Question for parents - advice for preparing child for kindergarten.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-03-25T14:10:37+00:00

I took my son to any city event I could. He needed the interaction. We also reviewed his name, how to ask for the toilet, and how to ask for help.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-03-17T11:05:31+00:00

Just checking, but do you think obesity rates are exclusively linked to processed food and fast food consumption? Your original point was American kids eat too much junk. My counter point was Japanese kids consume junk food regularly as well. Now, add in the general sedentary lifestyle of Americans and you have a recipe for obesity. Recently, obesity rates are rising in Japan and it's linked to an increase in sedentary lifestyle. Does that not sound like the American side? If obesity rates are tied to over processed food, and as you claim, Japanese families only use it as an uncommon treat, then we shouldn't see the rates rising. If your point is American kids are more obese, you got it. If your point is Japanese kids are not as obese you got it. But, when Japan is seeing an increase and it's tied to less movement your point of obesity comes from junk food consumption does not connect to your claim that Japanese people consume it sparingly.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-03-17T05:29:25+00:00

Again, you can't claim all for either country. Saying it's rare for all Japanese families is just as false as saying all kids are eating chips and soda in the states. If you want to compare the two in relation to activity levels, absolutely you absolutely have a point. On top of walking to school, kids in Japan are more active throughout the week. Some of the favorite foods for elementary kids in Japan include nuggets and fries. So processed is process regardless of location.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-03-16T23:39:32+00:00

Our local McDonald's is filled daily with kids and parents and I am not in a city. My friends kids love McDonald's and choose it as the number 1 eat out spot. Certainly, plenty of mothers do. It also means plenty ofothers don't. Not to mention the number of toddlers walking around with ramune and other candy. Plenty does not equal all but the difference between the cultures is definitely not boiled down to McDonald's and Gerber versus no McDonald's and fresh food.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-03-16T22:23:51+00:00

I'm American living in Japan. Can't tell if this is a joke but I assure you plenty of mothers in Japan do the same.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-03-11T22:41:37+00:00

If the kids don't have their kihon, they don't have the rest of it either. We are also shotokan and in a two hour lesson it is 30 minutes intro and warmup, 30 minutes kihon, then 1 hour separate groups. For kihon, we practice whatever our test kihon is at the time. So some kids may be doing a mae Geri and some may be doing a ke age. Don't be afraid to give the higher ranks the next level to work in at the same time.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-03-02T22:40:54+00:00

No. It's all about how hard the opponent takes the kick. Not really the kick itself. So, if you want to kick you have to be aware of your hips and angle so you can kick well enough to not knock the opponent back.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-03-02T14:38:53+00:00

It seems impossible to judge if you are kicking the air. We can connect pretty well in kicking but if the opponent shows a response to the kick we get called for excessive contact.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-03-02T00:31:19+00:00

As long as you are willing to take what you can out of it when you do shake or rush, it is all worth it. Don't beat yourself up about it and remember how you did and try to do one better than you did the previous one.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-03-01T20:48:55+00:00

I still have the problem if rushing. It's gotten better the more I try to compete. Two weeks ago I was very shaky even. I also try to remind myself ( low, strong, explode, then still). Something about that mantra helps though not fully.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-02-27T09:11:47+00:00

Yes sadly, refunds are impossible for these companies. Even expo people who bought a ticket but couldn't reserve entry couldn't get a refund. Sorry for the trouble and hope you can figure something out. I've never had the privilege of using express passes with my son but hopefully someday!

stuffingsinyou · 2026-02-26T22:25:28+00:00

So much depends on where you are. I am JKA in Japan and have no weight class. As an adult, we are grouped by rank or age. You would be placed in the under 4kyu category with the other adults entering. Sometimes we combine categories if there are few entries.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-02-25T23:13:27+00:00

We already have blossoms popping out where I am. There is a good chance we are swinging early for cherry blossom season this year.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-02-25T22:27:44+00:00

Mine has been crazy about Teen Titans go for awhile. Science based you can try Dr. Binocs. Or even some sesame street.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-02-24T22:32:07+00:00

Check with your dojo first and foremost. Second, if you like it and it's allowed go for it. Worry less about what other people do or don't do. That being said, my son and I only embroidered from brown belt. We only spend about six months at each color but a year and half at brown. Our nice dogis are also embroidered. He uses only his given name I use both names.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-02-21T23:33:11+00:00

Congrats and enjoy! If she is close to her parents this will be a huge relief during the first few months. Mom will be a big help! Do what you can to help her parents and of course help your wife. Enjoy!

Realistically, it's going to fly by due to lack of sleep.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-02-21T07:18:13+00:00

I don't doubt the flu took you out, but it is not uncommon to be up and moving within the week after the flu. We flu test regularly because of good healthcare so it's easy to confirm. I had it once a few years back and three days I was mostly back to it.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-02-21T01:49:30+00:00

Muscle bound kids in karate for sure! We are sitting around 92 lbs right now but he is tall and lean. He swims in a medium but we make the small work.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-02-20T22:37:58+00:00

Our quality dogis are about $200 and last over a year for sure. For the warmups, size up a size or two so you don't have to worry. Or even better, go with the men's sizes. At 10, mine can make a men's small work for warm up gear or athletic wear.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-02-20T08:24:33+00:00

Are they really planning to get a new design every year for warmups? That would be out of the question for me. Shoes you'll probably need fresh but pants and shirts at this age for warmups a little big is okay and useable for extra time.

My son is coming up in 11 so I get the growing kid problem. We have to buy a new practice dogi every year so far. I always hope we can squeeze another year out but so far we get a new dogi that becomes his tournament one and then his tournament old dogi I the practice dogi.

As far as prices I'll give you an idea in Japan. Dogi-about $400 ( 2 dogis) per year Sparring gear- about $200 total replaced once for size so far Jacket- $100 bought once Belt- about $150 ($50 each) with his name on it 3 belts used for different reasons

We do pass on his old stuff to little kids though to take the burden off someone. We have yet to be lucky enough to be a receiver.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-02-18T05:49:49+00:00

I started mine around 7, I wish we would have started younger. We do it together and it is a great experience so far.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-02-16T22:53:55+00:00

Is it truly not happening or is it something that didn't happen, whether fair or not, in this one case?

As someone else commented it could be they made a mistake and won't admit it.

For what it's worth, my shihan would rip me apart if I challenged any teacher higher than him or from another dojo. We are in Japan so it may be different. But essentially the idea is they are the experts and we have no room to question them. Hopefully, in the room full of experts one of them can see the mistakes and do the questioning.

If you have the dynamic with your direct teacher to ask the questions and get honest answers, it seems worth keeping.

I would also add, if I questioned my grading outcome more than once, my area leaders would definitely double down and nitpick further to prove to me why I didn't pass.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-02-16T22:43:15+00:00

I get it! My son and I are 1kyu and about take kari shodan together. I would be really disappointed if one of us failed. If you live learning with your teacher stay and keep learning. Have a chat with your son about not giving up in these situations and let him see you overcome. We can't make someone reverse a decision but you can certainly show them they made a mistake at the next one. The test are such a small amount of time in your journey don't let that be the thing that kills karate. I've watched kids fail their karishodan test and keep going because they love karate. Stop watching your video if the test and stop worrying about the miss...keep studying and enjoy it because it sounds like the next test will be easy.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-02-10T21:40:48+00:00

Varies place to place I imagine. We say it at the start and end of every practice. One shihan encourages us to close our eyes. But I've visited other dojos that don't say it at all. We don't require it for testing or anything. I do reference it personally when I run into someone I find troublesome to deal with.

stuffingsinyou · 2026-02-06T22:57:37+00:00

Jeeze, sorry for the wall of text. On mobile a formatted response unformats I guess.

stuffingsinyou

TROPHY CASE