To wonder if it's normal to get knocked about at a karate class?

[EarThief]

I've just joined a karate class. There are two male instructors, one is lovely and the other is a mean bastard! Last week he punched a woman in the stomach for doing something wrong! He always goes too far with blocks etc too and ends up hurting people. A few weeks ago he brought his hand up under a guys chin and nearly took his head off. Nobody dare say anything to him, the kids are terrified of him and even the blokes seem to shit themselves if he goes near them.

I'm frightened of him. And I've never been frightened of anyone in my life. He's intimidating to the extreme. He's an older guy, not a young show off type but he just seems so cold and heartless, I find him terrifying.

I don't want to stop going but I feel stuck. Someone else I've spoken to says this guy has a hell of a reputation for things he's done to people and nobody will follow up a complaint as he runs the association. Do I dare say something to him or am I asking for trouble? Are old school karate instructors like this??

[Trailedanderror]

I know nothing about karate, but either it's normal unlikely in which case you should leave or he's a mean bastard, in which case you should complain and report and leave

[ProfessorCat]

So...many.....comments.... Nnnnnnfgggggg.

I'll just ask - are you serious?

[megletthesecond]

Not normal. The instructor sounds like a bully. Listen to your instincts and leave.

My old kickboxing class was very calm. People weren't forced to spar and our head instructor didn't throw his weight round at all.

[gybegirl]

Not acceptable and goes totally against the karate ethos imo. Can you talk to one of the other instructors about it?

[EssentialHummus]

Not normal at all.

[StillStayingClassySanDiego]

He's a thug.

I'm surprised people go back for more punishment if he's as nasty as he sounds.

[oldlaundbooth]

Sounds like one to avoid.

Have you tried Pilates?

[Wordsmith]

I thought the idea was NOT to make contact with the other person's body? Or is that some other martial art?

[WorraLiberty]

Just complain.

I find it hard to believe from your description, that literally no-one has complained about him, so your complaint will probably add weight to theres IYSWIM.

If complaining gets you nowhere, I'd leave the class because why would you want to attend anyway?

[WorraLiberty]

*theirs

[Awwlookatmybabyspider]

Fuckin horrible bullying cunting twat.
I bet he wouldn't punch a 6ft tall 6ft wide bloke in the stomach for "making a mistake".
How dare he!!!!!!.
If I was that women id be getting him done for assault
Karate is not about being a bully
Its about learning how to defend your self, and develop confidence.

[TheSconeOfStone]

Not normal at all. Find a different class. I did tae kwon do for two years as an adult and it was nothing like that at all. No contact until you are a high enough belt to start wearing sparring gear (head, foot and hand protection).

[WhatwouldAryado]

I did karate for about 20 years. That is utterly wrong. Report it to the wider association. And complain to the police.

[WishingOnABar]

Definitely not right, martial arts are about respect for others and self protection not punching people for pleasure. The children should be respectful of their teacher but if they are terrified that is bad

[TimeIhadaNameChange]

Before reporting him is there any way you could record a class so that you have proof?

I agree with pp - it is definitely not normal.

[SignoraStronza]

Not normal but sadly not uncommon. My friend (black belt) had to give up karate for precisely this reason, because she dared complain about a bloke who took great delight in aiming for her chest.

[thefairyfellersmasterstroke]

Sounds like a standard "old school" instructor to me. Although many clubs now give people protective clothing and bring in rules like no hitting above the shoulder in class, pull your punches in practice sparring etc., many older instructors feel this doesn't really teach you how to deal with real life situations. For example, if an attacker in the street punched a woman in the stomach, he'd be hitting his hardest, and a woman who'd had a gentle time of it in her karate class would get the shock of her life. Men can hit bloody hard, and most women will reel from it.

In my class we've mostly all gone home black and blue at some point, but I appreciate it as I know that if a man comes at me in the street, I need to rely on my wits and/or skillful technique rather than thinking I can match him blow for blow just because I have a black belt.

Believe me, you're learning a more valuable lesson this way than a "soft" training approach.

[Namechangetempissue]

What have I just read?! Of course you should complain, he is assaulting people weekly under the guise of "training". I wouldn't give a shit if he ran the association. I would bet you a million pounds he is no hard man when confronted by someone like my father who, while terrifying to look at and with a fearsome but exemplery military reputation, would never purposefully hurt anyone but would put someone like him through the wall. He hates bullies, and like most bullies, this one will be a coward underneath. My dad once stood behind a horrible man at a supermarket who was verbally abusive and threatning to the teenage girl behind the counter. My dad tapped the guy on the shoulder and asked who he thought he was talking too and the guy just shrivelled, looked terrified and scuttled off. These sort of people need standing up too.
The class sounds dreadful, badly run and it needs sorting out or shutting down. Don't attend anymore classes and complain in writing immediately. Good luck!

[Awwlookatmybabyspider]

Thats My point proven, Name change
Put a man against these bullies and they run for cover

[thefairyfellersmasterstroke]

Also, many old school instructors don't believe in using the protective gear because in real life you won't be walking around in it. It's important to realise that it can also hurt you to strike or punch someone, and only "bare" sparring teaches you that.

And of course, in their day, no-one used protective gear. Some don't even let you take a sip of water; it's like an epiosde of Endurance for some of them.

[thelonelyhamster]

There's a big difference between hard sparring where people go home a bit bruised, and being punched in the stomach as punishment.

That guy is out of line behaving in the manner he is. Complain, then find a new club!

[Doobigetta]

There's no point complaining if he's the senior instructor, you've got nowhere to go. It's not normal or ok, though- find a different school. Try tae kwon-do instead if he runs all the karate clubs in the area- the techniques are subtly different, but it's the same emphasis on kicking, punching and striking rather than grappling.

[thenightsky]

My DH is an instructor... probably 'old school' given he's over 60

He would report someone like this to the Association as this guy sounds as though he is bringing disrepute to it. That is physical assault, not training.

Do you know which association it is? (Kofukan, Shotokan etc).

[HicDraconis]

It’s normal to get knocked around during sparring classes. I have some spectacular bruises on occasion. But it’s not normal to use punches as discipline, that’s just abuse. We get pressups for mistakes (and sometimes the whole class gets pressups for the mistakes of just one or two).

I would report him to his senior (everyone has one) and find a different dojo.

Old school yes - the ethos was very much go hard or go home. But that has changed thankfully.

[steff13]

Why do people continue to go to this school?