Karate Helps Kids Focus… on Kicking Ass!
By Jeff Lyons on Dec 3, 2007 in News
Rye, NY - Sorry soccer! Kicking a leather ball is fun, but it’s just not challenging enough for the majority of today’s high-spirited suburban scamps.
Many well-to-do parents see karate, the ancient Asian practice of self-defense, as a great way for their kids to “focus their attention and boundless energy.”
“Our little Noah was quite a handful. He always had a lot of energy and didn’t take well to the organized sports we put him in. He was very aggressive and seemed to fight with the others. You know how kids are?” laughs Adam Shapiro.
“So we put him in this karate class our friends recommended, and now he is a totally different child. He loves karate class and can’t wait to come home and show us his latest moves. It’s really cute!”
“Sometimes he’s so focused on his moves, he doesn’t realize he’s repeatedly battering his little sister in the head with flying roundhouse kicks.”
“Oh, and sometimes, the dog or a neighborhood kid will get in the way while Noah’s practicing and walk right into one of his larynx-crushing karate chops. But Noah doesn’t get distracted, god bless him. He just keeps on practicing. We’re very proud!” beams mom Judy, who drives him to his hour-long practices every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
A Visit to Practice
On the way to practice, a silent Noah plays video games (“Hitman: Blood Money”) and downs a 20-ounce Coke in the backseat of the family minivan as Judy explains her son’s amazing concentration. “Look at him! He is so into everything he does now. I guess you call it being ‘in the zone’ or some zen-like thing.”
Judy continues to beam proudly while Noah pipes up occasionally. Staring blankly at the monitor built into the back of the driver-side headrest and furiously pounding the game controller with his tiny hands, Noah grumbles, “Die, you jerk!” or “Why won’t you die?”
“Sometimes he’s so focused on his moves, he doesn’t realize he’s repeatedly battering his little sister in the head with flying roundhouse kicks.”
As we enter the Double Dragon Karate Center, we are greeted by Noah’s instructor. Pete Visich, karate teacher and bouncer at a local night club, describes the martial art as a great way for kids to get in shape and deal with others. “I teach kids how to fight so they will never have to.”
When I told him I didn’t really understand what he meant. He gladly clarified.
“Come on, you know, Mr. Miyagi said something like it in ‘The Karate Kid.’ Basically, if you teach a kid how to fight and the others know he can kick some serious ass, then no one will bother him. It’s that simple. Hey, want me to show you how to break someone’s jaw?”
I declined and went over to see how young Noah was doing.
In between kicks, the sweating five-year-old excitedly shouted, “In soccer, you only get to kick the ball and in baseball you only get to kick the catcher when nobody is looking. Karate is better because you can kick and punch the other kids all you want and nobody makes you stop or gets mad. It’s way cool!”
Adam added, “Noah loves everything about Karate. He’s got a bunch of different outfits, headbands, belts and accessories. We just ordered him some Chinese throwing stars, nunchakus and tonfas he wanted. I don’t know what they are, but they sound like fun!”
Jeff Lyons
Suburban Beat Reporter
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