Dexter is 4, he’s a Tiny Tiger and he rocks. He has learned the stripe system and often will let me know at the beginning of class what color his next stripe is, what it’s for and that he thinks he’s ready to test.
He understands skill=stripe. He knows earning all his stripes means he tests for a new belt. He is relating to goals, setting them and accomplishing them. This is something we all do, everyday- from I’m only going to have one cup of coffee to I’m going to be home by 6:00 because I told my partner I would be.
As you can see, goals, setting them and keeping them is part of being a person with integrity. Having integrity is simply doing what you said you’d do, when you said you’d do it. Does Dexter understand this? At four? No, not in those words.
But he’s found a level of importance to learning and earning. He has experienced that when he learns a skill, demonstrates it proficiently, he is rewarded with his stripe. He learning the structure of goals, setting them and making them. In doing so he is laying the foundation of integrity.
This is not about stripes. It’s about life skills, it’s about the Codes and Tenets and Purposed all our students at Paresh train according to. It goes far beyond the Dojang (studio) door. I becomes part of the who Dexter is.
Case in point, last weekend Dexter went to Tahoe and took a snowboarding lesson at my old resort, Northstar. Snowboarding is challenging to learn, especially at his age, when the bones are soft and balance is subject to so many variables. But, he’s dad rides and when you’re a little guy, you often what do follow in those footsteps.
Dexter’s dad shared with me in class this week that Dexter had a hard time in the lesson. The break through happened when he said, ”It’s like the stripes in Karate.” Something clicked for him. Like putting one foot in front of the other, the steps, the connection between movements, learning skill before skill, Dexter got it.
The weekend ended with Dexter riding all the way down to the base of the mountain! When his dad shared this story with me it gave me chills. This is why we train. It’s not about fighting, it never has been. It’s about a being able to learn, grow and succeed in whatever you choose.
Thanks Dexter.