Press

John Mirrione can remember learning karate as a child. He is grateful to have learned from his own father. There are many incredible benefits from learning karate at a young age. At Reebok Sports Club/New York and Sports Club LA, the Harmony By Karate Rainbow program for 2-6 year olds, has risen to great heights. Physical aspects of the program include various types of aerobic drills to improve children's endurance. Through foot and hand movement techniques, students develop rhythm, coordination and body awareness. Bare knuckle push-ups, jumping squats, and other strength conditioning develops the muscular skeletal system. Through split routines and other types of stretching exercises, the child develops natural flexibility. Children learn Japanese terms, phrases and numbers which can be loudly heard if one were to walk past the dojo. During instruction, discipline is balanced with love so that there is a positive interaction among classmates. Harmony By Karate began in New Jersey in 1988 and made its way to New York in 1994. ABC's Bill Beutel, a former student of Harmony By Karate, was quoted as saying, "If ever there was a man serious about the future of mankind, and particularly our children, that man is Sensei John."

What one learns through the practice of Karate
by Sensei John P. Mirrione Jr.
Parent Guide/November 2003 - A Reality Kick
Karate originated from the Shaolin Temple in China. The Shaolin monks called it kung fu. This art form the Shaolin monks practiced derived its lineage from Southern Chinese people who were Moslem. However, they learned this comprehensive art form as a means to protect their Buddist beliefs and lifestyle. Kung fu was developed in China and brought to Okinawa by a Chinese monk. It evolved through the Okinawan masters of Japan and became what is known as karatedo, "the empty handed way."

Karate’s revolution truly exemplifies the meaning of tolerance. The art form had to develop through many cultures and belief systems before it became known in America as karate. History teaches us that karate was passed on by practitioners of the art who had an understanding of tolerance.

Today, karate has become mainstreamed so that millions of people all over the world practice it. Some learn of karate's history and some don't. However, tolerance is still learned by the practice itself. In many karate systems, respect is the rule. The teacher demands it and the students follow. As the student becomes more and more comfortable in his or her own movement, self respect or self tolerance becomes prevalent in the individual. Once self tolerance begins, social tolerance becomes more and more possible. The discipline demands focus, and therefore, the end result is a student who has better self esteem and confidence. Self tolerance is the key to dealign with many cultural, social and ethnic prejudices. Students of karate may learn intolerance in other environments. However, karate can open students' minds in a way that will help them think for themselves. Individuality is the underlying factor when it comes to a student being more tolerant of others. The study of oneself through martial arts development is one of the most powerful ways to achieve inner peace. If you have inner peace, you have world peace.

The very root of intolerance is ignorance and fear. Fear can be a dominant factor in all of us. It can be an ultimate positive or negative driving force. If we observe what we fear the most, we can start with small fears and this can lead up to bigger fears. The reality is that no matter who we are or what we do, we have fear. How we see our fear or ignore our fear leads us to how we contend with our fear. There is the fear of not being loved, the fear of rejection, the fear of pain, the fear of death. In karate, we face all these fears by calling them challenges or opportunities.

When a student learns a front punch or front kick, he must fail in his attempt thousands of times in the process. This understanding of failure leading to success is one of the powerful tools used to teach self tolerance. However, this tolerance can be learned in many athletic activities. What separates karate from the rest is the fact that what we really fear the most is each other. By facing our opponents in the martial arts, we learn that in order to fight successfully we must be relaxed and in control of ourselves. The more control we have over our technique and emotions, the more we can control our opponent. We also learn to never assume we know our opponent. Therefore, don't prejudge. We learn to expect the unexpected.

Learning not to prejudge is another aspect of tolerance. Keeping an open and clear mind when facing our opponent gives us a deeper connection to people. This is where social tolerance begins. Social tolerance becomes prevalent in a person's life when he has a deep understanding of himself. Once we have an understanding and acceptance of oneself, we can then begin to relate who we are to others. However, it is impossible for a person to achieve complete happiness in themselves, not only in karate, but in any activity. It is the quest for self awareness and improvement in all aspects of our lives that leads us to both self and social tolerance.

Sensei John P. Mirrione Jr. is the owner of Harmony By Karate in New York City.

Download Enrollment Form Harmony By Karate at the Reebok Sports Club/NY
160 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10023 | Phone: 646.387.2073 | Send an Email