DamianRoss
12-28-2007, 07:39 PM
Should I Push MY Child Into The Martial Arts?
Sensei Damian Ross
31 years ago I first stepped on to a mat. And out of those 31 years there were only a few (3) that I wasn’t on one. I remember, plain as day, my first practice. It was in gym 3 at Ridgewood High School. It was painted “Institutional Green”, only to be replaced years later by the ever popular “Institutional Beige”. The fluorescent lights flickering in a room filled with kids, it seemed like everyone knew each other, except me of course.
No one on the planet (meaning my neighborhood) ever heard of wrestling- other than the stuff on TV. I also remember not having a choice in the matter, I never remember having much a say about anything until I was about 12.
My first practice was a disaster. I remember Pat Ramge and his older brother Matt taking turns pinning me, twisting me and using me like a training dummy. By the end of the hour I could tell you everything you needed to know about the ceiling in gym 3. I discovered a whole new world of aches & pains in places on my body I only rumored to exist.
What were they thinking? Did they go crazy!! Was this supposed to be good for me? Surely they’ve lost their good sense. Maybe they were abducted by aliens and replaced with replicants? What sane human being would subject a child to this? All I knew was I started wrestling because 1. My brother was doing it and 2. My parents didn’t give me a choice. I was 7, what did I know, I would much rather sit at home and watch Bugs Bunny and The Justice League. I was inherently lazy. But my Mom and Dad were having none of that. I had to do something athletic during the winter months, In fact, I had to do something athletic or a non-school related activity my entire childhood. If I wasn’t playing a sport or and an instrument, I was working. And since I couldn’t play an instrument to save my life and the thought of working all of the time was about as appealing as getting a teeth cleaning, I played sports.
And thus launched a 31-year career of bumps, bruises, and mat burns, injuries, victories and defeats. Not a day goes by that I don’t thank my parents for making me “do something” and not letting me succumb to the desire to do nothing. Sure there were times I wanted to stop. Every professional athlete, every Olympian
and every person has those thoughts all the time, the difference is the discipline to continue.
When I was young and I felt like I wanted to quit, I can still here my father say, “Just give it to the end of the season and we’ll see about it then.” Every time, with out fail, by the end of the week I’d forgotten why I wanted to quit in the first place. You know, after all this time I can say, the friendships I forged on the mat and on the field are the strongest I know. I can only thank my parents for making me follow through with what I started and hope to God that I have the same commitment to my children.
About the Author
Damian Ross is a lifelong martial artists and instructor. He holds a 4th degree black belt in Carl Cestari’s Tekkenryu jujutsu, a 2nd degree black belt in Kodokan judo, a 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and a varsity wrestler for Lehigh University. He has been teaching coaching and competing since 1975. He is the owner of the ZenShin Premium Martial Arts Dojo Dojo in Pompton Lakes, NJ (www.kidsjudo.com (http://www.kidsjudo.com/)) and the president of The Self Defense Company a cutting edge reality self defense company with a world wide instructor network. (www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com (http://www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com/))
Martial Arts (http://www.theselfdefenseco.com) and Self Defense (http://www.theselfdefenseco.com)
Sensei Damian Ross
31 years ago I first stepped on to a mat. And out of those 31 years there were only a few (3) that I wasn’t on one. I remember, plain as day, my first practice. It was in gym 3 at Ridgewood High School. It was painted “Institutional Green”, only to be replaced years later by the ever popular “Institutional Beige”. The fluorescent lights flickering in a room filled with kids, it seemed like everyone knew each other, except me of course.
No one on the planet (meaning my neighborhood) ever heard of wrestling- other than the stuff on TV. I also remember not having a choice in the matter, I never remember having much a say about anything until I was about 12.
My first practice was a disaster. I remember Pat Ramge and his older brother Matt taking turns pinning me, twisting me and using me like a training dummy. By the end of the hour I could tell you everything you needed to know about the ceiling in gym 3. I discovered a whole new world of aches & pains in places on my body I only rumored to exist.
What were they thinking? Did they go crazy!! Was this supposed to be good for me? Surely they’ve lost their good sense. Maybe they were abducted by aliens and replaced with replicants? What sane human being would subject a child to this? All I knew was I started wrestling because 1. My brother was doing it and 2. My parents didn’t give me a choice. I was 7, what did I know, I would much rather sit at home and watch Bugs Bunny and The Justice League. I was inherently lazy. But my Mom and Dad were having none of that. I had to do something athletic during the winter months, In fact, I had to do something athletic or a non-school related activity my entire childhood. If I wasn’t playing a sport or and an instrument, I was working. And since I couldn’t play an instrument to save my life and the thought of working all of the time was about as appealing as getting a teeth cleaning, I played sports.
And thus launched a 31-year career of bumps, bruises, and mat burns, injuries, victories and defeats. Not a day goes by that I don’t thank my parents for making me “do something” and not letting me succumb to the desire to do nothing. Sure there were times I wanted to stop. Every professional athlete, every Olympian
and every person has those thoughts all the time, the difference is the discipline to continue.
When I was young and I felt like I wanted to quit, I can still here my father say, “Just give it to the end of the season and we’ll see about it then.” Every time, with out fail, by the end of the week I’d forgotten why I wanted to quit in the first place. You know, after all this time I can say, the friendships I forged on the mat and on the field are the strongest I know. I can only thank my parents for making me follow through with what I started and hope to God that I have the same commitment to my children.
About the Author
Damian Ross is a lifelong martial artists and instructor. He holds a 4th degree black belt in Carl Cestari’s Tekkenryu jujutsu, a 2nd degree black belt in Kodokan judo, a 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and a varsity wrestler for Lehigh University. He has been teaching coaching and competing since 1975. He is the owner of the ZenShin Premium Martial Arts Dojo Dojo in Pompton Lakes, NJ (www.kidsjudo.com (http://www.kidsjudo.com/)) and the president of The Self Defense Company a cutting edge reality self defense company with a world wide instructor network. (www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com (http://www.thetruthaboutselfdefense.com/))
Martial Arts (http://www.theselfdefenseco.com) and Self Defense (http://www.theselfdefenseco.com)