Happy Father’s Day, Now Get Out and Train!
I am always glad to send praise towards fathers, stepdad’s, bonus dads, and father figures. Father’s Day is an occasion that here in the west has become a reminder perhaps of our chronic lack of fathers. So when it comes to giving kudos to those who stand up and father the children in their lives, whether they are of their bodies or not, I always like to take the time to say thank you and good job to the men who stand up for the children they have come to care for.
As a martial arts instructor, I have become a “Karate Dad“ of sorts. I get to be a father figure to many children who don’t have one. This was a completely unexpected side effect of becoming a professional martial arts instructor. But it’s definitely a role that I’m proud to take part in. I realized this effect, in fact, the first year I received Father’s Day gifts from my Karate students. That’s when I realized the weight of my role in the lives of so many children who don’t have an active concerned father figure in their lives.
We as men, fathers, dads, bonus dads, etc. are charged with more. We need to show these kids what it means to be men. For daughters as well as sons, we need to show them how to train. How to set goals and achieve them. How to push through physical and mental pain and hardship. So we need more dads on the mat. I appreciate you showing up. I appreciate that you work. But find the time to train. Besides the fact that I want to make the dads in my karate family the most dangerous men in the room, and keep them that way for as long as I can, I want to fill my back row with the fathers of these future martial artists so they feel as secure as they are on my mat in their daily lives and at home. Take these tools we teach home with you and practice together. The bonding you will create is priceless.
You need more reasons to train? Fine — Other benefits of training include:
•Practical Self-Defense Skills:Learn real-world techniques that prepare you to defend yourself in any situation. Learn how to escape from grabs and holds, giving you the confidence to stay safe.
•Full-Body Workout:Get in the best shape of your life. Burn calories, build muscle, and improve your flexibility — all while having a blast!
•Stress Relief:Life can be stressful, classes provide a great way to blow off steam. You’ll leave each session feeling stronger, both mentally and physically.
•Supportive Community:Join a welcoming and friendly group of people who share your goals. Your instructors and fellow students are there to support you every step of the way.
•Boost Your Confidence:Mastering martial arts techniques will boost your self-confidence. You’ll feel empowered knowing you have the skills to protect yourself and your loved ones.
My true and honest hope is that men across our society stand up and take active roles — define masculinity to a nation of young boys and girls. Show our sons and daughters what it means to be honorable, respectful, and confident while being kind and concerned for others. What a good man looks like; how an athlete pushes through pain. And how warriors develop their ethos.
So to the fathers, this is my call to you. Stand up and train. Be the example the children in your lives need. Put down the phone; put down the beer — stand up and take that kid to karate. Don’t just sit there and watch, jump in and train with them — They need you!Families that kick together stick together. So be their training partner and remember they are watching you for inspiration and encouragement.
When you decide that it’s OK to skip that practice session at home — the 15 minutes that will keep you growing and keep you improving, making you sharper and more precise in your movements — you are showing them that it’s OK to be mediocre. We need to show these kids what it means to push, even when they’re tired. We need to show these children what it means to endure — to withstand pain, fatigue, hardship, and stress.
So gentlemen, never underestimate the value of your example, and never ever give those kids an example that would lead them to think that it’s OK to slack off or to quit when things get hard. The future counts on it, and we as your Martial Arts instructors count on you to be your child’s training partner at home. We appreciate you, and we look for you everywhere we go because you are the ones that help make the work we do impactful. The Dads. Happy Father’s Day and God bless.
-SEE YOU ON THE MAT!
