Karate Kids

The kids have had so much fun learning karate for the last couple months.   Luckily they have not tried to use any of their moves on us yet, but I do not doubt that will come.  They are doing very well, they passed their first test and got 1 green stripe on their white belt.  There are so many karate classes here they could sign up for.  This particular class is traditional Okinawa karate called Shorin-Ryu.  We thought, where else could they learn traditional Okinawa karate?  They can't get this opportunity any place else, so we went with it.  Their instructor isn't Mr. Miagi (Karate Kid), but as close as we could find to him.  Hanshi is his name, he is a martial arts expert who, get this, has been designated by the Government of Japan as a "Living National Treasure".  If that isn't cool, I don't know what is!!

Along with learning karate, they learn a little of the Japanese language- numbers anyway.  Starting on her second week Mailee was done, ready to quit.  We told her she had to finish out the month and, reluctantly, she did.  When her month ended she decided it wasn't so bad and maybe even a little fun.  Now she loves it and thinks it's pretty cool.  A good lesson to learn I suppose, don't give up too soon...  

more karate pictures on my picasa link!