Our Judo Experience by John and Hiroko Wilson
My two young boys have been studying Judo with Gerald Lafon and his diverse, experienced coaching staff at San Diego’s Judo America for 2 years now. Starting at ages 4 and 5, their shared experience will be one of their first memories. What they’ve learned here will help shape their future development and grant them a perspective influenced by this special school.
Nation of Wimps by Hara Estroff Marano
This article parallels the observations of the great German novelist, dramatist and philosopher, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who stated two hundred years ago that, "Too many parents make life hard for their children by trying, too zealously, to make it easy for them. " Apparently, not much has changed in the last two centuries. It's a long article but worth every minute you will spend reading it. Save your child from being a wimp!
Why Every Recreational Player Should Compete by Todd Brehe
Judo America alumnus, Todd A. Brehe, is a two-time World Team member and Olympic Team alternate in 2000. Now that he is a father, he has plenty to say about competition.
Empty Praise Editorial by the San Diego Union Tribune
Parents and educators may have been acting with the best intentions, but many of them may have gone too far. Some experts say it was part of a larger movement going on in society at the time to promote mediocrity and lessen the importance of merit. Whatever it was, and whatever caused it, it was an oversight -- one that should not be repeated. Parents today should set higher expectations, demand more of their children, dole out praise more judiciously, and not be afraid of hurting their children's feelings or damaging their self-esteem.
