Growing Up with Martial Arts

I myself have not been around as much as the other instructors, but similarly I have been around Martial Arts for a large part of my life. Growing up with Martial Arts began because I was raised by my mom whom was raising four boys by herself, unfortunately my father was not around but my mother found ways to help instill a sense of discipline and respect that in someways only Martial Arts can provide. The reason I have brought this point up is because before we started Martial Arts my mother asked us whether this was something that we wanted to do? And of course we said YES! but she followed up with “Once you start you will not stop until you get your black belt though”, and with little to no hesitation we said yes. Seven Years later no matter how much me and my brothers wanted to stop, no matter how much we cried, opposed going, screamed, avoided it, we always knew when that time came around we were going to Tae Kwon Do and eventually we all got our black belt. At the time we did not realize what she was doing but years later after growing up with martial arts what it taught us was that if we set a goal and make a promise that we need to fulfill both, no matter how long or how difficult we need to finish. I have parents come up to me and ask me what do they do if their children start to get bored, my opinion is keep them in teach them not to quite because no matter how often I tell my mom thank you, it will not express how much she had to put up with has helped my life. Growing up with Martial Arts has made me who I am today.

D. Paredes