Karate program kicks off new season in Summerland
Posted in News on 10/01/2009 12:57 pm
Karate is picking up speed after the summer off.
Taneda Karate Dojo instructor Chris Taneda said the club does not train during the summer.
He noted the Chito-ryu karate club will hopefully begin to see some new faces.
“Parents realize there’s a positive impact on their children, especially for the long term.”
The starting age for children in karate is seven years old, but Taneda said there is pressure to drop that age.
Every year, the club gets lists of children wanting to start earlier.
He admits they may have to bow to that pressure eventually, but still believes seven to be a good starting age.
A seven-year-old has one year of school under their belt, said Taneda, and are used to being in an organized situation.
Karate helps build self-discipline.
Taneda pointed to a group of kids sweeping the floor at the gym before practice.
“When they first come here, they have no idea how to sweep the floor,” he said. “No one’s really taught them.”
Taneda said the Summerland adult karate program began in the early 1980s.
He now sees students who started learning karate with him returning to teach the next generation.
“Kids have started and become really good citizens out of it.”
One girl who came to the Taneda club when it was still at the curling rink used to sit by the window and wait for her mom to come and pick her up, recalled Taneda.
“She wasn’t allowed to quit.”
The girl eventually entered karate competition at the B.C. Winter Games.
“We thought she was just going to get clobbered.”
The girl came back with a medal. Taneda pointed out that when people start in karate as children, their lives change.