02/09/2025
“I Don’t Want to Make My Child Do Anything They Don’t Want To…”
I hear this from parents when their child says they want to quit martial arts.
And I get it. Honestly, I’ve felt it with my own kids too. As parents, we want to protect them from struggle. We don’t want to be the “pushy parent.”
But here’s my truth 👇
I didn’t have parents who pushed me. If I didn’t want to do something, I was let off the hook. At the time, it felt like freedom. But looking back, it made life much harder.
As a teenager, I was very overweight. I avoided anything uncomfortable. I always chose the easy way, because no one taught me the value of sticking it out. Even now, those choices still haunt me.
That’s why I feel so strongly about this with my own kids.
They’re still young, and they train in our classes. Quitting isn’t an option. Not because I want them to be champions, but because I know finishing something hard will shape who they are.
Kids can’t always tell the difference between what they want and what they need. If left to their own choices, most would pick an iPad and crisps over anything good for them. That’s why they need us – to guide them.
We don’t ask if they want to brush their teeth.
We don’t ask if they want to go to school.
We don’t ask if they want to go to the doctor.
We know those things matter. And for me, martial arts is the same.
It’s not just about kicks and punches. It’s about:
- Learning to listen
- Pushing through challenges
- Working with others
- Building resilience
These lessons carry into school, careers, relationships – even running their own business one day.
That’s why I won’t let my kids quit. They may not thank me now, but one day they’ll see why I pushed when it mattered.
So instead of saying:
“I don’t want to make my child do anything they don’t want to…”
Maybe the phrase is this:
“I’m not raising them for the easy choice – I’m raising them for the right choice.”
That’s not being pushy. That’s being a loving parent!
