from the September, 2012 issue of Kiai!

Upcoming Junior Black Belt Test Largest Ever

 

By Jun Shihan Nancy Lanoue
Co-Executive Director

On Saturday October 6th, 11 youth and teen members will proudly take their place in Thousand Waves history by earning their prized junior black belts in a rigorous 4-hour public test and ceremony. They will be joining an elite group of 69 other children who have come before them in reaching this milestone.

Of the thousands of kids who have passed through our doors in the 22 years we have had a children’s Seido Karate program, many study only a few months; some stay a few years.  Fewer than five percent have the capacity for sustained hard work, the passion for learning, the willingness to make sacrifices AND the strong support of their family needed to reach black belt.

One reason I’m so happy these kids beat the odds and are making it to black belt is that I have gotten to watch them grow up, and I’m so proud of the people they are becoming. When they were very young, they absorbed the Thousand Waves philosophy unconsciously, just from being here day after day. As they matured, they began to embody our core values more consciously with awareness of having choices about what kind of person to become. Now, their commitment to our ideals of healthy living, respect, inclusiveness and fairness is a deep and integral part of each of them. I truly believe they have the skills and courage to be “peacemakers” at school and beyond.

Interestingly, our numbers show that the big investment these kids and their parents made in martial arts education during their elementary school years is very likely to pay off in good physical, mental and emotional health during the challenging middle school and high school years that lie ahead.

39 of the 69 kids who earned a junior black belt (56 percent) went on to earn an adult black belt during high school and to take their place in our multi-generational adult training community. When they start training in the adult program, teens build relationships with trusted adults beyond their immediate family. This gives them access to support and mentoring, valuable resources they can (and do) turn to when they need help.

The whole TW community is invited to come celebrate the Black Belt “Gang of Eleven” with us on Saturday, October 6th, from 9 am to 1 pm. Regular kids classes are cancelled, but those who come and learn by watching will get 1 class credit for attending. Parents are also encouraged to witness the test to help you decide for yourself if it’s worth the hard work it will take to give your own child this special opportunity down the road.