Training Kids
Kid’s – Don’t you just love ’em!!
Having run a karate club for children for over
8 years now, I must admit there are times when I have thought why
bother? Why do I use up some of my spare time on kids, who’d rather
be on a computer game or hanging out with their mates or watching
telly or anything bar karate. Teaching is not easy and teaching
kids, well as the saying goes, don’t work with kids or animals!!!
But that’s enough negativity. The development of a child is an
important and rewarding thing. Watching their confidence grow, their
co-ordination improve, their strength and power increase, along with
the social benefits of building friendships, learning discipline and
respect.
There are times when attention spans are low, noise levels are high
and kids always want to learn something else, even though they’ve
not mastered what they need to know and can become disheartened, but
patience and perseverance can be the key to building the roots for
their future development. Yes, you lose some, especially when they
get to a certain age, but it is a hope that they get back into it
one day. The mainstay that stick with it, make me realise our
efforts are not meaningless, as they develop as karateka and young
men and women it all becomes so very worthwhile.
Kid’s, don’t you just love ’em.
European Gasshuku 2007
XXIV European Gasshuku, Bournemouth, England July 2007It was a pleasurable and very rewarding return
to training at Littledown Sports Centre, Bournemouth for the
Gasshuku. Some 4 years since Michelle and I were down there last,
but it was great to see some faces of old to catch up and reminisce.
The training course, as ever was led by our Chief Instructor, Morio
Higaonna Sensei, assisted by his most Senior Instructors, namely
Bakkies Laubscher Sensei and Terauchi Sensei. It was a great
experience to train with such inspirational characters and we
benefited from both the physical & technical point of view.
I’m sure all participants can remember attempting to smile through
the grimace as Sensei shouted, “mo ichi do” (one more time) and
started another count of ten while performing basics in Shiko Dachi
(I can feel my thighs shaking just thinking about it!!). On the
technical side we scrutinised the individual moves of different
Kata, maintaining that we all understood by constant repetition.
It was all over so quickly, which shows how much we enjoyed!
Many thanks to Sensei, his Senior Instructors and the EGKA for
arranging a great event.
Till next time,
Terry
Sponsored Walk
Despite the torrential rain in June the heavens
shined down on us for our first Dojo Sponsored Walk. I cannot
express our feelings when so many of you turned out to support this,
almost 40 of us trekking around Rother Valley Country Park, despite
the fact it was Fathers Day! Some of the money raised has already
been used to purchase more protective equipment for our kumite
sessions, so a big thank you to all that attended and your families
and friends for the kind donations.
I would also like to say a special thank you to Adrian Saxton who
started the ball rolling and led us off on our route and Michelle
for planning the day and activities, which proved to be such a great
success that we have decided to make it an annual event.