Martial arts discussion thread

[GoktimusPrime]

100 Ways to Attack the Groin (it's like Benny Hill in angry pyjamas )

[Bartrim]

http://broscience.co/crossfit-worst-...fence-program/

Warning! Do not use these techniques in a real life situation.

[Bartrim]

First lesson back after a 6 week hiatus due to a bulged disc. I'm gonna be sore tomorrow.

[KalEl]

I intend on getting back to training myself in the next few weeks.

[GoktimusPrime]

I've pretty much given up finding a martial arts school in my local area. There just aren't any schools in my area that teach authentic/traditional martial arts. I'm just sticking to self training/practice.

...................................

The news have been covering two stories that have some relevance to martial arts in Australia.

1) Man accused of 'one-punch' death of Daniel Christie to stand trial for murder. The accused is a self-proclaimed mixed martial arts fighter. If it's true that he's actually received martial arts training before (and unfortunately it wouldn't surprise me if he has), then that's really upsetting. I really cannot abide how so many martial arts schools aren't more selective with their students. What kind of instructor/school teaches a combat art to a person with a violent/thug-like disposition and history of drug use? Unfortunately I have come across people with violent/thuggish tendencies being trained in martial arts. It just reeks of massive irresponsibility on the part of the instructor/school. I've also come across some instructors who will either modify their teaching programme towards such people (i.e. deliberately watering down that student's curriculum so that they're not actually acquiring new skills that they can use to hurt people with), or just outright expelling that student from the school. IMHO there are not enough instructors out there who are doing this. Christie's father has said, "We as mature adults need to do something to contain it (the violence)." -- and IMO, something that the martial arts community can do to help contain it is to NOT teach unfettered martial arts to people with dubious personality traits. It does depend on the style as well... Aikido instructors probably don't have to modify much if anything, since their art is entirely defensive and lacking any offensive capability in the first place.

2) Teenage Chinese lion dancer critical after stunt goes wrong in rehearsal -- TV news reports that the teenager is now in a stable condition
A timely reminder that all martial arts schools and instructors do have a legal duty of care over their students. Now I'm by NO means making any allegations in this particular case; the story doesn't give us nearly enough details to make any kind of judgment like that. We do know that other members of the school rushed to perform CPR and called emergency services, and the police have commended their immediate use of first aid which has probably saved this kid's life. So it does sound like the school has exercised reasonable care in responding to the accident, but it will be ultimately up to the school's insurer to determine of reasonable care was taken or not. I really hope that they do find in favour of the school, because, as we all know, if the insurer determines that the school was negligent, then this in turn contributes to the rising cost of martial arts insurance (which all MA students pay for in annual fees). Again, I'm not making any suggestions or allegations about this particular school or case, but these cases ought to make us all reflect on how we are making our training as reasonably safe as possible. And I'm sure we all are, but sadly, there are a lot of schools out there that don't. I've seen schools where students are allowed to free spar... without wearing any protective equipment... without supervision from the master (only from senior students; the master is nowhere to be seen).

[Sinnertwin]

i suppose the instructor may have been aware of the individuals' thuggish disposition after watching his behaviour during lessons & proceeded accordingly. But if i was Billy Badass & wanted to learn how to inflict maximum damage on an individual through martial arts, i'd keep my mouth shut, eyes & ears open & stay in line.
My question is, do classes these days do a background check to determine if somebody has any sort of criminal behaviour? Do they do any sort of a check?

[GoktimusPrime]

That's a great question. My old Chen Tai Chi school conducted background checks -- we had one student who had a thuggish disposition and a background check revealed that he had a history of violence. That student's curriculum was modified. I've never seen any other school do it, but I've come across several students with questionable thuglike tendencies. So in my personal experience, I've only come across one school that conducted background checks and would appropriately modify teaching content for questionable students. IMHO it's something that should happen in every MA school, but I've seen a lot of schools that don't, and continue to teach students who are unable to keep their aggression in check.