A Karate Camp Horror Story

 

(About 1990)

  

 

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.