Earning a Black Belt in my kids karate class requires a multitude of steps and is a fantastic journey for the student. They improve their skills in several areas of their life.
Physically, they become stronger and develop their cardiovascular abilities.
Emotionally, they learn how to set and reach goals and deal with obstacles that get in their way.
Socially, they learn good manners and how to become a great role model for other students. They also learn how to lead a group of people to complete a task.
Intellectually, they learn how to solve problems and overcome challenges.
As part of my requirement to earn a Black Belt kids martial arts program, students must also write a 500 word speech. This speech gives each student the opportunity to express themselves by showing their gratitude to those that helped them reach their goal and to tell their story about what it took for them to reach the goal of Black Belt.
Fred has been in my kids karate classes for about 4.5 years, and today, he reached his goal. Here is the speech he gave at his testing that explains his journey and how he feels about accomplishing this goal.