I’m bored” phases are tough. But I can truthfully tell every parent out there this... Never in my 24 years of teaching karate to children have I ever had a child who achieved his or her black belt come up to me after and say “Sensei I wish I had quit back at blue belt (or green belt or brown belt) when I wanted to.” Never once. They are always so thankful to have stuck with it and so thankful to their parents & Sensei for pushing them through the tough times.

This topic always reminds me of a story that one of my very best friends in karate, Renshi Stephen Ferraro tells. When he was I think 13 years old he was a brown belt in karate and wanting to quit. He asked his mother, “ If I quit karate will you be disappointed in me?” His mother paused for a second, looked him in the eye, said “Yes” and walked away. Thirteen year old Stephen did NOT quit, and has now earned a 6th Degree Black Belt in Karate and owns one of the most successful dojo in all of Canada. Kids don’t always know what’s best for them... even though they may think they do.

So when the topic comes up, don’t give in, don’t give up. Team up with us... let us know they need our help to overcome their lull in motivation or whatever other challenge may have come up. The road to black belt is neither smooth nor straight. Push your kids to push through the obstacles. Use it as an opportunity to TEACH some valuable life skills. I promise you when they walk across that stage to receive their black belt, they will be thankful that you did.

I found this post on Senshi Dojo FB Page and just had to re-post. Thankyou Sensei Wayne.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL

"Please note this was Copied from an Original post on another page only Sharing!!!!"

✴️ I DON’T PAY FOR KARATE ❇️

From a Karate parent.....

One of my friends asked:

"Why do you pay so much money and spend so much time running around for your son's to do karate ?"

Well I have a confession to make:

I don't pay for Karate!
I don’t pay for my son’s karate lessons.
I don't pay for his mitts..... or suits or his competitions.

So, if I am not paying for karate, what am I paying for?

❇️ I pay for those moments when my boy becomes so tired he feels like quitting but doesn't.

❇️ I pay for the opportunity that my boy can have and will have to make life-long friendships.

❇️ I pay for the chance that he may have amazing instructors that will teach him that karate is not just about movement but about life.

❇️ I pay for my child to learn to be disciplined.

❇️ I pay for my child to learn to take care of himself.

❇️ I pay for my child to learn to work with others and to be a proud , supportive, kind and respectful dojo member.

❇️ I pay for my child to learn to deal with disappointment, when he doesn't get that score he hoped for, or fell during a move he has practiced a thousand times, but he still gets up and is determined to do his BEST next time...

❇️ I pay for my boy to learn to make and accomplish goals.

❇️ I pay for my boy to learn that it takes hours and hours and hours and hours of hard work and practice to create a champion, and that success does not happen overnight.

❇️ I pay so that my boy can be in the dojo instead of in front of a screen...

I could go on but, to be short, I don't pay for karate. I pay for the opportunities that karate provides my child to develop attributes that will serve him well throughout his life and give him the opportunity to bless the lives of others. From what I have seen for many, many years, I think it is a great investment!

A Black Belt is a White Belt that never quit.

In 1993, a group of former Funakoshi (SA) karateka, led by then Shihan Claude Johnson, identified the need to associate with a unique style of karate, steeped in tradition, but not yet established in South Africa. For this reason Shihan Claude led a delegation that visited with Kyoshi Noel Smith (member of the U.S. Shorin-Ryu Shorinkan Kyokai) during November of that year.

This visit led to the creation of Shorin-Ryu Shorinkan South Africa on 15 January 1994.

Today Shorin-Ryu South Africa is established as one of the foremost karate styles in South Africa with several karateka having competed with distinction on national and international level.

Happy 28th Anniversary to Shorin-Ryu South Africa!