I feel like I've been gone for ages...

[LitlBaa]

Hi, everyone! It's so nice to be home!

I've been putting in all available OT at work, since I'm seasonal I need to build up and catch up for those times I'm not working. After 10 hour days, six days a week, then getting Katie to/picking her up from karate four days a week, my family is lucky to get food and clean clothes, never mind time on the computer!

I've missed you guys so much!

[Linda]

mary...welcome back..you have been missed too

[Dad2Brooke]

Welcome back LitlBaa, we missed you as well. How is Katie doing in karate? 4 days a week must be tough

Brooke just started Tae Kwon Do, and it is everything I can do to get ther there twice a week.

[LitlBaa]

Katie just got her fourth degree on her brown/black belt, and she'll go for the black belt in November.

How is Brooke liking Tae Kwon Do so far?

[Dad2Brooke]

She likes it a lot. She just earned a stripe on her white. Two more and she can test for yellow.

Good job to Katie! ;D ;D

How long has she been taking it?

[LitlBaa]

Katie started karate five years ago. Once she got her red belt she started weapons training, which was cool for her, so we have several scary-looking implements of Japanese torture around here. Fortunately the nunchucks are made of rubber, because she keeps bonking herself in the head and the wood ones would really hurt.

[midnightsable]

If you don't mind me asking, how do your kids handle this sport, I have been seriously considering karate for DS but have two concerns, 1) he will get carried away with the "hands on" and practice his moves on everyone. and 2) that the competion will be too much - he has always enjoyed swimming and has completed up to level 5, but last spring when he didn't earn his level 6 badge he wanted to quit. Since then I have not been able to get him to go back, he says he is embarassed and doesn't want to go back. I am concerned that working towards belts will have the same effect.
I realize that self disipline is the message that is being taught, but will my son ?

[jdmom]

Butting in here...hope it's okay. My 7yo nephew, who lives with me, takes karate. I was really worried about what I call the "Power Ranger Effect". You know the going around the house hitting and kicking everything in sight? NO WAY, JOSE! There is too much discipline involved. The first week, the poor child must have done a thousand push-ups because he kept leaving the "sir" off of his answers. They actually had discussions about this with the younger group and they were told that if mom and dad even hinted about the "Power Ranger Effect" at home, they would be doing pushups for the rest of their lives.
Tristan hasn't advanced far enough for competition, so I can't help you there, but I just wanted to let you know, that if you enroll your kid in a good place, you shouldn't have any problems.

[Dad2Brooke]

midnightsable, definately, it is all about discipline.

Brooke has only taken it for a little over amonth, but no one has been hit, kicked or chopped yet.

She is just starting, but it seems to me that the ADHD might slow her down some with following directions, but the instructors have tons of patience and are willing to work with her until she gets it right. A big plus in my book, because they care about her and not about the dollar signs.

I talked to alot of people and did research prior to signing her up as well. Actually she takes Tae Kwon Do, but essentially the discipline required is what helps the ADHD kid or any kid for that matter.

We had to sign a one year contract. But because of my concerns over Brooke and whether she will stick with it, they instructor put in a clause that I can break the contract at 3 months if it isn't working or she absolutely hates it.

So far she loves it.

I highly recommend it.