Andrew & Matthew Take Karate....

So, taking Dr. Park's advice, we decided to take Andrew to his first Karate class. We agreed that Matthew could benefit from a martial arts class also to help with his attention skills and for discipline.

The class is for toddlers starting out in the art of Karate and as they increase their ablities, they move to a different class. It is a half hour class and the boys ABSOLUTELY LOVED it!!

Andrew took to the class like it was his job. He followed along with the instructions pretty well, only lagging behind because he could not do the moves as quickly as the other children. There was even a classmate of Andrew's in the class, Catherine, so that was a bit of motivation for him also. They set up an obstacle course that they chidlren had to go through and Andrew did very well.

The best thing is that he wants to go again next week... so we will see how he does in the next few weeks before we enroll him full time on a weekly basis. The class is pretty expensive, so we want to make sure that it is something that he really wants to do. We want him to WANT to do this so that it will be therapy for him that he does not realize that he is doing actual "therapy". After he is enrolled, he will get his own Gie (sp?) (or robe with a belt) to wear that has a cute little dragon on the back. The Dojo is the only one in the area and the Masters are very highly regarded in the community for teaching children respect, self confidence, discipline and highering their education and at the same time will help to motivate and strenghten our chidlren without the use of encouraging violence. It is such a misconception that karate or other martial arts will encourge fighting etc, but it is actually the opposite. These places, if you go to the right one, will only help to better our children all around. It is a fact that children who participate in the martial arts are more focused and do better in school. So it is another advantage and reason for us to enrool the boys.

Matthew was a little too young for the class right now so we may wait until next year to enroll him, but Andrew seemed to really take to it. We may just get him swimming or skating lessons at this time to help him blow off some energy at the end of the week.

So I am in the process of uploading some photos and videos and will have it for you all to view, hopefully by tonight.

I have to leave to bring Matthew to Vermont to see an ENT to check to see if he needs his tonsils and adenoids out due to his severe snoring and breathing problems (stuffiness, runny nose and heavy breathing)
We'll update on that, hopefully I can start up Matthews blog soon too.