Kent Ninomiya Family

No Excuses

2009-06-19T15:54:00.001-05:00

Not only do active children and adults benefit from martial arts training, the elderly and physically challenged can thrive as well. Martial arts is all about using your strengths against your opponent's weaknesses. Each martial artist will have their own style based on their strengths, and will adapt their technique depending on the weaknesses of their opponent. Martial artists include paraplegics, the blind, and 90 year old grandmothers. Allow no excuse to stop you from indulging in martial arts training. It offers increased confidence, better health, and mental harmony.

Quality not Quantity

2009-06-18T13:42:00.001-05:00

There is a wide variety of tae kwon do and other martial arts schools to choose from. A common mistake martial artists make is to latch on to a school that does not suit their needs. Big schools offer large facilities and plenty of varied partners, but can often neglect the individual lost in a sea of students. Small schools offer individualized attention in a more intimate setting, but might not have all the fancy equipment. Each martial arts student must ask themself why they are studying the martial arts. If the answer is to be part of a large social setting with other martial artists, then a larger school is a better choice. If the answer is to hone your martial arts skills, then you would benefit from the personal attention of a small school. The bottom line is that it come down to quality instruction. Good instructors train quality students. You are not getting quality instruction if you are left alone with someone without a black belt to supervise you. Only black belts are qualified to teach. If a school tells you otherwise, go somewhere else.

Martial Arts Wandering

2009-06-17T01:21:00.001-05:00

The study of martial arts should ideally be done under the tutelage of a single qualified master. However, in today's modern society people move, schools close, and students get bored.
A lifelong student of martial arts may need to transition to several different martial arts programs in their lifetime. This can be incredibly difficult if you study a somewhat obscure martial art like hapkido. There are very few hapkido schools, so finding one when you move is a challenge. This is why tae kwon do is a good martial art to study if you plan to move a lot. No martial art is more pervasive in America today. The two largest factions of tae kwon do are the World Taekwondo Federation and the International Taekwon-do Federation. Their systems are somewhat standardized. If you study WTF or ITF tae kwon do, you should be able to find another school teaching pretty much the same way in another city. Your rank will also transfer to the new school. This allows you to continue your studies unabated.

What's in a Name?

2009-06-12T18:28:00.000-05:00

I am often asked the differences between tae kwon do, taekwondo, taekwon-do, tang soo do, moo duk kwon, jhoon rhee, etc. They are all descended from Korean martial arts masters developing their own styles following World War II. These masters were influenced by Japanese karate, but decided to take their arts in their own direction. This evolution continued as tae kwon do spread to American and around the world. You might find several martial arts schools in your neighborhood teaching a variety of these styles. They are all essentially teaching the same thing. They may have different forms, techniques, and belt systems, but at the end of the day it is all about punching and kicking. This tae kwon do topic page strives to encompass ideas from all these styles and freely exchange ideas without judgement. It also strives to reach out to cousin martial arts such as karate, hapkido, and MMA. Tae kwon do sits somewhere between karate and hapkido/MMA on the martial arts evolutionary scale. Whatever you decide to study, make sure that it suits your interests. Also remember that you can study more than one style. Perhaps someday you will start your own martial art.

The Importance of Fathers

2008-06-22T02:42:00.001-05:00

by Kent Ninomiya

I've been reading more and more lately about the importance of fathers spending quality and quantity time with their children. I know most of you will say "no kidding" to that advice, but how many of us actually make it their first priority and do it? When I say first priority I mean first. That means preferring time with your kids to time in front of the TV, computer or newspaper. That means being home instead of at work or at the bar. That means running around the playground and wrestling on the ground instead of shooing them away and telling them to go play somewhere else. When you think of it that way, guilt slides in and we realize we all do these things to some degree. The truth is we can all do more to interact with our kids.

My father was one of those strong silent types. He went to work then came home an plopped down on the couch. All my friends seemed to have the same kind of Dad. It's what fathers did back then. Nothing more was expected of them and many felt uncomfortable doing anything more with their children. Today's Dads are different. We are both allowed and expected to roll up our sleeves and be hands on parents. Bringing home a paycheck is no longer our most important responsibility. We are Dads first and whatever else we do second. Instead of seeing this as an additional life burden, view it as a gift.

Of course there are limits. We would all go crazy hanging out with the monsters 24/7. The key is notching up the time without ratcheting up the stress. Primarily it's making your kids #1 in your life. This is no small task but it's probably the most important decision you will ever make. Think about it. If you're not here on Earth to raise quality children why are you here? They are your link to immortality and the greatest reflection of who you were are a person. If you have lousy kids you were probably a lousy person.

Why is it that the worst parents ignore or abuse their kids when they're small then wonder why they are delinquents when they become teenagers? The best parents do a great job and wonder what more they can do. I decided when my kids were born that they were my primary job. When I had to opportunity to take a sabbatical to be with them I jumped at the opportunity. It didn't help the career but so what. What do money, fame and the adoration of strangers mean when your kids wont come to see you when you're old? Be sure to live your life deliberately and you wont be surprised by the outcome. Invest the time and effort in your kids now and you will have a wonderful relationship with them when they grow up. If you're not going to do that then why did you have kids in the first place? You might as well enjoy them.

broccoli - Kent Ninomiya

2008-06-14T00:28:00.000-05:00

Kent Ninomiya. My son hates broccoli. I mean he really hates the stuff! However, since everyone else in the family doesn't mind it and it is very good for you, we tend to eat it often. Making him eat his broccoli involves a combination of incentives, cajoling and threats. It always involves a battle. When we went on vacation for a week I told him that he didn't have to eat broccoli for the entire vacation IF he promised not to complain about eating it when we returned. He enjoyed his broccoli free week but grimaces every time I remind him that he's not allowed to complain about consuming it anymore. To his credit he eats it anyway. The other day he proposed something that left speechless. He said since he had to eat broccoli, something he hates, I should have to eat pickles. I hate pickles. His logic is flawless. If he's suffering why shouldn't I? The only response I could come up with was "because I'm the Daddy and I'm not eating pickles. Kent Ninomiya

Daddy shift - Kent Ninomiya

2008-06-07T20:37:00.000-05:00

Kent Ninomiya. A long time ago I heard that Ted Koppel spent several years away from journalism raising his kids when they were young. I heard he did this while his wife went to work or school or something because it was fair. To this day I have no idea if this story is true, however, true or not, it inspired me from a young age. I have always taken my job as a father seriously. I don't know why people have kids if they are not going to enjoy them. I can't comprehend how fathers ignore their children when they are young then wonder why they can't relate to them when they get older. Most of the job as a parent is done when the children are new. From birth through their first 5 or 6 years is the most important developmental time they will ever experience. It's a narrow window where you get to influence who they are and cement an unbreakable bond. Once that window closes it is shut forever. You can always work, but if you miss those years of your kids' lives then you miss something precious that can never be regained. I made a deliberate decision to spend as much of that quality time with my children as possible. Work is on the back burner. We play, travel, hang out. There is no specific plan. I'm just there for them. It's an investment that will pay dividends forever.

Kent Ninomiya

Old Man

2008-06-01T23:54:00.000-05:00

I challenged my son to a series of foot races. He loves to run. They were from the light post to the trash can then from the car to the playground. I decided to go all out and give him a challenge. So I backed up about 20 feet and told him I was giving him a head start. He looked at me puzzled and said, "why would you do that? You're and old man." Keep in mind this kid is about a third my size and not even in the 2nd grade yet. I burst out laughing and remarked, "sad but true." I said, "ready, set, go" and we were off.

He beat me.

*** Kent Ninomiya AKA the old man ***

Dare Not Blink - Kent Ninomiya

2008-05-18T23:24:00.000-05:00

Kent Ninomiya - I took my son to a high school basketball game. He got free tickets at school along with dozens of other kids his age. He was wide eyed with excitement seeing all the action and cheering people. Still, all that noise and activity is intimidating at first to a small boy. I encouraged him to go off and see his friends sitting elsewhere in the bleachers but he preferred to stay close by my side. After more prodding he eventually sought out his best friend a few rows away. Soon he was hanging around the railing with girls, getting drinks of water at the fountain and running off to the gym to jump off things. Every now and then he checked in to make sure I was OK. I spent the rest of the game watching my son, not the basketball. It was the first time I saw him really socialize in a large setting. He worked the room, flirted, and charmed his friends. I wondered how much of that personality came from me and how much was his own. I wanted to take credit for much of it but knew I couldn't. He's his own person now, not the baby I once held in my arms. Sad how quickly that transition happened. I looked around at the little kids faces then at the faces of high school kids nearby. They're not so different. I stared wide eyed at my son's face as he joked with his friends. I dared not blink fearing I would open my eyes to find him all grown up. Kent Ninomiya

Genetics and the Remote Control - Kent Ninomiya

2008-04-16T23:54:00.004-05:00

If there was ever any doubt that there's a link between genetics and the remote control... I have the proof. It's a universally known fact that men need to control the remote. It's programmed into their DNA. When man first stood upright he headed straight for the couch to sit on his ass and use his newly opposable thumb to channel surf. Various heretics out there might cluelessly claim this is a cultural behavior. Silly them. Today I watched my just past kindergarten son walk into a room where females were watching television, commandeer the remote control, and proceed to flip through the channels until he found a program with crashing cars. When his sister tried to wrestle the remote from him, my son exerted his dominance with the veracity of an alpha dog guarding a rib eye. Once the remote is in his grasp, it's his. I was never so proud of my boy. It's not just about the program on TV either. He will change the channel if he's told to, but he wont give up the remote. The clings to it like a third world dictator clings to power. Even before he could read he knew how to operate every button on the remote. He even managed to program in his favorite channels. He taught himself to do that. If it wasn't programmed into his DNA, then how else can it be explained? *** Kent Ninomiya ***

Mommy Daddy - Kent Ninomiya

2008-02-07T00:23:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - I've been spending a lot of time with my daughter lately. We're hanging out one-on-one. I'm feeding her, playing dolls, watching princess videos, etc. I noticed that she's been calling me "Mommy" quite a bit. She's never done that before so it got me thinking. Remember when you were in kindergarten and you accidentally called the teacher "Mommy?" I imagine it's because the teacher, who was probably a woman, was in the roll of an adult female authority figure. Since that figure in your life so far was your mother, "Mommy" naturally came out. I know my daugther can tell me and her mother apart. Recently, however, i've been doing many things that her mother normally does. So calling me "Mommy" is likely a reaction to her environment, not the person she is talking to. She associates these activities with her mother, so when she requests juice or her doll or a princess video she requests them from "Mommy." It's very interesting. Kent Ninomiya

girls don't make sense - Kent Ninomiya

2008-02-05T13:47:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya.

The other day I took my children to the playground. My son complained to me that his sister wouldn't play with him. This is quite a role reversal. Usually he abandons her on the playground, preferring to play with a boy his own age. However today he wanted to play chase with his sister. Instead she teased him and said she wanted to play by herself. It's obvious to me this wasn't true. She loves playing with her brother, but she loves tormenting him more. It was driving him crazy that she wouldn't play with him. Of course it serves him right. He drives her crazy by tackling and tormenting her. I pulled my son aside and explained that the reason she wouldn't play with him was because it bothered him so much. I also explained that it's what girl do and he better get used to it. I could see that he was puzzled by the perplexed look on his face. He said "girls don't make sense." I smiled and said "exactly son... exactly."

Kent Ninomiya

Snow Day! - Kent Ninomiya

2008-02-01T16:55:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - There's nothing like a snow day to bring a family together and give you a fabulous work out. It's like a surprise holiday. That is if you don't have to work. A lovely 6 inches fell over night prompting the kids to force me out of bed at the crack of dawn. First order of business was to clear the driveway of snow so we could get the car out. That's a significant work out in itself. I had a good sweat going by the time I cut a path wide enough for our vehicle. All the while the kids romped and played on a miniature hill I created by my digging. Once we could get out the real play and exercise began. We went to the local hill for some serious sledding. There is nothing like the uncontrolled laughter of a family flying out of control down a steep snow covered hill. We think nothing of the vigourous climbs back up the hill for the next run. By the time we called it a day we had hiked miles up a steep slope. We were covered in snow and sweat. We were exhausted and giddy. The best kinds of exercise and happiness are the kinds that you don't know you are getting. Kent Ninomiya

Virtual World for Kids - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-15T02:25:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - When it comes to computers, our children are generations ahead of us. Before they can read or write they are clicking a mouse. This is evidenced by the explosion in children's online virtual worlds. Barbie has a monster of a site with 10 million registered users gathered in less than a year. Think of the marketing possibilities. It's scary. Of course Disney wont be left out of this boom. Their Club Penguin and Webkinz sites are sucking in the kids. IBM and Zula USA are creating another one expected to launch this summer. So what is a parent to do? On one hand you want your children to be computer savvy. On the other you don't want to willingly expose them to the exploitation of the toy companies. It's a tricky balance. Kids want to play with toys that their friends play with so if their pals are on line they want to be as well. Also virtually all children's entertainment out there has a commercial component. If you want to keep them away from that stuff you need to shut them off from all popular culture. I guess the solution is balance. You may not be able to keep them out of the virtual world but you can make them live a majority of their time in the real world. Kent Ninomiya

funny - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-13T00:30:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - One of the most wonderful things about children is that they can make you smile with just a few words without even meaning to. Take my daughter for instance. Her mother is Polish and goes to great lengths to teach her culture and language to the kids. In the car today my daughter innocently asked if her Mommy was Polish when she was a little girl like her. I burst out laughing leaving my daughter very confused. I assured her that her mother was always Polish and that she is a very funny little girl. Kent Ninomiya

Meanest Mom - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-12T23:44:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - Did you hear about the woman from Des Moines, Iowa who calls herself the "meanest mom on the planet?" She found alcohol in her 19 year old son's car so decided to place a classified ad in the newspaper. It reads:

OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet."

The mean mom got about 70 calls from people who wanted to congratulate her for her meanness. The car already sold but she's running the ad for another week anyway, just so everyone will know how mean she is. Wouldn't it be nice if all parents could be so mean. That way fewer would have to mourn the loss of children who die in drunk driving accidents but have nice parents.

Kent Ninomiya

martial arts and family - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-06T21:52:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - One of the most important lessons taught by the martial arts is respect for parents. One of the primary beliefs of Bushido is never miss an opportunity to show them respect. The idea being you are already dead and could never have another chance to show your parents respect, so you should do it at all times. This message is often lost in American martial arts studios. Respect for parents translates to respect for all things whether that be teachers, instructors or fellow students. Parent should come first in childrens lives so if there is no respect in that relationship there is little chance it will trickle down to others. Respect flows both ways. It is offered when given. Let's teach our children this lesson well so they may teach their children. Kent Ninomiya

My boy the Cal fan - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-04T13:16:00.002-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - My son wrote an essay for his 1st grade class. I think it is quite brilliant. Here it is along with a translation to adult english:

Last night I got to stay up lat. I got to wosh fotball. It wus osum. Cal won. It is my tem and Kenttuckey won. I love that becus Cal won. It was becaus tayer pos wur biger.

(Last night I got to stay up late. I got to watch football. It was awesome. Cal won. It is my team and Kentucky also won. [he likes Kentucky because there's a "Kent" in it] I love that because Cal won. It was because their points were bigger.)

I have never been more proud as a parent. My boy is a Cal fan! Kent Ninomiya

Happy New Year! - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-01T22:52:00.001-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! I hope your 2008 is fullfilling and fruitful. Let's all treat each other well and work toward peace and harmony. Kent Ninomiya

Cals win! - Kent Ninomiya

2007-12-31T00:56:00.002-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - Well the Cals won today in exciting fashion. They fell behind 21 points early then stormed back with the back up quarterback at the helm. My daughter seemed very concerned about me when the team was down then got very excited as they scored over and over. We did our touchdown dance and I swung her around every time they put up points. Sometime in the second quarter she lost interest and went to change. She went from her Cal sweatshirt to her princess dress to her angel Halloween costume to a summer sun dress to a fuzzy sweater. Five outfit changes in one game! She is after all a girl.

Go Cals! - Kent Ninomiya

2007-12-31T00:56:00.001-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - My daughter is adorable. She knows I love my alma mater, the University of California. She sees me walk around with my "Cal" hat and sweatshirt. I wear them so much she identifies Cal with me. She also knows that Cal is in a big bowl game tomorrow and that her Dad is very excited about it. Since I care about the game she does too. Today she told me she hopes the "Cals" win and that she would be very mad if the "Cals" don't win. It was so cute that I didn't have the heart to tell her that the team isn't called the Cals. So for the rest of the today... and i'm sure throughout the game tomorrow... I will be cheering for the Cals to win. Go Cals!!! Kent Ninomiya

Merry Christmas Everyone! - Kent Ninomiya

2007-12-25T15:17:00.001-06:00

Since I can't send a Christmas card to everyone, i'd like to use this blog to hand out my best wishes to all of you this holiday season. Thank you all for your support and interest. May you have a happy and fruitful new year as well! Take care, Kent Ninomiya

Merry Christmas - Kent Ninomiya

2007-12-24T17:18:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya. As I get older I gain a greater understanding of the importance of Christmas as a family experience. Young adults tend to discard the ritual of family gatherings and togetherness for independence. However, once new children enter the equation the holiday regains it's place. Christmas is all about the children and how their faces light up when they open their gifts. That look is the parents' gift. There are also important lessons in Christmas. Delayed gratification is perhaps the most torturous of the lessons for kids. Waiting to open gifts is both painful and rewarding for them. Gratitude is another lesson. That's a tough one. With the bounty of gifts before them it's hard for children to think about others. They just want the presents. It's the parent's job to link the two together. It's not always an easy task. Of course the most important lesson of all is family. The act of doing everything together is what Christmas is all about. So enjoy the holiday everyone! Merry Christmas! Kent Ninomiya.

safe toys - Kent Ninomiya

2007-12-21T16:39:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya. Despite all the warnings and toy regulations we still hear about children hurt and killed by toys over the holidays. Here's a much needed refresher I found on child toy safety. Dennis Thompson (HealthDay News) -- Holiday toys are supposed to surprise and delight. But this year, toys are threatening to cause more worry than joy. Millions of toys made in China have been recalled in recent months by toy companies, many because they were decorated with lead paint. The recalls involve popular brands, including Hot Wheels, Barbie, and Thomas the Tank Engine, among others.
The recalls have also pushed toy safety to the forefront of consumers' consciousness.
"We are hoping the unprecedented news attention will remind parents to make wise toy choices," said Ed Mierzwinski, consumer program director for U.S. PIRG, a national consumer advocacy group. "There's nothing new about what happened here, except it was on the front page."
An estimated 202,300 toy-related injuries were treated in U.S. emergency rooms in 2005, and there were 20 deaths. Nine of the deaths involved choking or asphyxiation, and the toys included six small balls, a balloon, a bead from a toy horse figurine, and a toy dart, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported.
Lead paint is a more insidious hazard to children, because its toxic effects usually aren't immediate. Prolonged exposure can affect a child's mental and physical development, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"There is no safe dose," Mierzwinski said. "Continued exposure makes it worse. Parents must get the lead out of their child's environment."
To keep up with toy recalls, whether due to lead content or other safety problems, parents should frequent the Consumer Product Safety Commission's Web site at www.recalls.gov.
Parents should also be careful with any toy, new or old, said Christine Bradley, safety program manager for Prevent Blindness America. "Just because something's new to the market doesn't make it necessarily safer," she said.
And parents should know that just because a toy sits on a store shelf, that doesn't make it safe. U.S. PIRG reported finding some toys for children under 3 years of age with small parts but no warning label identifying the toys as a potential choking hazard.
Some toys can pose a hazard even if they meet the letter of the law. Last year, two small children suffocated when oversized, plastic toy nails sold with a play tool bench became lodged in their throats, U.S. PIRG said.
Toys containing tiny yet powerful magnets are raising new concerns among safety advocates.
A 2-year-old boy in Redmond, Wash., died in 2005 after ingesting magnets that had fallen out of plastic building blocks that the boy's 10-year-old brother was playing with. The magnets entered the boy's small intestine and then connected, twisting his intestine and forcing deadly bacteria into his bloodstream.
"They're very powerful, tiny little cylinders," Mierzwinski said. "Several get trapped and can fold the intestine to cause a blockage."
One of the first things parents should consider when choosing a toy is whether their child is old enough to enjoy it properly.
"You want to buy toys that are age-appropriate and show children how to use them," Bradley said.
Prevent Blindness America offers these other suggestions:
Read all warnings and instructions on the box.
Avoid toys with sharp or rigid points, spikes, rods or dangerous edges.
Buy toys that will withstand impact and not break into dangerous shards.
Avoid toys that shoot or include parts that fly off.
"Any sort of toy weapon, that's just got eye injury written all over it," Bradley said.
Parents also should look for the letters "ASTM" on the toy's packaging. This means the product meets the national safety standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials.
And parents should take care to keep older children's toys away from their younger siblings, as their toys can contain small parts or balls that can choke a younger child.
"If you have a child who still mouths things, keep the older child's small parts away," Mierzwinski said. "You've really got to check your toy chests. Make sure toys belonging to older children are not available to smaller children."
If giving a riding toy like a scooter or bicycle, parents should make sure they also buy protective gear like helmets and pads, and make sure their kids use them.
Finally, parents should avoid buying one of the most common -- yet one of the most dangerous -- items on the toy market: latex balloons. Balloons and pieces of broken balloons can block a child's airway and should never be given to children younger than 8.
"Balloons are a terrible choking hazard," Mierzwinski said.

Kent Ninomiya

2007-12-16T21:46:00.001-06:00

Kent Ninomiya.Thank you to everyone who wrote to me with words of support. I am back and new posts will appear on my blogs starting tomorrow. Thank you for your backing and patience. Kent Ninomiya