With the increasing decline of traditional martial arts, it's not surprising that traditional values are dying off too.I personally feel that martial arts has been going backwards in evolution since the end of WWII where people have stopped using melee techniques in modern warfare. Unless you're heaps pro at Hadoukens.
But this is a big pet peeve of mine: teachers who continue to train students who are obviously just jerks (and thus potentially thugs). Practising a martial art is a privileged responsibility, and you don't just teach your techniques to any Tom, Dick or Harry that walks off the street. If a person is a dodgy character - and as a teacher you do get to know your students' personality traits - then don't just keep training them as you would any other student!!! If the student is clearly just a thuggish jerk and refuses to change their attitude, then either:
+ Modify their training so that they're not learning any new techniques from you, or only teach them purely defensive techniques and no attacks
+ Expel them from your school. Otherwise they're going to bring your school to disrepute, your style to disrepute and the martial arts community to disrepute.
And both traditional and non-traditional schools are guilty of doing this. e.g. Bruce Lee; a thug taught by a bigger thug (Wong Shun Leung) taught by a drug addict (Yip Man). I share your frustration. Learning a martial art is a big responsibility, and people who learn it should behave in a more responsible and respectful manner and not behave like surly punks. We want to learn to defend ourselves from thugs but not become thugs! The martial arts world would be a better place if some teachers were more discerning about who they teach over just teaching as many students as possible to make money.
Fair point, I hadn't read the description - I just hit the "maximise screen" icon so I could see KalEl's glorious full visage before my eyes.Originally Posted by Bartrim
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