What Martial Arts Has Done for My Son -- a Mom's View
By Judy Barnett
Picture, if you will, a totally uncoordinated six year old boy.My son, Aaron, had been seen by the school's physical therapist and plans were already in motion for physical therapy classes (gross motor skills). We were given a series of exercise to do. Aaron had both gross and small motor skills problem (lack of balance, coordination, etc.) and it was hoped that the exercises and physical therapy would help.
So, when Aaron came running in one day, yelling "Mom, mom, I want to take karate!! Ryan is going to take it and I want to too!!" I was a little skeptical of what (if anything) would be accomplished when I responded "We'll see." I talked to Ryan's dad and found out that he was signed up at the Richardson YMCA, so in September of 1993, I signed him up. There were 34 other new little white belts in his class. I watched as they all lined-up when the instructor yelled "one-line!" The beginners learned how to stand still in the "ready position." Then came the warm ups. I watched my son attempt to do jumping jacks, stretches and other basic exercises. (He tended to fall a lot). I then looked on (trying to keep a straight face) as the little white belts attempted to do their kicks. After the first class, it took a couple of hours for Aaron to wind down -- he was soooo excited!!
Aaron stuck with it, and over the next 4 months earned his orange stripe and could actually do the kicks without falling down. We returned to the physical therapist in January to receive the plan they had developed for Aaron and to see if and how the exercises had helped. As the therapist reevaluated Aaron, she wanted to know what I had done. When I told her that he was in a Tae Kwon Do class at the YMCA, she said "Keep him in it any way you can. TKD has done more for your son than any of the physical therapy could have done." That was a great boost for both of us.
In March 1994 Aaron entered his first tournament. We saw the Steel Magnolias (a team of grandma's) and the YMCA's Dragon Demonstration Teams perform. Aaron was hooked; he really wanted to be on the team from Richardson. When we talked to Mr. Keith Yates (the coach) we found out that all the team members were not only good TKD students, but excelled in school as well (all As and Bs). If Aaron was interested he needed to bring in his latest report card. Well, Aaron wasn't making the best grades in school, so Mr. Yates explained how he would have to be on the "honor roll" to be eligible for the team. Aaron went to school the very next day and asked his teacher what he could do to raise his grades! By the end of the school year, Aaron had raised his grades to the first grade equivalent of As and Bs and made the team. He also has managed to maintain his grades these past two years, not without a lot of hard work. But being on the Dragon team means so much to him that he is willing to put in the effort. Aaron now has a new goal -- to be a teacher just like Mr. Yates!!
What has Tae Kwon Do done for my son? LOTS!!
TKD has built his self-confidence and self-esteem, given him good coordination and better work habits, leading to better grades, concentration, self-discipline, sense of team work, sense of responsibility.
Thank you to the martial arts and to Mr. Yates for everything!!
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About the Author
Judy Barnett is a 1st Dan in Nam Seo Kwan American Tae Kwon Do. She assists with A-KATO administration and teaches at the Richardson, TX YMCA under Grandmaster Keith D. Yates and Master Caroline Goodspeed. In addition, she trains in Renbudo under Michael Proctor Sensei.
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