Where?s the Meat? 12 Life Skills for Kids

I am looking for a programme to give my children life-long confidence. I need them to be self-reliant, caring, respectful and fun-loving. Fundamentally, I am looking for To-Shin Do (Ninja self-protection) and the concurrent 12 Life Skills for Children.

My youngsters don't live in 1400’s Japan. There isn't any threat of Samurai taking my kids from their families or of them being put into slavery. Yet, the threats that my children face daily are as real as a sword-wielding Samurai bent on implementing his rules. My kids face on a common-or-garden basis the unlucky society rules of accepting averageness. They will need to struggle against class buddies and co-workers fixed on flourishing on ego and ripping others down, rather than supporting one another and building each other up. They will face in their life people that will attempt to buy them off with money or sentiment, instead of valuing the stunning souls that they're.

And, don't be beguiled; these actions begin in kindergarten.

I'm not a pessimist. I simply am seeing the state of our society today, and want to provide my youngsters with a supportive system outside of our home that enables them to live full, productive, fulfilled lives.

Here's where the To-Shin Do C.O.O.L. Kidz program steps up to bat (C.O.O.L. Is “confident, on-purpose, on-target leadership”). Heck, even the name is cool! This truly must be what I am looking for.

Think how your children’s lives would be improved with awareness of the following 12 skills:

* Kicking- Not only developing your large muscle groupings to support you in sports and on the playground, but learning the way to use low kicks (some where a child can reach on a larger person) to protect themselves.

Additionally, the kids practice “kicking” bad habits out of their life.

* Teamwork- a much used word for a reason. Children must be able to work with fellow team buddies, whether in the class room or ultimately in the boardroom. Effective teamwork is a top talent of forceful leaders.

* Spirit- focusing on ones feelings and intuition is an ability we are born with, but forget to exercise. Youth of today need to be able to pay attention to applying the right perspective in the right situation.

* Respect- self-respect and respect for adults is a key component to raising thoughtful humans. Respect is mirrored and earned.

* Self-assurance- kids must be able to do for themselves so as to grow up robust and confident. Clear guiding principles are presented in the C.O.O.L. Kidz programme and correct effort is rewarded.

* Focus- youngsters must be in a position to cut out distraction (of which there are many) and pay attention to the task at hand. This ability becomes more and more necessary to develop as we are continued to be snowed under with

technology and connected 24/7.

* Zan-Shin (awareness) – this is paying attention to concentrating. Spotting what is happening around you and opportunities before they show up.

* Discipline- Discipline is chosing the right action, even if that decision is the hard decisioin. Discipline makes the correct things occur.

* Rolling- To-Shin Do using rolling as a physical ability so if you do fall down (and listen to me, kids will) the kid knows how to roll to get back to their feet rather than breaking a wrist. Yet, deeper than the physical concept is the

notion of “rolling with it”- sometimes you only need to roll with what life has given you and keep on keeping on.

* Student Creed- this three part jewel provides age-old wisdom. Belief in one’s self, belief in your teachers and belief in the technique of communication are explored.

* Fist- for To-Shin Do ninja self-defense, understanding the attacker will be larger, stronger and faster means the good guy will need to use suitable abilities to get out of danger. This isn't sport karate, so a closed fist

for a young person may definitely equal a broken fist for a young person. Knowing what does it for your particular body type is the lesson here- and a lesson I am hoping my youngsters will cling to for the remainder of their lives.

* Confidence- knowing you can set a goal and step outside of your comfortable area to work towards goal feat. This is confidence.

Employing these twelve skills will help not just my children, but others training in To-Shin Do to become bright, competent, relaxed warriors happy to take on the problems life presents them.

For more. Info on To-Shin Do, contact Newbury Park Martial Arts Center, www.npmac.com.

Kriss Hurdle is co-owner of Newbury Park Martial Arts Center. She’s a 4th degree Black Belt in To-Shin Do and proud Mom of 2 fantastic youngsters.