How to Love Fitness and Have Fun Immediately with Karate
If you’re a parent, you have undoubtedly been chopped, punched, kicked or tackled by your child. I think it’s just a rite of passage.
In our house, however, I think it happened even sooner because my son was raised watching two parents who try to love fitness. Included in our workouts are snap kicks, high blocks and punches, in addition to weight lifting.
It wasn’t long (two years old to be exact) before our son started claiming that he was a ninja and trying to jump off the stairs and sofa or anything else for that matter. My husband and I, out of a growing concern for his safety, wanted to look into places or experiences where he could exercise, grow to fitness and have fun, in a safe environment.
First, we looked into a gymnastic type environment. He loved it! He was hooked on the rope climbing and balance/coordination drills that the patient and helpful instructor coached the group of toddlers through, but to our horror the place closed shortly after we found them.
Now things were worse than before, because he had gotten a taste of loving fitness and having fun, but was now left high and dry. It wasn’t the same when mommy tried to build pillow balance beams and use our indoor trampoline at home.
Determined to find something to fill the gap, we tried wee ball, or as my husband called it wrangling cats. Ok, fine, I admit it, some days there was more kids chasing than actual ball hitting or base running, but it was very cute and we got to see and make some friends. As cute as it was, I knew it still wasn’t the right fit.
Inspiration came one day as we were watching an episode of Blaze and the Monster Machines , when Blaze had become a ninja. My son was enthralled and couldn’t tear his gaze away. For weeks afterwards, he tried to mimic the moves he had seen and the fitness exercises they had done. It was then that I decided to look into local karate studios.
I reached out on Facebook and sadly realized most places wouldn’t take him until he was 3 and we were several months from that milestone. It was disappointing, but the week he turned 3, I called and set up a 6 week trial for my son, Kingston, with Okinawan Karate School or OKS Macon, as it is fondly called.
How Karate Started?
There doesn't seem to be any absolute knowledge about the origins of karate, but it is assumed it appeared over a thousand years ago in Okinawa. Karate is an unarmed martial art form that includes blocking, kicking and defending.
How Karate Helps You?
I wanted the experience for my son because I had been doing research and I was intrigued by the way karate taught concepts of discipline and fitness in a fun way. I have several students who practiced karate and they, as well as their parents, always spoke highly of the practice and benefits.
My entire family had high expectations walking in and we were not and still have not been disappointed. On Kingston’s first night of the Mighty Mites class, we walked in to see a sign that had his name and was welcoming him to the dojo. His karate uniform and white belt, with his name written on it, were perfectly ironed and folded.
I quickly took him to their spacious and clean restroom area and got him changed. Well, somewhat. We left the bathroom with his pants and an undershirt on because I had never put on a shirt like that before (it had some strings that needed to be secured). Luckily for me, one of the instructors offered to help before I even asked.
