​Those who are interested will practice their martial art when it’s convenient for them. If something more interesting is going on or they don’t feel like going to class that day, they don’t show up. They may even schedule appointments or other events at the same time as class. They often miss more classes then they attend in a month. They soon start to slip further and further behind in their training and will most-likely never achieve a 1st dan black belt or higher.

Everyone knows that four and five year olds have a lot of energy. Unfortunately, there are few organizations that offer athletic programs for that age group. 

With that in mind, on May 3rd Branson Karate will begin offering a Lil' Dragons Karate Program twice a week. This will be a way for preschool -aged children to be introduced to the martial arts in a fun and positive environment. The class will meet each Tuesday and Thursday at 5:15 p.m., you can learn more on this page: www.bransonkarate.org/dragons

​Children will be taught safety skills such as First Aid, Fire Safety, and Stranger Awareness.  They will also be learning life skills such as cooperation, memory, and balance.  In addition, they will be building on their social skills to improve their relationship among their peers so they can cultivate trust and respect for adults, children, and themselves.These skills will help them enter society with a more confident, enthusiastic outlook. These are the same skills that help children be better students at school, better listeners at home and more ambitious towards the future. The Lil' Dragons program is also a great way to develop the ‘pre-skills’ necessary for a child to function and thrive in social settings. Lil' Dragons will also help prepare your child for our Youth Karate Program.

In the Little Dragon classes, children are exposed to positive social interaction. They will learn how to work with others and follow directions from their instructors, Vashon Borich and Ron Leach. Mrs. Borich and Dr. Leach have a combined experience of over 60 years in the Martial Arts and in working with young children. You can count on this husband and wife duo to be positive role models for your child's first experience in the martial arts.

Not only is this program great for kids but it is a lot of fun too! Balls, balloons, hula hoops, and more are used to create a fun learning experience.  The instructors will also use fun star charts, patches, belt stickers and stripes to help cheer your little martial artist on. 

If you have a pre-schooler or know of someone who does, be sure to have them visit www.bransonkarate.com for Lil' Dragons registration details.

New Class Forming on May 3, 2016!
Cost: $75 per month
(sign up for two months minimum and
​receive free uniform and white belt - a $40 value!)

Instructors: Vashon Borich, Sensei & Ron Leach, Hanshi

Class Time: Tuesdays & Thursdays at 5:15 p.m.

Register: www.bransonkarate.org/dragons

It's been a while since I last posted! It dawned on me that we have several new students that have recently joined our organization. One of the biggest initial challenges is learning how to tie your obi (belt). I decided to create a video demonstrating how to do it.

There are several other ways to tie your belt. If in doubt, you should ask your Sensei at your home dojo how they prefer to have you tie your belt. Many Sensei's require a unique belt tying process in order to denote their martial arts school vs. another. For instance, in my dojo, it is important to me that everyone's knot on their belt points to their left hand side. In this way, we all are consistent within the dojo. For me, it is also a nod to the East... the birthplace of karate.

If you are interested in receiving regular email updates when new blog posts are added, be sure to Subscribe to the Branson Karate and Kobudo Blog!  Also, I encourage all students of Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate to register as a member on our National Web site at www.seiyonoshorinryu.org. In this way you can receive rank requirement checklists, instructional videos and other tools to help you in your karate training.