The Price of Commitment

I'd like to preface this entry by saying that I did not study martial arts as a child.

There are many parents who don't enroll their children in martial arts, for whatever reason. However, there's nary a child who hasn't taken swimming lessons. Every parent seems to know that swimming is an important skill to learn - the obvious consequence being drowning.

I just have to say this: martial arts is like swimming. EVERY CHILD should have to learn martial arts until they have acquired basic self-defense skills!

What are the chances that your child will be caught in the deep end of a pool or in the ocean, with no adults around to save them, and have to swim for their lives? Not great, but not slim, either. Well, what are the chances that your child will be caught in a situation where they'll have to defend themselves, either against a bully or worse, a predator or abductor? Not great, but not slim, either. You can keep an eye on your child around the pool, but can you follow them everywhere they go to keep them from becoming the victim of a kidnapper?

All parents have a responsibility to arm their children with basic verbal and physical self-defense skills.

Okay, I'm off of my soap box.