Chuldow Squad Pages

How Did We Get Into All This?

Once upon a time . . . a very nice Australian man came knocking at our door. He was very fit, good looking, tanned and charming (if there is such a man from Australia!) and tried to sell us membership of a new karate club in our local village hall. It all sounded very impressive but, despite his good looks, I wasn't THAT gullible and sent him away empty handed, contract unsigned.

However, the seeds of an idea were planted in my head and I made enquiries amongst the mums at the kids' school to find out more about martial arts. Two of my playground friends had children involved in WYSOK clubs - Newmillerdam and Matt Barlow's club inn Ossett(?).

At that time, I was working for a local charity looking after the families of long-term drug users. I had seen at first hand the destruction that goes along with having a child who gets in with the 'wrong' crowd and starts to make bad decisions for themselves which then have a horrendous impact on those around them. I'd also seen how this could happen to ANY family, regardless of background, supportive parents, education, etc.

Working there day in, day out, made both Alan and I realise that we had to do the best we could to prevent this from happening to OUR family. Maybe, just maybe, if we could provide an opportunity for Hannah and Jordan to have a real focus in their young lives, they would have the discipline and strength of character to make the right decisions for themselves when faced with those choices that we all have to make in our youth. You know the ones - drink, drugs, cigarettes, boys . . . and girls! Well, it's a plan . . .

Both children were already involved in school sports - swimming for Hannah and football for Jordan - would it be too much for them to do something else as well? They seemed keen on the idea so, one April morning in 2001, off we tootled to Chuldow.

Jordan, then just 6, was in the 10 am class and hated it! His first lesson was spent looking confused, scared and angry at us for daring to suggest that he spend his Saturday mornings away from the TV! He didn't want to join in, didn't want to put the pads on and was generally terrified of the 'big tall person' - later known as Gwiz. When we came out he announced that there was no way he was going back!

Hannah, on the other hand, decided from the off that this was the place of her dreams! At eleven years old, she was a lot more sociable than Jordan, and she had found herself a whole new bunch of friends in five minutes. That clinched it for her!

The following week, we left Jordan to make his own mind up about going back. Then, as now, he followed his big sister round like a puppy! Worried that he might be separated from her and missing out on something, he changed his mind at the last minute and tagged along. What a difference! This time he came out red faced and fired up with enthusiasm for the class.

Before we knew it, Jordan was going for tagging and Hannah was grading for her red belt. Within a few weeks, they decided they wanted to do another class on a Wednesday night - and so it went on.

I think what really clinched it for them was the first WYSOK party that summer. Again, Hannah (the social one) saw this as a great opportunity to get dressed up and talk in dark corners with her new friends. She had great fun dancing the night away to Matt Barlow's 'fantastic' collection of music! (?!!!) For Jordan, it was the buns that did it!

Later that same evening came the presentation of certificates for those who achieved their black belts at the May gradings. Just the look on Hannah and Jordan's faces told me that this was perhaps a good idea after all! They were completely awe struck! "When will I get a black belt, mum?" was all I heard for the rest of the week.

And so it has carried on. They both now train around four/five times a week, are members of the Squad and I can't keep them away from the place. Jordan's first words on getting up are "What day is it? Is it karate tonight?". Hannah gets severe withdrawal symptoms if she can't train!

In the spirit of 'if you can't beat them (literally!), join them' I ended up being co-erced by Julie into starting Ladies Combat last year - what an education that has been! Finally, having spent the best part of two year's 'sitting on the bench', Alan plucked up the courage to join in as well. That was no mean feat for a bloke of forty-something! I am so proud of them all.

There are fleeting moments when both Alan and I wonder why we got ourselves into all this. You know, the times when you are standing there ironing gees (don't know how to spell it!) at midnight for a tournament the next day when all you want to do is have a glass or four of wine and go to sleep. Or the days when you can't get through the hall way for the pile of kit bags, smelly pads, helmets. That and the first time you see your child get 'hammered' by an opponent in a tournament . . . But those moments soon pass and the memories of the look on Jordan's face when he was given his red squad tee-shirt by Gwiz; when Hannah won Champion of Champions at WYSOK; when Alan got a third in kata at the same tournament; Jenny in the boot of Andy's car, are memories I will carry with me forever.

So, many thanks to all those who made it possible - and a special mention to that very nice Australian who came knocking at my door!

Ah well, its grading day today - better get the ironing board out again! Now where are those licences? Has Hannah got enough hair gel? Must remember to mend Jordan's footpad . . . what shall we have in the sandwiches for the tournament next week? Must remember the teabags for Liv and Helen . . . hope Julie has got bacon butties on this morning . . .

Is everybody happy? Tra-la-la-la-la!!!

By Jacqui Varley