Photo by Tina Ray/Paraglide John Ingram Jr., left, 5, and Austyn Blanchard, yellow belt, 5, follow instructions from sensei Don George, center, during karate class, Friday, at Tolson Youth Activities Center. The class is offered as part of the Schools of Knowledge, Inspiration, Exploration and Skills Unlimited program, designed to support the experiences of youth and children in Army Child, Youth and School Services and in schools. SKIESUnlimited is demonstration of the Army Family Covenant in action.

As the sensei for Team Bujutsu Karate, an American combat karate form, Don George said some of his goals are to help develop confidence and to create a positive mental attitude within his students.

George teaches karate as part of the Schools of Knowledge, Inspiration, Exploration and Skills Unlimited program at Tolson Youth Activities Center.

According to Fort Bragg’s Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation website, SKIESUnlimited is the framework for the Army’s Child, Youth and School Services instructional program, designed to support the experiences children and youth have in Army CYSS and in schools. The program is open to youth of military and Department of Defense civilians.

Karate seemed to suit the bill when Sara Blanchard visited the FMWR website, and signed up her 5 ½-year-old son, Austyn for classes last December.

“I wanted him to learn some discipline, focus and I wanted him to start on an activity,” Blanchard said.

An Army veteran, George said he began studying karate at age five. Four decades later, and still an avid enthusiast, karate provides life skills for students. During class, for instance, George requires youth to pay attention, to listen and to sit up straight.

Karate builds confidence, he said. With a combination of shorei (hard) and shorin (soft) movements, it teaches discipline.

“I like seeing the development of kids, not just in coordination, but in behavior,” George said.
Youth can progress from a white (beginner’s) belt to a black (expert) belt. Normally, the progression takes three to five years.

Austyn, now a yellow belt, loves class, said Sara.

He said that he has a lot of friends and that he likes to do the kicks and punches.
Rosallie Ingram said her son, John, 5, is always excited to attend class. Like other parents, Ingram, too, wants her son to learn discipline.

The youth seemed to like different aspects of class. John and Austyn, both said that they like doing the kicks. For Jillefia Ingle, 5, it is running laps.

“My favorite part of karate is when I run because if you want to pass somebody, you’ve got to cut, but not in front of them,” she said.

“She’s very confident of what she does in this class and she thought she could protect herself because she knows how to do karate,” said Jillefia’s mother, Marivic.

Whatever the favored activity, karate will continue to play an important role in their lives.

“The discipline in karate is you learn to control your body by controlling your mind,” George said. “If you learn to control your mind, you can control your actions.”

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