PANDEMIC OR NOT, DSN KEEPS RAISING THE BAR, PROVIDING UNIQUE ACTIVITIES FOR OUR CHILDREN. STUDIES SHOW THAT KARATE STRENGTHENS THE ENTIRE BODY, IMPROVES COORDINATION, QUICKENS REFLEXES, BUILDS STAMINA AND INCREASES ONE’S OVERALL HEALTH. WITH THAT IN MIND, DSN STRUCK A PARTNERSHIP WITH A PROFESSIONAL KARATE ORGANIZATION TO BRING KARATE INTO THE DSN COMMUNITY CENTER.
Joy Assoulin, one participant’s mother, gushed “Karate at DSN is truly remarkable. My son Jared learned the basic fundamentals and even earned a white belt! I was so proud. He was so excited for every Tuesday’s karate class and is now very excited for other future classes”.
From November through March, 15 children in grades Pre-k through 4, came to DSN weekly to learn karate. Each week, they focused on a specific skill as well as a power word. One week, for example, the children learned the skill of balance. They learned that balance means to keep something or someone in a steady position, so they do not fall. They learned that when they do their martial arts moves, they must focus on good balance so they are strong and steady. They learned different types of kicks and combinations that were demonstrated at their final graduation at the end of the semester.
Frieda Shammah, DSN’s Youth Program Director, stated “There was a noticeable difference in the children’s ability from the first day to the last! On top of that, they were always so excited each week to walk through DSN’s doors for their program.”
Every single child passed all of the planned stages and received their white belt, which represents the very beginning of martial arts growth, the first stage of controlling both their minds and bodies with a clean slate and willingness to learn.
One week, a power word was confidence. Confidence is when one believes in themselves and knows that they can do something, which is not only a karate term but, more importantly, a life lesson! The more the children believed in themselves, the more they excelled.
Sammy Sitt, DSN’s Executive Director, explained why the organization has made karate lessons a priority. “Karate provides our youth with lifelong lessons of self-defense and discipline while instilling the important values of confidence and leadership. It makes us proud knowing we are preparing the next generation of leaders with the qualities for success.”
