Golden Age Karate
Words to Know
Karate
Benevolence
Helpfulness
Superhero
Elders
Dojo
Golden Age Karate
Social isolation and loneliness are significant risk factors for a wide range of physical and mental health issues among the elderly. Jeff began Golden Age Karate after recognizing that his own grandmother suffered from loneliness. Students will benefit from a discussion on this topic with an invitation to consider the senior citizens in their own lives.
Essential Questions
What does it mean to be a superhero?
What is the impact of helpfulness on communities?
Essential questions are big concept questions that ask students to think broadly, critically, and deeply about a subject. They are often something you can return to as you watch and discuss the film.
Discussion Questions
The filmmakers are interested in the idea of “helpfulness” and how ordinary people can perform small acts of benevolence to make the world a better place.
Can you think of people in your community who hold a similar value?
Is there a way that you do small acts that help your community?
Discussion Questions
The film opens with Jeff saying, “When I am in a match, time slows down.”
Is there an activity that you participate in where time slows down for you?
Discussion Questions
When Jeff feels called to teach karate, he asks himself, where can I go to help? That leads him to think about his grandma and her loneliness, and then he expands his view to consider other seniors.
Can you brainstorm troubling issues in your life that could be expanded in the same way?
Discussion Questions
What are the benefits of karate training for the senior citizen in Jeff classes?
Discussion Questions
The most important value of Golden Age Karate is “respect your elders.”
What are other important values to cultivate when doing helpful work?
Discussion Questions
Jeff says, “Making other people feel better, makes me feel thirty times better.”
What do you think he means by this? Have you ever felt the same way?
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