Karate-our way

July 23, 2012

Karate-our way

When you think of Karate, you may picture white uniforms, really intense looks, strict discipline, and hard core moves.....all of which are great; but, at Learning on the Log, we have found our kids don't respond well to that scenario. In fact, we used to go to a karate studio, but that did not go well. Our group of kids tended to be too rough in their practice shots and did not respond well to the strict expectations of the instructors. So then, we tried bringing in a skilled instructor, to our own space, where the kids would be more comfortable and wouldn't feel so "heavy" with the rules of the studio.....this too, did not go very well. The kids seemed intimidated by the instructor and afraid to try and risk failing. So, we have come up with a more Learning on the Log friendly, variation of karate! We use real pads and practice basic skills such as punch, kick, block, but the premise behind it all is fun and social and the kids really take to it. When they first hear karate, many shy away or you see fear stricken in their eyes, but once they watch their friends try it, they all want to join in. The staff are energetic and want nothing more than for the kids to succeed, and the kids can sense that, so they are willing to take a risk and try something they might not have otherwise tried. They get to run as hard and as fast as they can and crash into the pads and revel in how strong they are when they knock a counselor to the ground. They feel a sense of accomplishment when the group cheers for their successes, and when they fail, they get to keep trying until they get it right. With the right support and encouragement, they don't view this as failure, just a first of many attempts, and because everybody gets to try it several times, they don't feel they are singled out. Because of the support they feel when it is their turn, the campers are then more inclined to sit and watch and cheer for the other campers instead of dwelling on their own turn or demanding they get another. It is an incredible cycle of natural play and social exchanges, that displays the camaraderie we try to build within all of our groups.