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DEARBORN --
Move over soccer moms. Karate moms are taking over.
Parents who used to recoil at the sight of karate
punches, chops and kicks -- images once associated with street fighting
and violence -- now see the activity as an educational path to
self-confidence and discipline for their children. They also see the world
as a more dangerous place, and they want their children to be prepared.
That's a major reason why the number of martial arts
students ages 14 and younger has quadrupled in the past decade, according
to the U.S.A. Karate Federation, based in Ohio.
In Northville this month, Huron Valley Girl Scouts -- a
group overseeing troops in western Wayne and Washtenaw -- sent some 600
Brownies and Junior Scouts aged 5-12 through karate training as the
organization begins to emphasize self-defense for girls.
From Dearborn to Canton Township to Troy, cities are
retooling recreation programs to include karate classes for kids. The
sport has become one of the top extracurricular activities for children in
Metro Detroit, experts say.
That popularity has increased nationwide since the Sept.
11 terrorist attacks. In the two months since, about 50,000 kids have
enrolled in karate classes nationwide, said Ned Muffley, general manager
of Maryland-based Educational Funding Co., which provides business
consulting to more than 1,000 karate schools worldwide.
"The increase has been incredible," Muffley
said. "The number of children enrolling in martial arts classes has
been on the rise for years -- but in the past few months, we've seen a big
spike in enrollments."
Richard Morrissey, owner of the Academy of Martial Arts
in Dearborn, where he teaches Tae Kwon Do to 130 students, said when he
started training in 1973, few children studied the martial arts. "Now
that's totally changed: 80 percent of my students are children, and only
20 percent are adults," said Morrissey, a fourth-degree black belt.
In the last 10 years, the number of karate students
younger than age 14 nationwide has jumped about 400 percent to nearly 2
million, said George Anderson, president of the U.S.A. Karate Federation.
"Parents like the self-discipline aspects of
karate," Anderson said. "They also like to feel that their kids
can defend themselves."
Gaining confidence
A study last year by the Illinois Institute of
Technology found that youths aged 7-18 who took karate dramatically
increased their "perceived competence" in social and cognitive
skills.
Dominic Garofalo, a 10-year-old Taylor resident who
recently earned his junior black belt, has been attending karate classes
at the Academy of Martial Arts since age 4. He said the lessons even have
helped him in classes at St. Alphonsus Elementary School in Dearborn.
"The big thing they teach is self-discipline, and
to respect other people," Garofalo said. "They also teach us
that if a bully comes up to us, fighting should be the last resort. First,
we should walk away. And if that doesn't work, then we have to defend
ourselves."
The Huron Valley Girl Scouts who trained in karate
learned to defend themselves against would-be attackers by screaming,
hitting and running, in that order.
"Kids are out in the community doing more things;
they have to grow up a little faster, and you want to make sure they're
prepared," said Julie Ann Banister, owner of White Lake
Township-based Elite Law Enforcement Training Engineers, which taught the
Girl Scout class. "Molestation, abduction -- these are the
things" we have to deal with.
Canton resident Natalie Anderson-Theisen attended the
Girl Scout class with her 10-year-old daughter, Kari. It "teaches
kids how to recognize dangerous situations," Anderson-Theisen said.
"And they have fun practicing."
Church on board
Even religious organizations are getting in on the
karate craze. In Troy, Faith Lutheran Church runs a program called Shield
of Faith, which integrates Christian teachings with the martial arts.
"We approach karate from a Christian
philosophy," said Shield of Faith instructor Dedee Wyss. "We
believe Christians have the right to defend themselves. Also, we believe
that God created our bodies, and we're just learning ways to use them for
exercise, discipline and self-defense, in case an encounter should
happen."
Shield of Faith has 30 students, a mix of adults and
children. "But we're going to do a class exclusively for
children," Wyss said. "There's a high demand."
The focus of the martial arts has changed dramatically
over 30 years, Morrissey said.
"It isn't about making tough guys any more,"
Morrissey said. "It's about making better children. Martial arts is
totally about kids nowadays, and anybody who runs a school knows it."
Special thanks to/ The Detroit
News
The Karate Angels |
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Alan Lessig / The Detroit News
Jessica
Hayes warms up for classes. About 50,000 kids have enrolled in
karate since Sept. 11.
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Lessons in discipline
Cost:
Classes usually range from $40 to $150 a month. Some schools also charge
for belt tests, usually about $20-$50.
Schedule: Most schools hold three classes a week; some
are less frequent
Schools: Classes are run through private schools and
city recreation programs. Check with your local community for information.
Attire: Martial arts students usually are required to
wear a karate uniform, known as a gi.
What to look for: Parents looking to enroll their
children in martial arts classes must do research because there is no
certification process for teachers and no groups that accredit schools.
Experts say parents should look for schools that not only teach physical
skills, but also teach things such as respect and discipline. Also,
parents should talk to parents with youngsters in different schools. |
