Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

BigBen · 01-10-2006, 07:04 AM

I say go for it:

My martial arts instructor (karate) had very specific rules, and they served me well as a developing child, and teenager:

1. Ensure that the Martial Art School you are going to is reputable; you would be surprised how many schools are run by a guy who has seen one too many Bruce Lee films. I cannot give you more specific things to look out for. Basically, do your homework.

2. Ensure that there is adequate supervision. You don't want to put your kid into a class with 200 other 5-year-olds and 4 instructors. Technique and form will prevent serious injury down the road, and I don't have to tell you how bad a groin tear can hurt a kid. Their bones and muscles are growing, and I would recommend someone with a Kinesiology degree in the class.

3. Martial Arts is not about learning how to beat someone up, or how to break a board with your fist; choose an artform (and thus a school) that teaches the full spectrum. By that, I mean discipline, self-awareness, respect for others, meditation, breathing techniques, et cetera.

4. Set clear boundaries with your child; My sensei (teacher) had clear boundaries set up with the kids, AND the parents. He required good grades (he got to see the report cards, and talked to the parents about the effort put forward in school), he required good attendance at class, and most important, he demanded respect for the art! If we turned around and beat someone up on the playground, the school told the parents and the parents told the sensei. Before that happened, we had the opportunity to talk to the sensei and explain what happened. If he thought it was really self-defence, we were fine. If we were trying to help friend out, we were given a strict warning, and we had to think of a way to solve problems without fighting. If we were just causing shit, we were kicked out of class.

You can understand that a little bit of knowledge is a bad thing. I could teach your son how to throw a punch properly, and have him practice that over and over. I could show him the weak points on an opponents body, and how to exploit the natural motion of joints. I could set up obstacle courses, and in doing so train his muscles and balance. What have I created? A child with tools, but no direction.

If I did not teach him how to control his anger, how to talk to people and diffuse a situation, how to use 'just enough force' to get out of a bad situation, about situational awareness and how not to get into bad situations in the first place... Well, I wouldn't be a very good teacher.

Keep these things in mind.

01-10-2006, 07:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
BigBen Comedian Location: Use the search button	I say go for it: My martial arts instructor (karate) had very specific rules, and they served me well as a developing child, and teenager: 1. Ensure that the Martial Art School you are going to is reputable; you would be surprised how many schools are run by a guy who has seen one too many Bruce Lee films. I cannot give you more specific things to look out for. Basically, do your homework. 2. Ensure that there is adequate supervision. You don't want to put your kid into a class with 200 other 5-year-olds and 4 instructors. Technique and form will prevent serious injury down the road, and I don't have to tell you how bad a groin tear can hurt a kid. Their bones and muscles are growing, and I would recommend someone with a Kinesiology degree in the class. 3. Martial Arts is not about learning how to beat someone up, or how to break a board with your fist; choose an artform (and thus a school) that teaches the full spectrum. By that, I mean discipline, self-awareness, respect for others, meditation, breathing techniques, et cetera. 4. Set clear boundaries with your child; My sensei (teacher) had clear boundaries set up with the kids, AND the parents. He required good grades (he got to see the report cards, and talked to the parents about the effort put forward in school), he required good attendance at class, and most important, he demanded respect for the art! If we turned around and beat someone up on the playground, the school told the parents and the parents told the sensei. Before that happened, we had the opportunity to talk to the sensei and explain what happened. If he thought it was really self-defence, we were fine. If we were trying to help friend out, we were given a strict warning, and we had to think of a way to solve problems without fighting. If we were just causing shit, we were kicked out of class. You can understand that a little bit of knowledge is a bad thing. I could teach your son how to throw a punch properly, and have him practice that over and over. I could show him the weak points on an opponents body, and how to exploit the natural motion of joints. I could set up obstacle courses, and in doing so train his muscles and balance. What have I created? A child with tools, but no direction. If I did not teach him how to control his anger, how to talk to people and diffuse a situation, how to use 'just enough force' to get out of a bad situation, about situational awareness and how not to get into bad situations in the first place... Well, I wouldn't be a very good teacher. Keep these things in mind. __________________ 3.141592654 Hey, if you are impressed with my memorizing pi to 10 digits, you should see the size of my penis.