Does this make Sens...
 

[Closed] Does this make Sensei (son upset at Karate content)

69 Posts
50 Users
0 Reactions
499 Views
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Anyone else on here take your kids to karate?

Is it okay if the instructor snarls at kids (age seven) at their first taster sesh?

Is it fine if they tell kids to 'go sit at the back, coz I've already got your money'?

Our boy had a panic attack half way through the sesh... is this normal?

Is all ^^^^ just the code of the warrior, in which case my boy should MTFU, or is it just wrong?


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:01 pm
Posts: 23301
Free Member
 

Shit club. Go elsewhere.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:02 pm
Posts: 293
Free Member
 

Sensei sounds like a ass


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:03 pm
Posts: 2804
Free Member
 

Was it a busy class?


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:04 pm
Posts: 6294
Full Member
 

does the karate teacher look anything like him [img] [/img] that could explain it.

as far as i remember when i was a teen,no karate teacher ever acted like that.the guy sounds like a right tool tbh.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:05 pm
Posts: 0
Full Member
 

Sounds like the wrong class for not just a seven year old but anyone.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:07 pm
Posts: 23301
Free Member
 

Wasn't the Cobra Kai was it?


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:07 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:07 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Was it a busy class?

Not really - say 20 kids tops, different ages.

Seemed like a personal power trip to me, saying stuff like 'you don't listen to anyone except me' and 'don't look at your parents; they shouldn't even be here...'

Thanks guys. I thought he was a tool...


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:07 pm
Posts: 13832
Full Member
 

That's shite - find another club.

My daughter does Taekwondo and that's all about discipline, nurturing positive attitude and respect. I've never seen her instructors even raise their voice, let alone show aggression to kids.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:08 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

At least four kids cried.

Proper tears, not just a 🙁


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:09 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

No, none of that is right.

Go find him an aikido club, less bullshitters than some of the more mainstream disciplines. Plus swordplay.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:09 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Oh, and all the parents/helpers/gimps there were terrified of him too.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:10 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Are you supposed to be telling us about this?
I'm not too sure what the first rule of fight club is, but.....


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:12 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Sounds like a complete ****er.

Not all clubs are like that one, I'd suggest going along and watching for a session without your son next time do you are happy that it'll be different and only then taking him along. If you pick another shocker, you'll put him off for life!

Where are you based? There could be locals on here that can help reccomend. I know a few of the Bath/ Bristol clubs if that's any help.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:16 pm
 MSP
Posts: 15589
Free Member
 

Sounds like he needs reporting, he's unfit to be left in charge of children.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:17 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Northwest.

Our boy's traumatised and it cost us £4... 😯

Not sure about recommendations. I don't think he'll be doing any more karate.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:18 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

wee in his shoes


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:20 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Just to let you know, I went to my first TKD session aged 25. I was immediately welcomed and a dan grade was sent to the back (all students stand in grade order so you can copy those in front during line work) to make sure I was ok and follow the instructions given.
The club also taught, in separate classes, kids from 4 years old. They loved it. No shouting, no tears, good fun and good lessons.

You've def found a tosser in afraid!


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:21 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

@ transapp

Thanks. I thought there was supposed to be some element of fun there... None of the youngsters even learned anything... it was all 'do this, no, not that, this, don't you know your left from your right? Left, LEFT, (shove) THAT ONE! Now do it right!'


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:24 pm
Posts: 794
Free Member
 

Apologies for the slight thread highjack, but I'd like your recommendations for Bristol clubs please Transapp. My 7 year old use to go to a club in Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre but it was useless so we're on the lookout for something else.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:25 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Report him. preferably to the Feds as a threat to kids, but also to a local karate federation or similar.

The guy is an asshole and an embarrassment to any sport. No 'code of the warrior' there, just a lack of respect and someone that gets off on being in charge.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:26 pm
Posts: 7337
Free Member
 

Sounds like he needs reporting, he's unfit to be left in charge of children.

Please consider this. I've studied in quite a few styles and have [b]never[/b] encountered this sort of attitude. People like this should not be allowed to groom their own egos at the expense of children. He is an arse.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:27 pm
Posts: 3371
Free Member
 

normally I'd say, "you should have chinned the ****", but.....


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:28 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Not right at all.

As per yossarian , go for some aikido.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:33 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Thanks, guys.

Mrs 16 and I feel a whole lot better!


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:34 pm
Posts: 512
Free Member
 

Report him to his governing body. Thats not acceptable, though I met many like him in my Karate days.
Send junior to a Judo club. Judo is much more fun for kids. Karate can be dead abstract and make no sense to children - "put your foot there, no there. Punch higher, a bit higher, no lower!" All that nonsense. Plus, frankly, you seem to get loads of martial fantasists in Karate, like this guy sounds.

Anyway, Judo = brilliant falling skills. Saved my ass in crashes a few times. Might come in handy if your son ever gets a MTB.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:40 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I'm an expert at beginner level martial arts.. I've started quite a few then left. I've never seen a teacher like that and I know my son would not be happy even with me there if he was treated like that. Our karate teacher regularly makes our young ones lol. He is assistant coach for English karate so knows what he is in about too. Don't give up with it find somewhere new and perhaps sign up yourself it's rather good.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:42 pm
Posts: 5938
Free Member
 

Firstly, congratulations on the title!

secondly, the guy is a dickhead, report him.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:43 pm
Posts: 19471
Free Member
 

The instructor does not even know the meaning of Sensei ... he is a thug.

A real Sensei will kick his backside.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:44 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I had a similar experience but was a bit older than your son (9 I think) I went to a karate class, first session the sensi was swinging a bamboo cane around himself as he span in a circle, the object was to jump over it. However the fella was deliberately lifting the cane high to whip our legs and shouting at us, (bunch of 7,8,9 year olds) then just shouted buy didnt really instruct. I didn't go back and found a good class trough the council gym that I enjoyed for many years. The knobber sensi's club got closed down a few weeks after I joined.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:46 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

@ Salad Dodger - I'd highly recommend this guy

who's associated with P.U.M.A. He;s utterly dedicated, just won British open championships (last weekend) and works superbly with his little PUMA's and juniors. He also coached me when I was going for my first dan so can teach at any level.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:51 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

An utter arse. Find a new club.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:52 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Arse - I started Karate with my 4 1/2 year old son 5 months ago and the Sensei is just brilliant with the kids. Injects humour but they all know when he needs them to be serious.

Look elsewhere.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:54 pm
 CHB
Posts: 3226
Full Member
 

an arse. my son does karate and teacher is brill.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:58 pm
Posts: 12
Free Member
 

Sounds like a tool +1


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 8:59 pm
Posts: 1461
Full Member
 

As above, he is a tool.

Shame that your little one might be put off Martial Arts by this. I joined the local Tae-Kwon-Do club with my 7 year old lad and roughly 1/4 of the sessions start with fun games to warm us up. No shouting, no derision, nothing too serious. It's fun, but the lessons of respect, perseverance etc are there

Given a choice I wold do Judo (from the memories of my Judo club 40ish years ago!). Please try again, but only if the 7 year old is happy to


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 9:03 pm
Posts: 33603
Full Member
 

I did karate for about a year, Wado Ryu style, Sensai was a guy called Steve Rawson, a serving police officer. Steve taught all ages, including a close friend's two daughters, from around ten. He got the eldest, Marie, up to Brown, and she entered competitions at national level. He had the Japanese Sensai who was the top man as Godfather to his kids.
I give all this preamble to show there are Sensai who run top-notch schools, who care deeply about teaching properly and with respect all who go to learn, and those in turn learn to respect his skills as Sensai.
It might be better if perhaps you found a softer style for your youngster to start with, Like T'ai Chi. For a youngster, it's slower, not aggressive, but it is a martial art, in slow-motion. It would help him develop his balance and confidence, and then he could move up to the harder fighting styles, like Wing Chun, or Tai Kwan Do.
This man is a disgrace, he shames everything that martial arts are all about, and he should be stopped from teaching as soon as possible.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 9:30 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Yeah, complete idiot who sounds like he's on a power trip. I do Kuk Sool, and the kids class is fantastic, the kids respect their instructors, but because they like them not because they're scared of them.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 9:36 pm
Posts: 34112
Full Member
 

not karate but my judo instructor as a kid was a good laugh as well as a good instructor

this guy sounds like a dick


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 9:41 pm
Posts: 45
Free Member
 

OP - make it your mission to get him dealt with appropriately.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 9:50 pm
 grum
Posts: 4531
Free Member
 

Shouldn't someone off here who is good at martial arts challenge this guy to sort all this out in the dojo? 😛

Seriously though, my GF has done martial arts for years and it seems this guy has failed to heed most of the important lessons they are supposed to teach you. Sounds like a complete tool.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 10:12 pm
Posts: 1109
Free Member
 

Teacher is a %^&. Report him.

Hope the little fella perks up by tomorrow.


 
Posted : 17/09/2012 10:20 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Was it definitely karate (or was it kickboxing) and did the instructor have a very big nose?


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 3:44 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I just saw a terrible image of two if not one bloke throwing some cycling kit into a mahoosive tumble tryeer/washer round the back here. I have just been reassessed how people make a living round here..


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 4:30 am
Posts: 2882
Free Member
 

Sounds like he needs reporting, he's unfit to be left in charge of children.

This ^^^^^

I would drop an anonymous call into the local Police PPU (public protection unit). At the least it will put him on their radar. I wouldn't want him anywhere near my (or anyone elses) children.


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 6:42 am
 DrP
Posts: 12074
Free Member
 

I'd make it my personal mission in life to become the worlds best karate-er, then challenge him to a fight at some time.
Then I'd do that crow-standy-on-on-leg thing, and finish off with a judo chop to his temple....
That'll learn him to shout at kids....

DrP


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 9:45 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

If the club and instructor is not M.A.C. or A.K.A affiliated, forget it. If he is, report him.


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 9:48 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

To echo previous words find a local aikido club, where are you based?


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 10:35 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Thanks all.

@ tobys dad - we're in Liverpool. My son's not going to be asking to do martial arts of any sort for a while. If he does show interest again we'll definitely look into aikido.


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 10:48 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Not Karate, but Judo I have been the little junior just starting, right up to being the sensei of both juniors and seniors, one thing I always found with students of any age make it fun......this goes for any level of club, in my prime I trained at Wolverhamton judo club where 4 of the then 7 olympic squad members trained, the training was rock solid but everyone enjoyed it as even the best enjoy some banter.

.........incidentally bullies dont tend to last long in alot of martial arts as there is ALWAYS someone better, what it will teach you kids is fitness discipline and give them a huge outlet for energy


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 10:54 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Weird thing is this guy was recommended to us and (looking at his company's website) it's been going for ages... he's been teaching for more than 30 years, apparently. 😯


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 10:57 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

The pyjama side of fighty stuff has that sort of weird discipline side to it. Bowing to people, rigid lines, do what you're told, speak when spoken to... Which might help lead a particularly odd person to those lengths. "You are weak! You will never be ninja!" <smack> etc.

Fighty stuff that is approached more like a sport (including judo, despite the jammies) is generally less like 'The Cruel Tutelage of Pai Mei'. (U-Tube it!) Oh, and may actually work, if that matters.

(All IMO+E, of course.)


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 11:10 am
Posts: 5559
Free Member
 

Tool avoid

A good sensai - with kids or adults- will pace it according to their ability and concentration levels

That is niether good teaching nor is it good human being

they do free Capoeira [ lets not start that debate but it may be good for the OPs son] at the Slavery museum on saturdays

the formal stuff is ok to show respect and all that if not taken to a rigid element but it is just about respect - No bad thing to have respect for someoen who is teachign you and can kick the shit out of you 😉

Try a few as the sensai matters probabl;y more thna the style to kids IME


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 11:20 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

@ Junkyard - interesting, cheers

When the emotional trauma subsides I'll mention the Capoeira to my boy. Looks good!


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 11:25 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

My son did Wado for a year. The sensei then changed his job so the top sensei took over of that area. had half the kids in tears on week one. My son was proud to have just gone to a yellow belt and thats not what he/ us wanted on his first night with his belt. I complained to the previous sensei and he just said' Thats the way he teaches and is great with kids' So nothing would have changed. So we changed. he has been going to tae-kwon-do for the last few months, loves it.The guy is pathient and understanding to kids ( must be nearing sainthood) and son loves it. He has just graded at the weekend and is always ready before anyone to get to his training.
Sad he had to throw the towel in with the wado he was doing, but we werent the only ones to leave. Kids still go there, but probably through parental pressure, but thats not how we bring our kids up. Sadly the new sensai's ethics are that it is a'fighting' teaching, so not for mamby pambys, even if your only 7 or 8 yrs old, which is wrong at that age.His loss and our gain to Tae.


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 11:34 am
Posts: 7337
Free Member
 

Weird thing is this guy was recommended to us and (looking at his company's website) it's been going for ages... he's been teaching for more than 30 years, apparently.

Link?


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 11:40 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Have a look at Kuk Sool too - kids love breaking things 🙂

[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3102/5775391246_9226bfa529_o.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3102/5775391246_9226bfa529_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/cycleologist/5775391246/ ]KSW Scottish Championships 2011 - 204[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/cycleologist/ ]Ben Cooper[/url], on Flickr

On the respect thing - respect is earned, no-one gets it automatically.


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 11:41 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Link?

OH advises against it...

All I can say is he looks like Steve Kean's evil twin in an advert for Andrex.


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 11:44 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

He needs to get out there and befriend a local Japanese guy and enter a competition against Cobra Kai.

He'll get a 50's car and a lesson on Bonsai trees too.


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 1:12 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Based in Liverpool you say camo16....

Would you consider Ju Jitsu? The guys [url=www.bkjja.com]here[/url] have kids classes in Liverpool that I heard were popular. They also organise sessions for a blind and disabled children. We got them in to be our uni instructors. I trained with them for 6 years before I left the pool and moved back to Essex. Would definitely recommmend going to watch a class first wherever you decide to go.


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 1:27 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Camo16 - if you are in Liverpool then you are in the heartland of British aikido!

Go here:

http://www.komyokan.aikido.co.uk/dojo.htm

you won't regret it and you and your lad will get a totally different experience.


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 1:36 pm
 ski
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Sounds like a wrong type of club to me.

This is a pic of my little one who is 9, after doing an all day Wadokai England training session this Sat.

[img] [/img]

I think the smile says it all 😉

Check out another club

My little one has been doing Karate since 6 and loves it, the club and members are like one big cuddly team, lots of fun, giggles and smiles, but the training does rack up as they progress, you do see kids move around a bit from other clubs and the standard varies quite a bit too.

Its all been very positive so far for us.


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 1:45 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Ski your post reminds me of our dojo shared by a karate and a judo club, we all socialise and call each other the kickers and cuddlers.....


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 2:06 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

To the OP. Sounds like he's a bit of an old school style instructor. Unless he's a multiple world champion with a long history of coaching multiple world champions ditch his club and find a better one. £4 a class sounds like a lot too. My me and my son pay £49/month between us 2 classes each week - included in that fee is classes at any other club within the association, so theoretically we could get a couple of classes a night - 7 days a week. TAGB - Tae Kwon Do.


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 2:13 pm
Posts: 512
Free Member
 

klumpy

The pyjama side of fighty stuff has that sort of weird discipline side to it. Bowing to people, rigid lines, do what you're told, speak when spoken to... Which might help lead a particularly odd person to those lengths. "You are weak! You will never be ninja!" <smack> etc.

Fighty stuff that is approached more like a sport (including judo, despite the jammies) is generally less like 'The Cruel Tutelage of Pai Mei'. (U-Tube it!) Oh, and may actually work, if that matters.

I've got a theory that with your more sport oriented arts, you need to be able to back your words up with ability, therefore they attract less of your "BOW TO YOUR SENSEI" type of halfwits.


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 3:16 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Other than recommending he befriend a local Japanese guy, I'd echo the comments made by everyone else...he doesn't sound like a good instructor.

If you train for many years and become 'good' at martial arts, it doesn't automatically mean you're a good teacher. Perhaps he comes from a strict school himself and is following the approach from his teacher.

I've trained in many different martial arts classes (I guess I'm the same as one the previous posters where I start then leave after doing the beginner levels). I went to a kick boxing club in Oxford for a while where the kids trained with the adults but they weren't shouted at or ridiculed. I've also training at a Muay Thai gym in Oxford where they have a separate kids class.

I once went to a few classes taught by Shaolin Monks in Oxford (can't remember why they were there but they were genuine warrior monks). The monks were really nice guys, but when it came to training they were really strict and did not like it if people messed about and shouted in Chinese. They'd also try to stand on your legs when you're doing the splits (unsuccessfully).

I've trained in a scary MMA gym in the east end of London owned and run by a professional fighter where almost all patrons were muscle bound thugs who [u]all[/u] got carried away in sparring...including the instructor.

My current gym (although i haven't been there for months due to work commitments) is a well run Muay Thai gym in London. The teaching staff are nice, and the kids class is run by a senior student.

I'm not sure what my point is to be honest, other than I've never been to a club/gym where they're horrible to people. Some have been rough gyms where i'd go home with black eyes, but they'd still ask if you fancied a pint after class.

Some people just aren't good teachers.


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 3:33 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Op that karate teacher sounds like an utter tool, stopped sending my son to karate when he graded others higher than him who didn't complete the karate moves my son did then changed there payment method to monthly DD and price shot up, he now goes to Judo with a great teacher and bunch of guys.


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 4:07 pm
Posts: 8786
Full Member
 

Break the wrist, walk away... Break the wrist, walk away... Break the wrist, walk away... Break the wrist, walk away...


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 4:56 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

On the subject of multiple world champions who've taught multiple world champs - you might fancy giving this blokes TKD classes a try. http://www.warrenvice.com/Classes.html


 
Posted : 18/09/2012 5:05 pm