Sinjin, an extraction from Hebrew meaning God is Gracious also Saint John. Karate is a martial arts form from Okinawa, Japan meaning Kara - empty and te - hand. The Gi, pronounced Gee, with a hard g as in gosh, is the three part white uniform of the student of Karate. It consists of the shirt, the pants and the belt. The belt changes color as the student rises in his studies. These are new words to us but no matter what the dictionary says to us they stand for a small head wet with perspiration, cheeks flushed with color, a smile as wide as his young face will allow and his grandparent's hearts full of gratitude and pride.
Our ten year old grandson, Preston, started Sinjin Karate and is like the proverbial duck into water. Like many children his age, Preston is shy and needs his self-esteem given a little boost. He isn't interested in team sports but this is a group activity and you compete against yourself. They work on concentration and self-control which I suppose we all could use from time to time. I have always felt that children need outside activities and I literally mean outside. It should be away from school and home and it should be working their bodies which in turn works their minds.
Respect, concentration, control in mind and body and pride in one's self are all key components in Marital Arts. Not bad goals no matter what the age...not bad goals at all.
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