Introduction
This month, I had the opportunity to sit down with two of our dedicated Karate Moms, Marta Lusk and Amanda Rubis, to discuss the impact of karate on homeschooled children. Both Marta and Amanda are actively involved in our karate school and play significant roles in their children’s lives. Marta has been homeschooling her 3rd and 5th graders since COVID, while Amanda has always homeschooled her children. Their kids are enrolled at Integrity Martial Arts, and we wanted to explore the direct impact our karate school has on these young lives.
Building Character inside and outside the home
Both Amanda and Marta shared that their children sometimes struggle with focus while homeschooling, which is quite common. However, they have noticed a significant improvement in their children’s ability to set small goals and concentrate. Amanda mentioned that in karate class, kids are expected to show respect and discipline when instructors are teaching. If they are not paying attention, instructors can quickly address it and bring them back to focus. Over time, students realize they get the most out of class when they pay attention, and within a few weeks, attention issues typically disappear.
Karate and Homeschooling: Creating Passionate Children
Both Amanda and Marta’s children are very active in the karate school. Luke, Dexter, and Isla consistently compete and win at our karate tournaments. Additionally, Dexter and Zach are both members of our leadership team.
When I asked Marta why Luke wanted to do karate, she said he brought it up once, and she wanted to support him. She took him to his first class at Integrity Martial Arts. Like any mom, Marta wanted to ensure she was choosing the best karate school for her child, so she shopped around. However, the minute Luke walked into Integrity, he knew it was the place for him. Luke spends extra time training at home, and when I asked him why, he said he aspires to have his name on the wall alongside Mr. Juby’s and to be like Mr. Juby one day.
Dexter is always at the karate school, passionate about learning, teaching, and helping. When I asked Dexter why he loves karate so much, he said he just loves being here and being part of this community. Dexter has a network of friends and mentors here.
Inspiring Homeschooled Kids to Achieve their Goals
At Integrity Martial Arts, children are often encouraged to set personal goals, and our instructors are dedicated to helping them achieve these goals. For example, Luke expressed his desire to perform well at our karate tournament. Our instructors took extra time during classes to coach him on his katas and fighting techniques. As a result, Luke performed exceptionally well and even won a few trophies.
Marta mentioned how invested the instructors are in their students, describing the environment as more of a family than a business. She appreciates that we don’t nickel and dime everything, allowing Luke to participate as much as his family feels necessary, which helps them get the most out of the classes.
Dexter, who has been with our karate school for a while, has set numerous small goals over time, building up to where he is today. As a yellow belt, Dexter wanted to learn how to use weapons. He took a sword home from the karate school, found some videos on YouTube, and put together an impressive kata for us to watch. As a green belt, Dexter aimed to take a more active role at the karate school. He worked on his teaching abilities and mastered his previous belt requirements, eventually joining the leadership team.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the combination of homeschooling and karate has proven to be highly beneficial for children like those of Marta and Amanda. Homeschooling allows for a flexible schedule, enabling children to dedicate time to both their academic and martial arts training. This flexibility ensures that children can pursue their passions without compromising their education.
Karate, in turn, complements homeschooling by providing structure, discipline, and social interaction. The focus and respect learned in karate classes help children improve their concentration and goal-setting abilities, which are essential skills for both academic and personal growth. Additionally, the sense of community and teamwork in karate fosters social skills and confidence, addressing common concerns about the socialization of homeschooled children12.
Overall, the synergy between homeschooling and karate creates a well-rounded environment that nurtures both the mind and body, helping children develop into confident, disciplined, and passionate individuals.