Michael Strong interviews five-year-old Alana about jiu-jitsu. She competes in tournaments, practices for self-defense against bullies, and earned a medal. Alana argues that pushing through fear in competition is good for kids, even when terrified.
How are you this morning?
Good, how are you?
I'm well. Did you win any contests lately?
No.
No? Do you like contests?
Yeah, like tournaments.
Yeah, like tournaments?
Yeah.
What do you like about them?
That you actually have to fight with someone like your age or your weight.
And are you at all afraid when you do that?
A little.
Are you afraid of getting hurt, or are you afraid of losing, or are you just afraid of the situation?
I'm just afraid of like all the people, like they're watching.
I can see why that could be scary. Um, does it sound— does it feel like a lot of pressure to have all those people watching? Are you getting more used to it the more you do it?
Yeah.
So that's what you don't like about it. What do you like about it?
That— I don't know.
But you do like parts of it?
Yeah, I just don't know what they What they are.
Would you say it's kind of exciting to be in a tournament?
Yeah, I would say that.
Would you say that you like winning when you win?
Yeah, on my first tournament I got a medal.
All right, do you like getting a medal?
Yes, I do.
Um, what about losing? Do you mind losing or it's not a big deal?
It's no big deal.
Excellent. Excellent. And does some part of you like having an audience? Is it both scary and exciting to have an audience watching you?
Yeah.
Do you like it when your mom and dad are in the audience?
Yeah, I do.
Do you ever have friends who come and watch?
Yeah, my friend on my first tournament and my second tournament He came to watch me because he wants to be in one too one day.
Wow, is he older than you or younger than you?
Younger.
Okay, so do you— sounds like you are giving him, making him excited about the prospect of doing these tournaments.
Yeah.
All right, and do you— is there any other kind of contest you do, or those Martial arts tournaments the only place you compete?
For now, that's the only tournament.
Have you watched the Olympics at all?
Yeah, I mean, yes.
You like those?
A little.
Could you imagine being in the Olympics yourself?
Yeah, what if I was in a tournament there?
That would be exciting. Imagine if you were on TV.
Just like other people are on TV.
Exactly. Would that be scary?
No.
No, just fun? Yeah. All right. Well, what do you think is the best part of doing martial arts? Why do you like doing martial arts?
So I can defend myself.
Do you think from who?
Bullies.
Bullies? Have bullies ever picked on you before?
Nope.
Okay. Would you say you're pretty confident?
Yes.
Um, are there any other benefits to martial arts?
I don't know.
Um, what is your What's your favorite part of your whole weekly schedule?
Um, my favorite part of my week— jiu-jitsu.
Okay, so it is the favorite thing.
Yeah.
Do you like practicing as much as you like tournaments?
Yes.
Why?
So I can like defend myself from other people that actually don't know me.
Other people that don't actually—
what, like know me?
I see, I see. Um, do you like actually learning the moves?
Yes, I do.
You think you're getting better at it?
Yes, I am.
What belt are you at right now?
Still white.
How long till you get a different belt?
I only get like 2 or 1 more stripe.
Okay, and then after that you get a different belt?
After that I get a gray belt with a white stripe in the middle.
All right, how long will it take?
I don't know.
Okay, well, I am going to keep this short and I'll let you go for the day. I wanted to hear about the tournament thing because some people think that competition is harmful. Do you think that it might be not good for kids to be in competitions?
Yeah, like if you're scared or not, why aren't you scared? Like if you're Not scared, but you're terrified.
So are you saying that if kids are terrified, then competitions would not be good for them?
No, I'm saying like, if kids are terrified, maybe they can just push, push through it, then they could do it.
So are you saying it's good for them to have competitions even if they're terrified?
Yes.
Have you— did you used to be terrified?
Yeah.
Wow. So how do we grown-ups know when we're pushing you guys too hard?
I don't know.
Do you think it's possible for a grown-up to push kids too hard?
No.
It's not possible. Okay. Well, it sounds like you are pretty tough and capable. Does that sound right?
Yes.
Okay, what are you gonna do the rest of the day today?
I'm gonna have a playdate with my friend that watched me, and I don't know what else.
Okay, well, have a wonderful playdate, and we'll think about something else next week, okay?
Yeah.
