Word of the Month for May is: Responsibility

Responsibility is defined as an obligation or duty — a state of being dependable and accountable.

At Bernardo Karate, we are deeply committed to cultivating responsible students who are prepared to succeed in today’s world. We view responsibility as an essential life skill and character trait, which is why it is a core component of our Character Development Program. We understand that fostering responsibility, especially in our younger students, lays the foundation for them to become more capable, independent, and productive adults in the future.

It is important to introduce responsibility to students at a young age. Some of the responsibilities we teach to our Little Dragons (ages 4-6) and youth (ages 7-12) are:

1. Show up on time
2. Come with a clean and tidy uniform and belt
3. Bring a positive and cooperative attitude
4. Perform exercises and tasks willingly and try your best in every class
5. Complete monthly assignments on time in their Bernardo Karate Character Development workbooks.

Another way we teach our younger students about responsibility is through our HELPER program. Intermediate and advanced students are given the opportunity to assist in teaching classes with our Head Instructors. By assigning these students responsibilities, such as being in charge of a small group in the dojo, they will feel like they are contributing to the success of others. When children learn to be responsible, they develop stronger self-confidence and self-esteem, which in turn lead to better relationships with family members and friends. As they grow older, this responsibility also fosters better social skills with their employers and coworkers.

Martial arts helps students accept personal responsibility and learn from any mistakes they make, especially as they strive to achieve their goal and rank of Black Belt. There is no such thing as perfection, and at Bernardo Karate, we teach our students early on that there are rewards in life for being responsible, but also that there are consequences for being irresponsible. Every decision or action they make will have some sort of consequence, and they must accept responsibility for all of them, whether the outcome is good or bad.

“We have all heard of the saying, THINK BEFORE YOU ACT OR SPEAK,” says Renshi Tammy Bernardo.  “With our teen and adult students, we focus on teaching them that a responsible person takes his or her time to make good decisions.”  Renshi Tammy also adds, “Words and actions can be very powerful, and we need to be responsible for how we react and respond to others. We teach our students that these reactions are a reflection of our character.”

Everyone needs to learn about responsibility to be successful in life. At Bernardo Karate, we focus on instilling this skill by providing routine and structure with all of the classes we teach. Renshi Tammy says, “Life isn’t always fun and games, but learning to be responsible and taking responsibility for our actions can give a person a better chance at success. Our martial arts programs teach life skills such as focus, discipline and respect. When combined with responsibility, our students are better prepared to tackle life’s challenges in the real world ahead.”