I have been teaching children and adults for over 25 years straight.  I have been a martial artist for 40 years.  One thing I can tell within the first few visits is whether or not we are going to be a good fit as student and teacher.  Most of the time it works out just great.  The parents get that martial arts is much more than a show up activity and that there is real work to be done.  Those parents want something for their child that they know will have a life time of value and will serve them well long into adult hood.  These are my favorite parents because they get it.  The other type of parent is what I call "the sampler".  These parents put there child into every activity possible at least once.  They see if they like it and if not they are on to the next new thing.  Now I get it if your child really hates the activity and isn't having fun.  I don't understand though, if they quit because they aren't willing to challenge themselves.  That's where it all falls apart.  At some point in life your choices or lack their of become your future.  If your not willing to push yourself beyond what you think your capable of you will settle for less than you deserve.  All great things take effort and the ability to believe that all things are possible if you find a way.  You have to have a level of personal believe and tenacity that you never knew existed inside of you.  You also have to know you will fail and fail big time.  If there is anything I could ever tell you that I have learned over the years it's this, Live with gratitude, embrace fear, don't ever be afraid to fail, never ever quit and that there is always away to your dreams if your willing to find it.  If you follow that advice I think we may have a chance.  Mater T

To tell you the truth probably not, but when someone asks me a question about something they saw on TV or a small factoid about martial arts I often listen to what they are saying versus what they are telling me.  Weird I know, but hang in there for a moment.  People don't come up to you and start talking about random things unless they are trying to connect with you.  For a moment, for a day or even forever a person looks to connect through sharing or giving.  The thing they saw on TV isn't truly what our conversation is about.  It's about an emotional connection to something that made them want to connect with me.  Whew, thats a long winded way of saying something but it's true.  When children act out or adults it's for attention good or bad.  As humans we tend to naturally avoid painful actions.  Sometimes people feel they connect by getting your attention for less then good choices.  All of it still is a way of connecting.  Sometimes it's unhealthy and sometimes it's life changing.  You have to look at the emotion connected to the end result and determine why they are doing what they are doing.  So when you ask if me if I know this or that I may say "no" just so we can connect and I can hear how you are so excited to tell me that Bruce Lee lived in Seattle for a bit.  Master T