A FRIEND ASKED:

– Why spend so much money for your children to train Karate?

Sensei Jurgen van Wyk and Sensei Stefan van der Merwe bow as they prepare to compete for the 2018 NAKU National Senior Kata Gold Medal.

ANSWER:

Well I have a confession to make; I don’t pay for my children to train Karate. Personally, I couldn’t care less about Karate.

So if I’m not paying for the Karate, What am I paying for?

I pay for those moments when my kids come back so tired they want to stop fighting.

I pay for those days when they come home from school too tired to go to karate but they still go.

Payment is for my children to learn to be disciplined.

I pay for my children to learn how to care for their body and mind.

I pay for my children to learn to work with others and be good teammates.

I pay for my children to learn how to deal with disappointment when they don’t get what they expected and know that they have to work harder.

I pay for my children to learn to achieve their goals.

I pay for my children to understand that it takes hours and hours of hard work and training to get a black belt, and that success doesn’t happen overnight.

Payment for the chance that they will make lifelong friendships.

Payment for them to be on the Tatami; and not in front of the TV.

I could go on but to be brief; I don’t pay for Karate.

I pay for the opportunities offered by Karate to my children to develop attributes and skills that will be very useful throughout their life and give them the opportunity to value the lives of others.

FROM WHAT I SAW UNTIL TODAY… I THINK IT’S A VERY GOOD INVESTMENT.

Respect above all else! Sensei Jurgen (Gold) and Sensei Stefan (Silver) embrace after the final.