Show Me Your Friends...

…..And I will show you your future. 

That is how the old adage goes, and for the most part I agree with it.  Like-minded people are more likely to associate together.  Anyone who has taught or observed a children’s class in elementary school will observe the phenomenon in action as the unruly ones may migrate to the back of the class room and the studious ones tend to stake their position at the front.

It is this principal that parents keep in mind as they supervise the activities and the company that their child partake.  For this reason, parents are looking for activities that allow their young ones to grow, learn and thrive.  My biased opinion is that this is why so many parents chose martial art training.  It allows their child to develop physically (through the techniques and workout) as well as emotionally (through the development of discipline, respect and focus).

As well as friends and acquaintances being an excellent barometer for the potential of success in our young warriors – I am often gratified to meet the parents of the students.  Right away you can tell how committed they are to excellence for their children.

I had the opportunity to meet such a group last night during our Registration.

We invited the parents on to the floor to train with their young ones and every one took us up on the offer. 

It was a great class !!

We talked about safety (no-go-yell-tell), discipline (the three types), focus (a black sash is a white sash that never gave up) and learned techniques and combinations.  The energy in the class was great, the parents were motivating and encouraging with their children, and the kids were super-focused and well mannered – what more could a Sifu ask for…..?

One comment that I would like to pass on is the importance of leading by example. 

At the end of the class, we were about to start our station workout.  I gave the opportunity to the parents to observe this part of the class.  Not one of them took me up on it – they chose to get in there and workout with their child, doing their push-ups, sit-ups, etc. right along with the class.  Afterwards, during my ride home, I reflected on how important it was to demonstrate to our young warriors that it is not a case of “do what I say, not what I do”. 

To everyone (parents and young students) that attended the class last night, I would like to say thank you for joining us, you all did an excellent job and it was indeed a pleasure to meet you in person – I look forward to our martial art growth over the months to come….

Posted in: Focus On Family