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HOC Blog Archives
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April 02, 2008
Why Martial Arts for Me?
March 24, 2008
When all of my sons enrolled in karate at the House of Champions some four years ago, I was immediately impressed with the compassion expressed by Sensei Mark. That as head instructor and owner, he took the time to huddle all three of my boys together on their first visit and showered them with encouragement to challenge themselves both mentally, physically and spiritually. This amazing gift of compassion that Sensei Mark radiates throughout his dojo; from his selection of outstanding instructors, the students he nurtures and the parents he warmly welcomes, I am honored to be a parent at HOC. Martial Arts has always fascinated me with the use of the body’s power, control and body positioning as powerful weapons. Seeing my boys advance in their skills, made it even more intriguing to me. I held back for four years before enrolling in karate, simply because I wanted my boys to be more knowledgeable than me. I wanted them to be my teachers.
In January 2008, I began learning the skills of Arjukenpo, but I realized how mentally tough it was for me to put aside the worries of the day. Often I would blank on the next movement in a wasa or long range kicking, but I received this rich encouragement from Sensei Ana, Dan and Dave who as true coaches wanted me to personally overcome these doubts. My team mates have been so willing to practice and be patient with me; they are true-hearted friends.
In life, we need good coaches. We need to challenge ourselves to overcome our weaknesses. As a single parent raising three boys, a business owner and a beginning student of karate, I hope I never tire of having fun throughout life’s challenges. Hopefully in the end, we learn through our weaknesses because a special coach or friend took the time to rally behind us and say, “You Can Do It!” That is the beauty of belonging to a house filled with true champions, which rings so true in Mark Parra’s love at HOC.
With Love and Gratitude,
Beverly Lew
posted by Shihan Mark at 4:12 PM
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