What If PE Was Where Kids Learned How to Try? What if physical education wasn’t the place where kids worried about being the fastest, strongest, or most coordinated? What if it was the place where kids learned how to try? Over the years, I’ve watched thousands of children move through physical education environments. Most of […]
Why Physical Education Should Teach Thinking — Not Just Movement When parents talk about physical education, I often hear the same question in different forms: “My child is active all day — does that count as PE?” It’s a fair question. Kids run, jump, climb, ride bikes, play outside, and move constantly. Activity is important. […]
Why Ages 7–12 Are Such Important Years for Self-Discovery Between the ages of seven and twelve, children experience one of the most important developmental phases of their lives. These years mark a shift from early childhood into growing independence, self-awareness, and personal identity. Kids begin to notice how they compare to others, how they handle […]
Karate West has always been about more than punches, kicks, and belts. For more than 36 years, Karate West has served Issaquah families with a clear and consistent purpose: helping kids grow into confident, focused, respectful individuals who believe in themselves. Long before “life skills” became a popular phrase in youth programs, life skill development […]
How Moving Together Builds Stronger Bodies, Stronger Kids, and Stronger Connections For many families, fitness is treated as a task — something scheduled, compartmentalized, or squeezed in between other responsibilities. Parents juggle work, school, activities, and family time, often feeling pressure to “do more” when it comes to health and physical activity. But the most […]
Grade school can be an exciting time for children—but it can also be challenging. Between academic expectations, social pressures, and learning how to navigate the world independently, kids are asked to grow in many ways all at once. While school plays a major role in a child’s development, it doesn’t always provide everything kids need […]
WHY LITTLE DRAGONS LEARN BEST THROUGH FUN AND PLAY Children learn best when they are having fun. At Karate West, this philosophy is at the heart of our Little Dragons program (ages 4–6). Research consistently shows that early learners thrive when educational activities are engaging, playful, and interactive. By blending fun with discipline, karate becomes […]
Choosing the Right Friends: Why Kids Need a Community That Shares Their Values As parents, one of the things we care about most is helping our children grow up to be confident, thoughtful, kind, and capable young people. We want to raise kids who know right from wrong, who treat others with respect, and who […]
How Girls in Karate Are Changing the Martial Arts World Karate has long been seen as a male-dominated sport, but the landscape has shifted dramatically. More girls and young women are stepping onto the mat, not just as participants but as leaders, champions, and role models. This surge is not only transforming the sport itself […]
The Teacher Effect: How One Special Instructor Can Change a Child’s Life Most adults can name one special teacher—someone who made us feel seen, capable, and important. We may forget the unit they taught or the textbook they used, but we remember the steady presence, the raised expectations, the specific encouragement that made hard things […]
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Recent Posts
- What If PE Was Where Kids Learned How to Try?
- Why Physical Education Should Teach Thinking — Not Just Movement
- Why Ages 7–12 Are Such Important Years for Self-Discovery
- The Life Skill Program at Karate West: 36 Years of Helping Issaquah Kids Reach Their Full Potential
- Fitness Is a Family Value: How Moving Together Builds Stronger Kids and Stronger Connections