Ay-Yah!

We have decided that we really want to find one good hobby for each of our kids that they really like and that they can stick with.  We'll still let them do other little things (like seasonal soccer, etc), but we want to find something that they can focus on and really like.  With Ashley, we had tried dance earlier, but it just wasn't for her.  We don't want to push anything on her, so we decided to look for something else now that we are getting settled up here.  When we talked about this with Ashley, she said she really wanted to try karate!  So, here we are!  So far, she has gone to three full classes, and she absolutely loves it!  I like the program, too.  It really focuses on discipline and respect, not just punching people like most think.  On Monday, they even had a stranger-danger portion of class where they learned a new sequence dealing with self-defense and they tied it into staying away from strangers.  Then they showed them how to beat the cr@p out of them if someone grabbed them!  :)

Ashley is learning Kwon Shu karate at her studio in American Fork.  One of the things that I like most about this whole thing is the respect that is taught and shown by the instructors.  The kids are taught to say "Yes, sir!" or "Yes, ma'am!" whenever they are asked a question or if they go into Attention Stance (Ashley is in Attention Stance in the picture above, but her head is turned toward one of the instructors).  Not only are the kids required to show respect to their instructors, but the instructors show the kids respect, also.  All of the kids are referred to as sir, ma'am, miss, or mister most of the time.  The rest of the time they use their names, but to a 6 year old (and there are some 4 year olds in her class, too), I'm sure that means a lot!

Here is Ashley completing one of the sequences that they were being taught that day.  They get to yell "Ay-Yah!" whenever they punch or kick, and Ashley thinks that's pretty cool.  She is really starting to speak up during class, too.  I can her her along with all the other kids.  For those of you who know how shy she can be, that is a MAJOR deal!

Ashley is doing a balance exercise during her focus training.

Here, she is doing some kicks.  I'm so glad that we were able to get her into this class.  I think it is going to be great for her.  Oh, and it looks like she will be getting her first "belt promotion" next month!  She will go from a white belt to a white-yellow belt!  In her class (Little Ninjas class!  Isn't that cute?) they don't ever technically leave being a white belt, but progress from a white belt to a white-black belt.  By then they are usually in the juniors class where they can earn actual yellow, green, etc., belts.