The Beliso Karate School, A Parents Perspective…Michael Sweeney

 

 

My daughter Sydney Sweeney started the Beliso Karate School in March 2003.   At the time Sydney was eight years old and in the third grade at the local elementary school. I chose the Beliso Karate School after having verified other karate schools within the San Francisco area and having Sydney participate in one school as a student for just under nine months.

 

Our family philosophy is that our children will do well in school and participate in some type of sport of their own choosing.  Sydney truly enjoys Kenpo karate, both kata and sparring.  Sydney is also participates on various girls basketball teams.  Sydney is in the GATE program and honors classes at Hoover Middle School.  Sydney is doing very well in school and this success can also be directly linked and related to the teaching and mentoring that she has and continues to receive from the dojo.

 

The Beliso Karate School was chosen as an institution to teach, educate, motivate, as well as inspire and discipline my daughter and all the other children of the dojo.  My daughter gets regimented group instruction, specific training, as well as individual private lessons.  The goal of my original decision to have Sydney attend this facility was to build great self esteem, have her athleticism developed including self defense, to achieve a high level of personal confidence,  and to understand that success in life does not always come easy as it takes time, patience, practice and dedication.  These goals have not only been met, they have been exceeded.  Sydney has overcome a lot of adversity in her endeavor to earn a black belt.  She has suffered through tendonitis and a ruptured appendix and she did not give up hope, feel sorry for herself or quit.  The dojo has been instrumental in building her character.  She has achieved a high level of success because personal relationships between student and Sifu develop.

 

The years and work it takes to earn a black belt give all children an incredible sense of accomplishment at a young age. This will be a great motivation tool when college and life happen as the child becomes an adult.  As a parent this is what I look for and desire.

 

The success of my daughter in school carries over into the dojo.  The success of my daughter in the dojo carries over into school.  They work hand in hand.  Sydney now also gives back to the dojo and society by teaching kata and sparring to young beginner students the same way she was taught when she started at the Beliso Karate School.

 

While my daughter is the student and sometimes the teacher she really enjoys the personal success, the friendships, and the competition. While she is  working and having fun I could not be more proud of her.