Training and self-control?
My friend is a karate-ka and his school trains full contact with no gear. There is this individual that is a fellow student that, according to him, lacks self-control with his techniques. On numerous occasions he has hit my friend in the face and though many times it’s been an accident, my friend fears that his lack of self-control could potentially hurt the younger students as sometimes the instructors will spar with them. By young I mean individuals from the ages of 12 to 16. Now, recently, this guy broke my friend’s nose. The reason why I tell you this is because I asked him if this could go against the guy when he goes to test for his second degree black belt. He said it might not because his kyoshi teaches things for real life situations. I feel that, as a martial artist, there is more to martial arts than just being able to hurt people. My question: Should this guy be allowed to test for his second degree?
@Liondancer – Well as far as I know, his school is a respectable school. I like to think this is just one bad apple out of the whole batch. But I agree, upon first impressions, I’d think the same thing. My friend knows self-control…but this other guy just doesn’t and that bothers me. It’s nice to know you can do incredible things but if you can’t hold back a punch, that shows lack of control. Lack of control in my book is a lack of discipline.
Our orange belt test required that we demonstrate, no hit (but it had to be close enough to block), light contact and full contact. At 2nd degree it’s high time he learned this.
What is he going to do if his uncle Joe gets drunk one night, gets out of hand and starts a fight. Blast him? It’s a real life situation. It is not a good idea if you can only blast everything into smithereens but are unable to just control. Just tell your friend to never become a bouncer in a bar, a police officer or jail warden.
This school sounds to me like a tough guy wannabes school.
no way grasshopper
No
no, self control is a major part of martial arts.
NO