There’s something that is really burning in my heart today that I feel is really important for you to know, because it really impacts you, your family, your children, and your children’s children.

It started when I was watching the movie "Karate Kid" a couple years ago. If you’ve never seen it, it’s about this kid who moves to China and is being bullied, and he ends up getting connected with this martial arts teacher who helps him learn to defend himself. As I watched this movie, I realized this little boy really represents my husband, Hans.

Hans moved to Hawaii when he was 8 years old, and right away he was bullied by the local Hawaiian kids. Hans was short with blonde hair and blue eyes, and the Hawaiian kids were huge. He would often get beaten up by kids at school, and they even chased him home.

When Hans was 12, his mom took him down to the YMCA, where there was a martial arts class being taught by a man named Damien. Damien was a good man. He had a strong faith in God and he was a multi-millionaire. He used this martial arts class to teach kids about God and to impart wisdom into these kids about money and business, on top of how to protect themselves and others.

Once Hans started learning about self-defense, it only took one time for a bully to come after him for Hans to set a completely different reputation for himself. Hans has continued on in various types of martial arts through the years, and it has helped his confidence and self-discipline.

So as I watched this movie a while back, I started thinking about my 3 sons. These sons are going to be the heads of households in the future, and they are going to need to know how to protect their wives, children, homes, and businesses. I asked myself, "Do they know how to do that right now?" And I realized the answer was no.

We had not had our boys go through the same training Hans had as a kid, and I truly believe we were doing them a disservice in that. See, we live in a society that takes our sons and puts them in soccer, football, basketball, or acting, dancing, and music. But these are future men and heads of households. These young men have been emasculated to the point where they don’t have a clue on how to protect their families.

Yes, sports teach them teamwork, and the arts can teach them a lot as well. But think about this, especially if you are a man. Do you know the specific skills of self-defense? Do you know how to disarm someone with a knife, and how to take down your opponent? Do you know what to do if someone pulls a gun on you? Do your sons know these things? What about your wives and daughters?

I’ve had the unique privilege of having a man that is a very skilled protector. And I want to make sure our sons learn to be the same kind of protector for their future wives and children. I will not allow my sons to be emasculated and not know how to fight and disarm the enemy, and protect their families.

So right away, Hans and I started searching for a good martial arts instructor where we live. Because it’s not something that comes naturally; it’s something that must be learned and practiced.

A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with a couple of co-workers on our way home from the First Steps to Success event, and I asked these two men, "Do you know how to protect your wife?" Normally a man will jump to the defense and say, "Well sure, I do!" But they didn’t answer quickly.

One of the guys said, "Dani, I grew up with martial arts, and I know exactly how to protect myself and my family. I continue to work on those skills today." But the other said, "I have to be honest with you. I don’t know. I’ve never been taught self-defense. I wouldn’t know how to protect my wife. I’ve got to change that now." (He just stepped up and joined Hans in a class where he is learning those skills.)

There’s something that happens to a man’s confidence when he know how to protect. It makes him more of who he is – a man. Part of the innate nature of a man is to be a protector. Men have done this from the beginning of time. A lot of us have done our sons a disservice by not teaching them how to protect and defend. But it’s time that we teach them to be men.

We’ve got to groom the next generation for success by making sure they have the skill set of self-defense. And if you do not have this skill set, whether you are a mother or father, married or single, it’s important that you learn.

It’s also so important to spread this message with anyone you care about. Please share this with your friends, family, co-workers, and other parents you know.

I would love to know your thoughts about today’s Daily Fix. Have you been trained to defend yourself and protect your family? What do you believe are the benefits of this? I can’t wait to read your comments. (You can post them below.)

In great faith,