| Answering common karate questions from parents | |||||||
| by BUDDY AMATO | |||||||
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In today's world of day care and other activities, that allow parents to free up some time from the kids, we must keep a constant watch on the people that are providing these services. This column will will address some of the most common questions that many parents ask and hopefully will help you understand the need to be careful and watch on organizations that provide these services. The first question is how do I know if a karate school is what they say it is? The answer to this is everyone is going to tell you that they are the best thing that rolled down the pike. Make sure you ask for information that backs up the claims the so called instructor is making. Ask to see a class and take a free trial class. Do not make your mind up right away, check on other schools in the area and compare. Is the discipline there? Are the students being corrected? Is the facility large enough to handle the class size? Is the instructor the type of person that you would want your child to mold himself after? Don't be surprised if, in my case, I shave my head, because of that many of my young students want their hair cut short. On the other hand if your instructor has hair down to his arm pit and he is a he and not a she, then do not be surprised if your child will be looking like a sheep dog or at least wanting to let his hair grow to lengths of which, you may not approve. This is not to say that people/men that have long hair are doing anything wrong, some of my best friends have long hair and the fact that I don't means only that I don't. As a matter of fact, some of my own instructors at my Dojo have long hair but they keep it neat and they represent themselves in a respectful manor. If the instructor is never around or if he or she is say outside the building having a cigarette, then expect that your child will be picking up on that too. Kids are like sponges, they want to absorb as much as possible and if given the chance, they will absorb things that your would not approve. To make a long answer short, check out the school and find the fact for yourself. Do not, on any circumstances, let yourself be conned into signing a long term contract for a five year old who may want to stop karate three months down the road because he wants to become a different type of action hero that week. Schools that lure you in on cheap starter programs, just to lock you into a contract at the end are schools you have to be careful of. Make sure at the very beginning you ask; Ok Mr. Bruce Flee Roy, at the end of this cheap week, what am I in for? If the answer is a long term year or so contract, in my opinion, you should see if those sneakers you are wearing really work. If your child is just being a child, do not sign a contract that locks you into a program you will be paying for a year down the road, while your child sits in front of your TV set in your house, not the karate school. Three or four months programs are more than long enough in the beginning, at the end of this program than at least you will be able to see if your child really has a sincere interest in the arts. It will be impossible at the end of the week or so for you to make up your mind on a year or more contract for your child, at the end of a week he or she will not understand the real commitment they will be making and once you sign the contract, the instructor or con man in pajamas won't give a flying camel! The next question is, how can some schools afford to say a few dollars for a few weeks and a free karate uniform also thrown in? First of all you have to remember, it is probably just a class or so a week and the uniform that they are given out is about so paper thin, that if you blew your nose in it the spray would still hit your neighbors house 50 feet away! These people are looking for that long term contract. Once you are actually in the building, 'way before before the week or two program is over, you will approached while the child is all excited over the program, because he or she has no idea what real karate is, no matter what school you go to. You have to remember the child that is four years old has no idea what type of school you are bringing them to, they only know that they are jumping around kicking and punching, in their new pajama thin karate outfit. Any school to them at this point is great! You as a parent must research what you are locking them into! Check around; it will only take a day or two to decide, watch other schools and see what they are teaching their students. Make sure you talk to other people and see what they think of area schools. If you see a student that is in the class you are watching and they look great, talk to that parent. You may find out that they in fact trained somewhere else those skills that they display were earned elsewhere. I have visited schools across the country and I have watched students from every style you can mention, it takes a trained eye to pick out the best student and in my case, I can tell you whether or not they trained in karate/Taekwondo/Kung fu, or whatever! The best student in the class can tell you a lot about how you want your child to be taught. That student just may be your yellow pages to your son or daughters karate future. Grandmaster Buddy Amato operates Amato's Karate and Weapons Academy, 589 Palmer Avenue, West Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom. For more information, call (732) 671-9555.
Copyright Buddy Amato Amato's Goju-ryu Karate, Nunchaku, Bo-staff, Aikido, Sword, Kendo, Sais, Kick-boxing, Tai-Chi and more 589 Palmer Ave, Keansburg and is the author of Buddys Animal Kingdom, NJ 07734 (732) 671-9555 |
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