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Why earning a black belt is about much more than learning to kick and punch. Here's something that might surprise you coming from someone who has spent decades teaching karate to children: Karate is hard. It's supposed to be. And not everyone who starts will earn a black belt. That might not sound like a great selling point for a children's activity, especially when parents are looking for something their child will enjoy, something that will build confidence, keep them activ

I've been teaching martial arts for more than 40 years, and during that time I've worked with thousands of children. Some arrive confident and eager to participate. Others are shy and reluctant to join in. Some listen carefully from the moment they walk through the door. And some seem to be moving every second they're in the room. Those children can be challenging to teach. They're easily distracted. They interrupt. They may have difficulty waiting their turn or following ins

A recent CBC News report, “Why the ‘boy crisis’ is more than just a school problem”, examined a troubling trend in education: boys are falling behind girls academically in Canada. The report points to lower academic achievement and graduation rates, greater disciplinary problems and declining engagement among boys. It also raises a concern I think many parents of young boys will recognize immediately: some boys seem to have a particularly difficult time fitting into the envir