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Being a white belt means that you’re a beginner. You may find yourself looking around at the students who are more advanced  and wish you were good enough to join them. You want to move on and progress as fast as you can – that’s perfectly normal!  But what, if anything, can you do to speed up the process?  One word…

Practice!

Being a white belt means that it’s your time to learn the basics. Which also means creating good habits. This is the time to do that, because if you get sloppy now and get into bad habits, you may find yourself stuck with them for a long time to come. And bad habits will hold you back in the long run.

Stand out from the crowd:

Here’s something you may not be aware of. Most people in this world are lazy. And a very high percentage of them procrastinate. Put these two facts together, and you’ll find that not a lot of people will put the time into learning an art, whether it be to play a musical instrument or to perfect their martial arts.So, my first piece of advice is to actually practice. Don’t just intend to practice. Don’t just say you’re going to practice… Practice.  Practice outside of class in a planned, systematic manner.

What do you practice?

The basics — and the more basic, the better. Actually, the more boring, the better.

Practice punching. Practice kicking. Whatever you did in class this week.  Just practice.

Avoid sloppy practice:

Remember, you are creating your martial arts habits now, while you are a white belt. So, don’t just go through the motions without thinking about what you are doing. Practice for precision. Put some intensity into your practice. Make it real in your mind.

Mr. Ramsay will notice!

Another tip:

Get a mentor! Find someone more advanced than you are to take a liking to you — an interest in your progress.

(Which doesn’t mean forcing yourself on the nearest black belt.)

Get to know people in the class. Find a fit to your personality. It’s easier to like someone, if they like you first. Get a little extra coaching. Remember, this mentor has been through it before. The best way to improve is by working out with someone more advanced than you who is willing to coach you.

Last piece of advice:

Find out what’s expected of you as a white belt. What do you need to master to progress to become a yellow belt?

You can improve faster if you are working towards specific goals. If you know what it’s going to take to get your next belt, you can focus on what’s important.

Happy training!

And remember:

The only difference between a white belt and a black belt is time and practice!

The symptoms of ADHD can be devastating for children. It is especially hard for school-age children who feel isolated and don’t know how to express what they are feeling. They can become quickly behind academically and socially, which leads to lack of self-confidence and depression. Symptoms of childhood ADHD can include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. One way parents are helping their children is by having them train in karate. It is a great way to alleviate these symptoms and overcome the stress they cause.

THE SYMPTOMS

1. Inattention

The first symptom of childhood ADHD is the inability to focus and lack of attention. This includes not being able to follow through on tasks, not being able to focus on what other people are saying and not being able to organize thoughts, tasks and activities.

2. Hyperactivity

The second symptom of childhood ADHD is hyperactivity. Children who suffer from this symptom feel the need to fidget with their hands and feet. They also tend to get up out of their seat often (even when its not an appropriate time) or simply feel an urge to move around. They also tend to talk excessively and are always on the go.

3. Impulsivity

The third symptom of childhood ADHD is impulsivity. Children who have difficulty waiting their turns, who often interrupt and who answer questions before they’ve been completed may suffer from this symptom.

THE TREATMENT

Training in karate may help alleviate many symptoms of ADHD. Through karate, children learn physical and mental self-control through practice and self-discipline. This ability to control their body also helps them to discipline their mind. These two skills feed off of one another and carry over to other parts of your life. The more they learn to control their body, the more they can control their mind. The more they can control their mind, the more they’ll be able to control their body. This control carries over to other parts of their life as well: Once they can control their body while training, they’ll be able to start controlling their urges to move and fidget. The same goes for their mind. As they become more self-disciplined, they’ll be able to concentrate and focus on their daily activities, school and relationships.

Even if your child hasn’t been officially diagnosed with ADHD, they may suffer from some or even many of the symptoms. If so, you owe it to yourself to start alleviating the stress in their life. The self-discipline and self-awareness needed to train in karate helps you stay in control of your environment and life. The best place to find these skills is at a good school, namely the Orillia Academy of Karate.

As parents, we do everything we can to protect our children from harm and to provide them with the skills they need to be healthy, successful adults. The problem is, we are not with them all the time. What our kids do at school is sometimes a mystery to us. Are they polite to their teachers? Do they participate in class? Are they bullying other kids? Are they being bullied? There is something you can do to help get them on track to be successful in school and to avoid the bully-trap even when you’re not around: Enroll them in a karate class.

Continue reading “Does Learning Karate Help Combat Bullying?”