| I have a five-year-old son who recently | | | | down to tying the white belt around his |
| decided he wanted to take up the art of | | | | little waist. I tied a good strong knot to |
| karate. Well, as you can guess, I was | | | | keep it on his torso and off we went. |
| thrilled that he wanted to get involved with | | | | |
| something that would teach him so much for | | | | When we arrived, he walked proudly into the |
| the life that lies before him. Little did I | | | | room only to have some of the other students |
| know that I too, would have to become an | | | | snicker at him. I looked around to see what |
| expert in the ways of karate fashion! | | | | was wrong and why they would be doing that. |
| | | | Apparently, to my surprise, I had tied his |
| We went through all the steps to get him | | | | karate belt completely wrong and it looked as |
| signed up and get his karate gi. Now all | | | | if he had a huge lump in his tummy. |
| there was to do was await the big day when he | | | | |
| was to start his class. He ran around the | | | | It didn't matter to him, he stood there in |
| house with his 'Sponge Bob' karate gloves on, | | | | all his glory, proud as can be. |
| chopping into everything he could get his | | | | |
| little hands on. With his enthusiasm, he soon | | | | One of the other kids dads gave a quick |
| had the whole family getting into the spirit | | | | lesson on how to tie the belt and I |
| of things and we all were getting anxious for | | | | immediately called him over to fix the |
| the classes to start. | | | | problem. I was just a bit too late as when he |
| | | | turned to look at me while jumping in the |
| Well, as the big day neared, he took to | | | | air, teh top half of his gi came apart and |
| wearing his gi both day and night. He was not | | | | just about fell off of him due to my awful |
| very good at tying knots so this quickly | | | | knot. I got him over to me as quick as |
| became a dilemma. He would put on his uniform | | | | possible and fixed it so he was none the |
| to fight the evildoers in the house and I was | | | | wiser. I learned that the belt should sit |
| expected to quickly tie the belt on his | | | | just above the hip bones, for if it is in any |
| uniform. Then, when he would switch back to | | | | way different, it will untie and fall off. |
| his own personality, he again would want a | | | | The ends of the belt need to be of equal |
| Quick Draw McGraw change of the gi. I, of | | | | lengths to make sure that it doesn't |
| course, obliged. | | | | interfere with your body parts getting caught |
| | | | in it and you should make sure that the belt |
| Well, this went on right up until the big | | | | doesn't cross itself at the back. |
| day. When the day arrived that he was to go | | | | |
| to his first karate class, we all took much | | | | He loves his karate classes. I love my |
| pride in getting him ready for his first | | | | wrestling, jujitsu and kickboxing classes. As |
| lesson. I helped him get dressed, all the way | | | | a family, we have it covered! |