Here at Kagami, we strive to convey as best we can the concept of "Budo," which simply means "the way of the warrior." Those who view karate as a path they will follow forever are the ones who become truly great karatekas. Although many people give it up after a while, the spirit of karate cannot be destroyed. It is worth starting kyouksin karate at a very young age, because then you will grow up in this spirit, so to speak, and become a person.
They will learn respect and become more persistent both in life and at school. Far fewer children will later become the type who seek answers to life's questions in constant partying, trouble, alcohol, or, God forbid, drugs. When a kid joins the dojo, Uncle Vili immediately begins monitoring the child's development. Later, they will receive training appropriate to their level of knowledge, so that they can become competitors.
If they are strong, determined, and ready for action, they can participate in competitive tournaments. If they have excellent coordination and pay attention to detail, we can send them to kata (form practice) competitions. Many children are afraid of competitions, and despite the talent of many of our karatekas, they do not participate in competitions, and we will never force a child to do so if they do not want to. It is never glory or victory that is important in competition, but rather the mastery of karate and its lifelong perfection. Our current masters and multiple medalists all started karate with Uncle Vili. Our philosophy is that the sooner someone starts karate, the better they will master Budo.
We should never think of karate as something that will help us lose weight or learn how to fight. Of course, these things are part of it; you become fitter and can defend yourself, but that's just the surface. Karate is a way of life, and once you start, whether you are 5 or 40, it will stay with you for life. It changes your perseverance, your values, your attitude towards the world and sports, your relationships with others, and your judgment.
