Light in the darkness at the Independent Karate School

Wow.  It's cold.  It's dark.  There's snow on the ground.  Whatever the calendar may say, winter has pretty much made its appearance. 

It was 12 degrees at my house this morning, and the night will be just under 15 hours long.   My two kids have their first winter colds, and everyone is pretty ready for some light in the gloom.

In our family, attending class at the Independent Karate School is a pretty important antidote to the winter blues (at least when we don't have colds).  One of the great things about martial arts is that you can start any time of the year, and practice all year round if you like.  In fact, my children are usually able to pay extra attention to karate in the winter, since neither is involved with winter outdoor sports.

The physical activity certainly helps to keep the megrims at bay.  But so does the warmth of the Independent Karate School community.  After driving through the melancholy of an early dusk or late sunrise, it's pretty nice to arrive someplace where so many people care about my children, and do all they can to help them grow.

When IKS students receive the rank of first-degree black belt, they also receive a small pin with the image of a candle flame.  This flame is meant to symbolize the saying "It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness."  I think this focus on making a positive contribution to the world is very evident in the attentive teaching that my children have received. 

Would you like to know more? Feel free to visit any scheduled Independent Karate School class.  Classes in Merrimack are held every Tuesday and Thursday evening at 6 pm at the VFW post near the Common Man.  Hope to see you there!