Socratic educator Michael Strong with Alana, age six

Can you hear me?

Yes.

How are you?

Good, how are you?

I'm well. It's a beautiful day here in San Francisco. Is it a beautiful day there in San Diego?

Well, still a little cloudy.

Okay. How was your week?

Really great.

I hear that you won lots of, uh, you won a couple of tournaments yesterday?

Yeah, yesterday I won 2 first places, both divisions.

Congratulations! Was that fun?

It was, it was really fun.

Would you say that you won because they were easy matches, or that you tried really hard, or that you had lots of confidence, or that you just—

I also— I only— I only lost like one match, and on my gi match and on my no-gi match, I won that one. Then the next one, I won by submission. And then, um, I was waiting for my next match. Then I think I went— then after a few minutes I went to the— to get my medal. Then they centered me on first place, the highest.

Excellent.

Then I started on no gi because the rest is no gi on that tournament.

I don't know what no gi is. Can you explain what no gi is?

So no gi is when you don't use your gi. And the gi is something that you wear, special clothing that you wear to classes or tournaments.

Okay, so do you know, do you think you just had a lucky day or you really fought really well? Or when the one you won by, you won at least one by actually winning, right?

Yeah, I at least won one by, um, submission.

And was— did you do a really good job that time?

Yes, but, but he did great too. He was also strong, my opponent.

Oh, he was? Okay. Um, so it was a good match and you had a good fight. You call it a fight?

Sometimes we call it like that too. Sometimes we call it a match.

Match, okay. It was a good match with well-matched opponents, both of whom came with a lot of talent and strength. Does that sound right?

Yes, he came in with that too.

Okay, would you say you have a lot of talent and strength?

Yes, I would say too.

Okay, your dad told me that you had read a book called Warrior Kid?

Yes, I have.

I don't know that book. Can you tell me what the Warrior Kid is like?

Yes, so the Warrior Kid is like a boy who learns to be straight and he's a warrior kid. And a warrior kid is someone who's confident, strong, brave, and and that can do like amazing stuff, like, I don't know, like it being really happy.

So would you say that you are confident, strong, and brave?

Well, I would say two.

You would say you are confident?

Yes, I did.

And you are strong?

Yes.

In your brain?

Yep.

How about the other aspects of being a Warrior Kid?

Well, that eating strong foods, not like, I don't know, and doing whatevers, but like running around, which is exercise, doing a workout in the morning.

Are there any ways in which you are not similar to the warrior kid?

Well, I'm doing all the things I said, but sometimes I don't.

Okay. Do you think it makes any difference that he's a boy and you're a girl, or you can just as much be a warrior kid as a girl?

Well, girls can be too. But they also have to do like whatever they need to do, play around, get their muscles working.

And you play around and get your muscles working?

Yes, at the park, either riding my bike, practicing, going outside, playing tag, or playing on the playground. That's also things for or practicing your workout like push-ups, burpees, which are some things that people don't know.

I've actually heard of burpees. Most of that sounds like fun. It sounds like playing tag is a pretty fun way to get a workout.

Yeah, because it also exercises your leg muscles.

Are you good at tag?

Yes.

What's your favorite form of tag?

I would say the regular tag when you're in and you have to tag someone and they're it.

Have you ever played freeze tag?

Yes, I have.

You like that one?

I do too.

That was my favorite. For some reason, I like trying to get everybody frozen or try not to be the last one to be— try not to be the one that got frozen.

I see.

Are you pretty fast? Are you a fast runner compared to other kids your age?

Yes, I'm a pretty fast runner.

Excellent. So what do you— do you think all kids are warrior kids?

Not all kids. Some of the kids don't even know the book.

Do you think if you explain the book they would all say, oh yeah, I'm a warrior kid?

Well, Only if they do what, what they need to do, get, um, try to get their muscles on them and get all their stuff out, they will be.

So everyone has the ability to become a Warrior Kid, would you say that's accurate?

Yes, and And if they don't want to, that's fine.

Okay. Um, do you know any other kids your age who are warrior kids like that?

Mm, I don't really know.

You might be the only warrior kid you know?

Well, maybe my brother or some of my friends too.

Okay. Do you think that you could be a warrior kid without reading the book, or you have to read the book in order to become a warrior kid?

Well, I'm always interested in their books, so whatever they do, maybe I could try.

And when you say their books, whose books?

So the author is Jaco Willink and the illustrator John Bozak, who's a really good drawer.

Oh, I see. So you would say anytime you read books by those two— do they have other books?

Yes, and Jocko also has some books for adults like Extreme Ownership.

What's, what's the other books for kids that he has?

Well, he's making one with rhymes, and it's about this boy named Mikey. Who's afraid of things and thinks that they're all in his bedroom.

I see. And so what happens in that story? Do you know the story?

No, not yet. It hasn't popped out yet.

I see. So you know him and you— how do you know about the book before it's come out?

So Jaco Willink told me And he showed me the first page.

I see. And how do you know Jaco Waylon?

I met him, I think. I don't know when I met him. I forget.

Okay. Do you think that most kids would— so what, is there any advantage in being a warrior kid or no advantage at all?

So there will be if you do what you need to do. And if you don't, that's fine if you don't want to.

Okay. Um, how was your week at school last week?

You mean this week? Because I started on Monday this week.

Okay, I said last week. I say last week just because, um, I think of it whatever has passed is last, and I say this week for the one going forward.

Oh, I see.

But yeah, so the— was it your first week of school?

Yes, last week. I forgot.

How was it?

It was good, really fun.

What did you like best about it?

Well, I would think the best thing about it is doing all that you need to learn, being with someone that you don't really get to know much.

Who is— who are you with that you don't get to know much?

Well, some of the friends like my teacher Ashley and some of my other friends.

So would you— you would say your teacher Ashley is one of your friends?

Well, personally, I think so.

Okay, that's totally fair. I think I sometimes teach with friends, and that's great. Um, well, I think that we want to keep these short, and so it's good to catch up. And, uh, did you read anything else interesting this last week?

This last week or this week?

You know, I say last week, the one behind us.

Oh, well, I can't really recall though because it's been a long time.

That's okay, that's okay. In which case, I'm going to wish you a wonderful week, and hopefully we can talk, uh, if it works out, next weekend. Okay? Okay. Have a great week, Alana.

Okay, bye, Michael Strong.

Bye.