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At East-West Kara-Te, The
Depth is the Difference, and nowhere is this more apparent
to the untrained observer than in our Kids Karate program.
 Our
program is significantly different than most other children’s
karate programs. We do not subject children to sparring
or competition as beginners. Sparring is a game that,
when used properly, can teach certain lessons. However, the
purpose of karate is to develop quality martial arts skills
that serve in all situations—not to
“win” a contrived game or tournament. Focus
on sparring, particularly at lower levels, develops unsafe
karate habits and is a sign of poor-quality martial arts.
Quality
martial arts teaches young people self-discipline, self-control,
and an inner sense of self-worth, as well as the ability
and desire to learn and to improve themselves. |
Most programs focus either on “channeling”
children’s energy into things that look like martial
arts but are not—such as flashy, poor-quality kicks/strikes—or
on harsh, regimented instructor-driven discipline. Quality
martial arts on the other hand, teaches young people self-discipline,
self-control, and an inner sense of self-worth, as well as
the ability and desire to learn and to improve themselves.
The Benefits
of Karate:
• Concentration
• Attention to detail
• Inner drive to improve
• Inner sense of self-worth
• Effective means of
self-defense |
Our program is designed to develop
the physical and mental control to perform techniques correctly
(not just fast), a key requirement of doing quality karate.
Other benefits will develop as a child continues in the program,
such as concentration and attention to detail, the inner drive
to improve, and the self-esteem that results when they finally
“get it” or are promoted to a higher belt rank.
On top of this, the quality karate skills learned are a very
effective means of self-defense should it ever become necessary.
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Our aim is to develop self-esteem,
not arrogance; and self-discipline, not dependence upon
others for direction. |
Like anything of value, these benefits cannot
be achieved overnight. Our program is designed to take a typical
(or even problem) child and develop these qualities efficiently
and continually over time. We do not lavish continual praise
and external rewards (such as trophies from competitions),
nor do we use harsh discipline. Rather, we use a balance of
sufficient praise and correction so that the students know
what is expected and what is not, and when they have done
something right. In short, the aim is to develop self-esteem,
not arrogance; and self-discipline, not dependence upon others
for direction.
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