Why I do Karate

By Lauren LaForest

When people ask me why I do karate, or what made me want to try it, I have to always thank my mother. She is the one who signed me up for my first introduction classes, and why I stayed with it since I was 5 years old.

Karate shaped me to be the person I am today. Of course my parents and grandparents raised me however, karate taught me from such a young age who I am. The way I carry myself and treat myself and others is a reflection of my character that karate helped to show me. And when I say that karate shaped me, I mean all aspects. The instructors who taught me get the most credit. As strict as they are, I know every time I walk into my karate school they are there to give the best advice, workout, and life lessons they can in an hour or more. I learned the type of person I wanted to be from the self respect and self discipline I was taught. Nothing means more to me than doing what is right every day. If I am not honest with myself and others, or have the discipline to finish work or assignments I need to get done, or help others when they need it, then I am disappointed with myself and learn from it, Karate showed me who I should be and not just for myself but for others too. I subconsciously use the tools I learned from karate every day, and I know I will every day of my life. And as an instructor myself, my job is to give another student the knowledge of what karate can do for you.

Lauren LaForest is a Senior Black Belt and instructor at Bailey’s Karate School.  In addition she is the editor of the Rome Free Academy’s school newspaper the Knight Times and has interned at the Rome Daily Sentinel.  Lauren has been accepted and will be attending the University at Albany where she plans to major in Political Science and minor in Journalism.