This video is from 2023. Eight children sitting on the mats, learning something much bigger than martial arts. Of those eight: 🥋 Six are still training. ❤️ One has had an operation and is due back next year. 👏 Two have achieved their Junior Black Belt. 🎯 Three are going for theirs this month. 💪 Two are aiming for theirs next year. Only one is no longer training. Those achievements belong to the children. But behind their progress are parents who kept encouraging them, bringing them and helping them follow through—even when enthusiasm wasn’t quite at Black Belt level! 😂 Parents sometimes tell me, “My child quits everything.” Here comes the uncomfortable bit… When a child says, “I want to quit,” that doesn’t have to end the conversation. Sometimes, that is the very moment their coach needs to step up. And I don’t just mean me. 😉 Mum and Dad: you’re their coach, encourager, chauffeur and snack supplier! Listen first. Are they tired? Finding something difficult? Frustrated because progress takes time? Sometimes stopping is the right decision. But a difficult day doesn’t have to become a permanent decision. “I don’t feel like it” is a feeling we can acknowledge without letting it make every choice. Give them support. Give them options. “Shall we practise together before class, or ask your teacher for help when we arrive?” Different options. Same direction: towards the goal they chose. In this video, we’re talking about children realising they are in charge of their choices. This is Lesson 3 of Champions Character: Choice. Being proactive. Learning to choose our response, even when we cannot choose how we feel. It’s one of nine lessons we repeat and repeat. We even have a cartoon about it! But it becomes powerful when children practise it in real life, with adults helping them take responsibility. Belief grows through experiences like this: “This was difficult. I wanted to stop. But I worked through it. Look what I can do now!” So keep encouraging them. Help them honour their commitments. Hold them accountable with love.

Check out the video and handout on the martial art move for this week. You will find it in the classroom, in Champions Journey, week 9.

I read a post today about a young girl being bullied. She was sitting in the back of a car, crying her heart out. Her mother was desperately worried. As a parent, seeing your child hurting like that is heartbreaking. You want to take the pain away. You want to make it stop. And it must be dealt with. Report it. Involve the school. Keep following it up. Our children deserve to feel safe, and adults have a responsibility to protect them. Alongside that, there is another question we need to ask: How can we help this child feel stronger on the inside? Being bullied is never a child’s fault. A child shouldn’t have to become tougher to deserve kindness. But we can help them build the confidence to understand that somebody else’s cruelty does not define who they are. Tony Robbins talks about three decisions that shape our experience: what we focus on, what we believe it means, and what we do next. Here is how I would use those ideas to support a child. 1. FOCUS — What am I paying attention to? A cruel comment can become so loud in a child’s mind that it drowns out everything else. We can listen to their hurt, then help them notice the bigger picture: the people who care about them, their strengths, their progress, and the adults they can turn to. “You heard something hurtful today. I’m listening. Let’s also remember who you are and who is here to help you.” 2. MEANING — What am I making this mean about me? There is a big difference between: “They said something horrible about me.” And: “What they said must be true. There must be something wrong with me.” We want to help children separate those two things. Somebody making fun of your appearance does not determine your worth. Struggling with something does not make you useless. You can be growing, learning and imperfect—and still deserve respect. You do not have to be perfect to be comfortable being yourself. 3. ACTION — What can I do next? We can practise useful responses together: speaking clearly, moving towards safety, finding supportive friends, and telling a trusted adult—again, if the first report hasn’t helped.

Know what you’re aiming for 🎯 Imagine stepping onto the mats, closing your eyes and throwing a kick towards… well, nowhere in particular. It might be entertaining, but it’s not the easiest way to hit a target! Champions Target helps children think about what they want to achieve and the steps that can help them get there. A common way of seeing it “I’ll just hope I get better.” A Champion’s way of seeing it “I can choose a target and make a plan to work towards it.” The principles Purpose · Direction · Planning · Commitment What this looks like for a child A child wants to improve their side kick. Instead of saying, “I just want to be better”, they choose a clear target: “I want to hold my knee up and kick with better balance.” They ask their instructor for a tip and practise a little each week. Now they know what they’re working towards and can notice their progress. Put it into practice - Decide what you want to achieve. - Picture what improvement might look like. - Choose one small step to start. - Keep practising and adjust your plan when needed. Try it at home Ask: “What’s one thing you’d like to get better at?” Then help your child choose a small first step. It could be tying their shoelaces, making a new friend or remembering a martial arts combination. 💭 Champion question: “What am I aiming for?” Yesterday, we explored Champions Choice—pausing and choosing how to respond. If you missed it, have a look at Lesson 3.

Pause. Think. Choose. 🥋 Children experience big feelings—and sometimes those feelings arrive faster than a flying kick! Champions Choice helps children understand that a feeling is real and important, but they can learn to pause and choose what they do with it. A common way of seeing it “They made me angry, so I had to react.” A Champion’s way of seeing it “I can feel angry and still choose what I do next.” The principles Choice · Responsibility · Self-control · Taking initiative What this looks like for a child Someone pushes in front of your child in a queue. They feel cross and want to push back. Instead, they pause, take a breath and say: “I was here first. Please can you go to the back?” They’ve stood up for themselves while treating the other person with respect. Put it into practice 1. Pause: Stop for a moment. 2. Think: What choices do I have? 3. Choose: Which choice will help? 4. Take responsibility: If I get it wrong, what can I do next? Try it at home When a small frustration comes along, ask: “What choices do we have here?” You can share your own choices too: “I’m feeling frustrated, so I’m going to take a breath before I decide what to do.” 💭 Champion question: “What is my best choice?” Yesterday, we explored principles—the ideas that help guide our choices. If you missed it, have a look at Lesson 2.