Why did you choose to start Emma in Karate?

    "Emma started karate when she was 6 years old. We knew from her early years in preschool and kindergarten that she was a quiet, shy girl. We were mostly looking for ways to help her build her self-confidence. We had heard that Karate was something that she could do at her own pace and that it could help build self-confidence. So we decided to sign Emma up and give it a try."

What struggles hve Emma encountered over her years of training?

     "Starting karate was our choice for Emma, not hers, so there were many struggles along the way. Whenever we hit a particularly hard time in her training, we would encourage her to set some incentives for herself along the way. For example, Emma loves animals, including horses. So we made an agreement with her that if she stuck with her training, we would set up some horseback riding lessons for her. Emma thought that was a good deal and it worked out well for her, and for us, in that she kept working on her karate and she got to experience what it feels like to care for and train a horse."

What was Emma's experience like training for her Junior Black Belt?

     "The path Emma traveled to her black belt took many turns. In her younger years, she was focused solely on what she was doing during any one karate class, whether it was working on a specific kata, a physical goal or an activity designed to achieve a particular stripe. There were times when she found something particularly challenging that she wondered if she wanted to continue the work required to achieve a black belt, but she persevered and, through the development of some good friendships, and the encouragement of several of her instructors, she made a personal decision to continue to pursue her black belt. As she matured, she was able to see beyond what she was working on at a particular time and to gain a better understanding of the value of such an achievement. She stepped up her training both inside and outside the dojo and the time and effort she invested paid off!"

Where do you see Emma's training heading in the future?

   "Now that she has achieved her junior black belt, Emma is looking forward to continuing her training and to achieving her adult black belt. She looks forward to the time she spends working toward a new goal with her friends. The relationships she has developed with her friends and instructors help her to enjoy both the present and look forward to the future. After all the hard work she put in to gaining her junior black belt, the decision to keep going has been an easy one for her."