For thinking DS's karate instructor might be a bit of a nutter?

[LeaveThePurpleOnesForMe]

DS started a new karate club a few months ago. When I first met the instructor he seemed nice, the kids liked him and he had a healthy attendance at the club. I stayed for the first few lessons to watch and the instructor started to concern me a bit after a while. He asked one teenage girl if she was still having bother at school. She said no so the instructor said "good, did you punch them like I said?" and she said yes and he said "excellent!"

He explained to one little lad why his punch was wrong by saying "when you hit someone with this, you wanna make sure the skin on their nose tears on contact so drive it right in, trust me, they wouldn't get back up again".

In another class he went into great detail about some alteration he'd had with another bloke that ended in him knocking the guy unconscious and he actively encouraged one boy to beat up another boy as he was "being cocky".

I don't know if this is normal for a karate class, is it all bravado or what? He seems like a really nice bloke until the class starts, then he turns into a complete physco. But the kids seem to love him.

I think I'd be a bit concerned TBH. My dd was going to join a kung fu class, but the man who owns and runs it put me off. The try out day for 8 year olds was on a day she couldn't go to, I asked him about an alternative and he said that if she was a bit chunky like mum she could go to the 10 year olds, but if she was a normal size she could try it with the 6 year olds. Chunky and normal? Needless to say she is still waiting for some martial training.

I thought Martial Arts were all about self-control and self-defence.

YANBU - he sounds scary

I would steer well clear of that instructor.

Leave the club and join another - martial arts are about control and self-defence, the sensei should always advise that combat is something that should try to be avoided.

BigFanOfJiJitsu(WJJFNotTheOtherLot)Tiggaxx

Sounds like a grade A loon to me.

YANBU

i thought the point of martial arts was personal discipline and, if absolutely no other choice, self defence, not attack?

sounds like a nutjob.

Karate is about discipline and self control. I started age 5, was drummed into everyone the better person walks away from a fight. Report him to the amatuer martial arts association. He shouldn't be teaching thugs children.

My DD goes to a form of non contact karate, and I was talking about it to my DH the other night because he was saying they do joke around about fighting people, which I thought was kind of encouraging them to use their skills outside the lessons.

What we were talking about was the Sensei saying stuff like 'hurry up and get your hand and feet pads so you can have a good fight with the other Sensei' to my DD. What you're talking about seems something completely different to me and doesn't sound like karate banter. The thing about making sure they tear the skin on the nose makes my stomach turn, and would make me feel uncomfortable.

I'm not sure I'd call him a psycho, but it would make me question his methods. Is he affiliated to a karate organisation? If he is you could go to them and ask a few questions? You could also ask other parents who are there what they think, they might think the same as you?

Ditto

Martial Arts should be about self discipline, self control, fitness, self awareness, confidence. Any martial arts I have attended or have known family members to attend, have been taught - to fight - is a last resort. The higher thing to do is avoid or walk away from trouble.

That doesnt mean you dont get the frequent nutter.

Personally I would find another class.

DS had a bit of bother with a 2 lads who stole his bike. He is a green belt but didnt want to use his karate as his instructor has drilled it into them that its not for fighting.

Had a word with his instructor about his confidence and subsequently told DS "while you are not allowed to use karate to start a fight, it is there so that you can defend yourself if you end up in trouble".

Think thats what most instructors will teach the dc's. Maybe its about time you found a new one.

Agree with other posters, it's about self defence, not attacking others (even when provoked).

YANBU and good luck finding another one

Absolutely agree with other posters... we used to go to a karate club like this, we changed sharpish and now have a lovely female sensei who is very big on confidence, exercise and discipline. Every class she reminds them not to use karate outside the dojo and to walk away from trouble.

My ds started taekwon-do when he was 3 as a confidence boosting idea. The club he belongs to is fantastic a father and daughter team which specialise in "little ninja dragons". Ds is now 5 on his black stripe, has a gold medal in latest welsh competition and has bags of confidence. It definitely helps to find a "good" club and they do exist!!

Erm, I won't tell you what my karate instructor did when I was small....but it had a tragic end.

He sounds weird.

When I did karate I had to sign an agreement to say that I would never use what I learned outwith classes for anything other than self-defence.

I wouldn't like this at all - I'd change to another class.

Actually, if he's telling school aged children to punch people, shouldn't he be reported to some sort of Karate board? (Chopping board perhaps? Arf arf)

Change classes, but let someone know he's unhinged; only fair on future kids.

He sounds like a Psychopath.

What they all said.

Karate is a fantatic sport and great exercise for adults and kids alike. People like him are not what the sport is about.

Have you seen A Room for Romeo Brass, LeQ?

You could be describing one of the main characters. Great film.

that is totally wrong, particularly what he said to the girl - martial arts should never leave the dojo unless in self defence and even then you should be aware what is 'appropriate force' for self defence and what is going over the top.

we talk in great detail about nasty things in my martial art - like how to get the most impact from your strike, what parts are most vulnerable (septum, bridge of nose, eyes) and how to break bones and joints but it's all about dealing with an attacker in defence not EVER about attacking someone... and actually for most people more about understanding human anatomy than about imaging doing it to anybody for real, even in self defence.

Shane meadows film- I recommend wholeheartedly