A Karate Camp
Horror Story
I
have seen this happen and heard of this happening. Let me relate the first
version of a Karate (Martial Arts) summer camp. It is not related to a specific
style, rather the differences between modern karate training mixing with older
days.
Itoman
Morinobu describes of older Toudi training. Filled with much richer training
practices of years past. When training might have taken place in forests or
outside of a formal dojo. When environmental conditions were taken into account
for technique selection. Likewise low level lighting was taken into account,
from those days before modern lighting. It doesn’ suggest tolally dojo training
and lighting of today’s schools.
One
summer this school held an annual summer training at a campground. One of their
drills was a ‘Ninja’ war game in the dark. Sneaking about, attacking the others
in the ‘other’ group.
Well
one dark night they played their game. One of the students was doing their best
to be stealthy. Then they observed someone crouching down by a tree.
They
did not appear aware of him. So he snuck up and got in range. Still they did
not turn. They were unaware.
So
he used his best front kick, and kicked toward the opponent. Then they began
screaming bloody murder.
The
opponent hiding in the dark, was a boulder. And they broke their leg.
Their
training did not cover observing what they saw. A big mistake.
What
was meant to be a fun drill, turned into an expensive stay in the hospital,
rehab and all the rest.
As
I have said I have other examples.
Instructors
should be more careful, I would suggest.
The instructor
should be wary
A
friend of mine, just completed teaching a beginners private lesson. This was
back in the early days of the Kung Fu tv show.
There
were some potential students at the school door, so he began to walk across the
school to greet them. Not thinking about the other beginner who had finished
his lesson.
The
beginner having watched too many Kung Fu episodes, thought that he was to
unexpectedly attack the instructor to learn a further lesson He kicked the
instructor in the leg from behind.
He
broke the instructors leg, and it was a year before the cast was removed.
Lesson.
Never take your eyes off a beginner.
The Dexter
One
class he was having a difficult time with one drill.
It
was stepping and throwing a reverse uppercut.
Finally
the instructor told him to leave the group and move before the mirror and work
on the uppercut as if he was striking into his own jaw.
Then
the class continued.
Later
the instructor looked back at Dexter, and his jaw dropped.
For
Dexter was striking into his own jaw with each uppercut thrown.
Never,
take your eyes off a beginner.
*the
names have been changed to protect the guilty.
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