This blog article is from Neil R. Hall, Chief Instructor with London Chinatown TaeKwonDo, which has classes for all ages around Evesham. Contact details are at the end of the article.
It’s time to mention the people who make the work of martial artists possible. Mums. I know that without the support of my own Mum at crucial times, LCTKD would not exist. I know, too, that our sons would not now be martial arts instructors had their own Mum not gone to extraordinary lengths (including 300 mile round trips to classes) to make their development possible.
Of course, as a Dad myself I would not want to forget that Dads make it happen, too. It’s Mums, though, that I see every day. Bringing their daughters and sons to class, whatever the weather. Ringing me late at night, after their own work is done, to check what their young one should be studying, where they have to be for the weekend’s event, or what equipment they should have now. And Mum stands beside them and checks their patterns, counts the minutes as they do their standing still challenge, and helps them work out the almost indecipherable instructions for that next drill.
I know how often Mums put their kids first. So many Mums train with us nowadays. But where there’s not enough money for the kit, the savings go to making sure the youngster has everything, while Mum waits.
I know, too, that when training seems tough, when staying in seems more inviting than class, when an upset makes a student unhappy and want to just drop it all….Mum is the encourager, the guardian, the mediator with the instructor, the motivator. Sometimes, you know, I feel that the Mum earns the black belt along with the student.
Mums and Dads attend gradings. They sit and watch, help before and listen to the tales of after. I’m proud that in our school they are not ignored, but welcomed and thanked for attending, made a fuss off, appreciated.
We are very pleased indeed that so many Mums have joined us as students themselves with LCTKD. Whether you are a student, or you are just there for your child. Thank you, Mum.
Find out about LCTKD at www.lctkdwellbeing.com
or contact Neil directly on 0751 7437 300.