| "What could this article possibly be about?!" you | | | | back kick and fall down (and sometimes even get |
| are thinking to yourself right now, "my kids can't | | | | hurt) but after their tears stop, guess what?!?! |
| possibly teach me anything about my career! Life | | | | THEY TRY AGAIN! And if they fall down again, or |
| maybe, but certainly not about my work!" Don't | | | | screw up a form, guess what?!?! THEY TRY |
| be so sure-in fact-I think you will be floored by | | | | AGAIN! They keep trying until they get it! |
| the time you are done reading this! | | | | Now, lets talk about the adult program. This is a |
| For years I have studied martial arts in a | | | | totally different story. I don't know how many |
| Minneapolis suburb kickboxing and karate gym. We | | | | 'Intro' adult students come through the door, but |
| have two different programs-one for the adults | | | | it's a high number. They try it a few times, they |
| and one for the kids; and each program has | | | | don't get the hang of it, and they never come |
| different levels. The kids have a traditional 'belt' | | | | back. Or, for those who stay, they are fine with |
| ranking system, and the adults have a 'level' | | | | sub-par work because they don't want to |
| system-Level One is the most basic and Level | | | | embaress themselves and try a new move or |
| Four would be the highest. Additionally-the kids are | | | | two. Or, they are too intimidated to learn a form |
| broken down into different age groups-as young | | | | or try sparring because people will be watching |
| as 3 and as old as teenagers. The 3-5 year olds | | | | and they might screw up and think that they will |
| are the ones that I want to write about.... | | | | be laughed at! |
| These young children start off not really knowing | | | | Have you wanted to start a new business, |
| anything about karate; in fact, they don't know | | | | change careers, take up a new hobby, or try |
| much about anything at this point in their lives | | | | public speaking, but you tried once and failed? Or |
| (which could be their advantage overall)! They | | | | someone laughed at you? Or have you NOT tried |
| start by learning some basic forms and moves-its | | | | because you are afraid of what others might |
| funny to watch because half of them are facing | | | | think? Are they really going to point and laugh? |
| the wrong way, others are off doing their own | | | | Well I am here to tell you that you need to do |
| thing, and only a handful are actually following | | | | what your 4 year old would do-give it a shot, and |
| everything correctly. After they are in the | | | | if you fail, let the tears dry and try again and |
| program for a few months, they start doing | | | | again until you get it right! Oh, did I mention that |
| more advanced moves and forms-and they start | | | | my martial art school has far more youth Black |
| taking tests to get higher ranking belts. | | | | Belt members than it has adult Level 4 |
| This is what I learned... | | | | members?! |
| These kids will try a spin wheel kick or a flying | | | | |