If
you think Southwest Karate and Aikido is "just another
dojo" -- think again!
Steve Gancherov, or "Sensei Steve" as my nine year
old daughter refers to him, has created a program which is
much more than just karate. Sensei Steve uses Karate as a
medium to teach children character, kindness, discipline,
respect and most importantly non-violence and self control.
He builds self esteem in an environment which paradoxically
demands and expects respect and yet gently motivates kids
to want to do their best. It is almost amazing to watch Sensei
Steve in action!
My nine year old just loves to go to class and often quotes
Steve at home with comments such as "Sensei says always
be courteous ..."! As a pediatric emergency physician,
soccer coach and father of three I know how hard it is to
connect with kids these days to effect positive change. It
takes patience and a true love of working with kids. Sensei
Steve has created an "extended family" with his
students and the bond of trust and dedication he has created
with them motivates them to want to do well -- so "Sensei
will be proud of me." Sensei Steve's methods have been
proven to work with underprivileged youth as well. He created
a program to work with severely at risk youth in the Barton
Hill School in San Pedro. His techniques motivated kids who
previously thought they had no chance and had largely been
"written off" by others.
Their grades improved and they learned self control and self
esteem. It is so rare these days to find people who want to
work with kids and are truly good at it -- Sensei Steve is
just one of those people with a talent for coaching kids.
For my daughter, Southwest Karate is much more than a dojo
-- it is a place where she feels accepted and good about who
she is. That she learns karate is just the icing on the cake
-- she is learning so much more. She is internalizing and
demonstrating in her daily life the concepts that Sensei Steve
teaches and which have been the foundation of Shotokan Karate
for ages. We are so fortunate to have made Sensei Steve and
the others members of Southwest Karate a part of our "extended
family"!
Dave Amin, M.D.
Director, Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Little Company of Mary Hospital-Torrance
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