Never Doubt That What We Do Makes An Impact
Posted on | March 15, 2010 | 2 Comments
A reminder of how cruel life can be was recently reinforced when two young women, both 17-years-old, were found murdered within a few weeks of one another here in California. If you are a parent like me, your heart breaks for the mothers and fathers of these two young ladies whose lives were so horrifically cut short. If you are like me and especially if you have a daughter still under your care, the little voice in the back of your head will whisper the phrase it always utters when tragic events such as these occur – “there, but for the grace of God go I.”
The reality of life is we can personally guard our children only to a point before our best intentions in protecting them from harm, potentially smother and damage their ability to grow into strong and independent people. I take comfort in believing my children have a much better chance of surviving an assault, if one should occur, because they have trained in the martial arts. But that is only part of the value I see day in and day out in what their martial arts training provides.
As the circumstances of the deaths of these two young were being detailed in the news, I had the good fortune of chaperoning a teen-only party being held at one of our martial arts academies. From 7:00 p.m. to just before 11:00 p.m., almost every teen who trains at this particular academy – over 50 teens – spent the evening playing games, inventing new martial arts moves, listening to music, watching movies (mostly of the martial arts genre) … having good, wholesome fun. It happened to have taken place on a Saturday evening that was scheduled, but you could come to this academy and several of our other schools any evening during the week and see a flock of teens preparing to take a class. This has become their opportunity for social interaction outside of their life at high school; to hang with people they like and who are like themselves – teenage martial artists. One parent recently asked me why would he want his 16-year-old son to be anywhere else? This father sees that his son is going to be with great kids who like his son, are being taught by martial arts instructors who will positively influence him.
Of course, there sadly will still be times when children will become examples of the cruelty of life, in spite of all the good intentions of their parents, as was the case with the young women who were murdered. All we can do as parents is try to equip our children with emotional and physical self-protection skills and attempt to have our kids hanging around with other kids we are comfortable with as their friends. I once again am reminded how grateful I am for martial arts since it is helping me to provide both for my children.
Until next time,
Kyoshi
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About Dave Kovar
Mr. Kovar has been teaching Martial Arts professionally since 1978. Dave is a multi-style Black Belt who has been committed to ever-improving his Martial Arts skills. He updates this blog to provide tips and insights to martial arts instructors around the country. To learn more, click here.
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March 22nd, 2010 @ 6:31 pm
Thank you Mr. Kovar for the comments. As a father and a former full time law enforcement officer who still lends time to a reserve deputy program I feel completely in line with your comments.
That is one of the biggest motivations for opening my own school as a place where my own children and like minded kids could come together in the way you described above.
Best,
Mick Jolly
March 27th, 2010 @ 1:45 am
Every parent should realize the advantages of protecting their children by taking martial arts. That also encompasses who they hang out with. Protecting them with like minded children with values of discipline, respect and courtesy.
They will be better role models to follow and others may make better choices because of their behavior.