Intro to Martial Arts / Little Elm Library
David goes to the Little Elm Library every Tuesday from 4:30 to 5:00 pm to instruct INTRO TO MARTIAL ARTS. First everyone lines up and Bows to show Respect! ITMA starts off with a PowerPoint Presentation on Exercise, Nutrition and Anti-Bullying. Exercises include stretches,leg lifts, push ups, sit ups, jumping jacks, run in place, touch your toes, ect... Martial Arts includes making contact with the Blue Bags. Punching, Kicking, Combos of both Punching and Kicking, and then Breaking of Re-breakable Boards. Everyone lines up again and Bows out to show Respect.
David is a 1st Degree Black Belt. In an effort to acquire his 2nd Degree Black Belt, 75 hours of Community Service must be completed. In Partnership with Little Elm Library, a Free Class was developed to accommodate required services. Now, over 1 year of service to the Little Elm Community(mostly middle school), a PowerPoint Presentation was put together around the 5th or 6th month. Usually, there are between 5 to 15 kids that attend. The Local Newspaper wrote an article on the Class, while David continues to train and compete in tournaments (and Win!).
2 comments
Kathy Noll • about 14 years ago
You're doing an awesome job! It is wonderful all the hard work you've done to help with this serious problem of bullying, which also affects self-esteem. I've been working on this issue for years. You've got my vote!
Kathy Noll
http://kathynoll.com
"Taking the Bully by the Horns"
National Awards for Bullying Prevention
Bill Willard • about 14 years ago
I grew up in the early 40's and 50's. In those days we had to stand our Ground or be pounded into it. I was for the most part the latter of the two. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and was a very tall very skinny blond headed male Aspergers, with Horrid ADHD. I was picked on nearly every day. When I was 7 Years Old I was at a what we called then as ( Malt Shop ) after a cub scout meeting with a group of other scouts. Three young boys about three years older than me from the local public school started picking on my friends, and I made a courageous attempt to help them. In doing so, the three decided to direct their intentions right on me. I was pulled outside and there they began to pound me into the ground, and no matter how many times I got back up they kept smacking me back down. No Adults helped ! I was in Big trouble ! Then when I feared the worst ! A young man about as old as the three bullies stepped in and warned them away. They started calling him out, and then a man appeared and He said to the boy , be sure , his answer I am sure father, it is time. The bullies did not falter, then they ended up being strewn around the parking are like leaves in the wind. They all ended up limping away and holding on to each other. That Young Boy was named Jiro Watanabe, the son of GM Moon Watanabe soon to be my Judo Sensei, and I went from there. I ended up being the nerds bully bouncer during my Sophmore year in one of the Toughest schools in the Bay Area, and from then on had no more troubles as my size through weight training increased as did my Martial Knowledge. That was 63 years ago and I am still offering advice, and helping with classes at Ashland Karate Academy in Ashland Oregon. Helping with the kids who have ADHD Aspergers or just plain kids.