Great post. Our association is dealing with issues relating to "conduct" and "ethics" in the
dojo and I'd like to use, (with your permission) part of your post in the discussion. GEM
Thanks George. Yeah, you're welcome to use whatever of the post you like. I think it really is an
important issue that we all need to keep in as clear focus as we do our technique and forms. And
IMHO this is an aspect that "traditional" martial arts do a better job with then some of the eclectic
or sport oriented groups. The founder of the style I train in -- Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do --
paid special attention to this issue, since there were other groups that were abusing their martial arts
abilities by beating people up with no cause. So Woon Kook Lee made special effort to educate
and train his students with high moral and ethical standards as well as discipline.
Anyway, discussion of "conduct" and "ethics" really needs to be carried out and if my little post
helps facilitate that discussion then by all means go ahead and use it.
In mutual friendship.....
Erik
n important part of martial art training (IMHO) is training in appropriate use of violence and
morality. But, you have to admit that is not the central focus. The moral code is usually
suplementary and taught as part of the discipline and traiing in respect. Not ussually as out in front
as the physical training is. But, irregardless people make mistakes. People falter sometimes because
the "moral code" is not part of their heart and even if it is they can and will make mistakes. This is a
problem even in the religious arena where the "moral code" is not a "side-line" but the "central core"
of the teachings. I believe that most people of religious faith follow out of sincere belief. There are
those that just know the right things to say without sincere in the gut belief, but I'd say they are in
the minority. But, even still people break their marriage vows by being unfaithful, priests break
vows of celibacy, pastors commit murder. Sometimes, this happens because they didn't have
sincere belief, but I'd say a lot of the time this is because people screw up (albeit this is a pretty
major league screwup).
In the same way on average martial artists handle violence better than others and live to a "moral
code". I read about a study on this once. They found martial artists less likely to resort to violence,
but less able to express their emotions and relate to the opposite sex. And in my experience I see
this as true, that we are teaching a moral code and people are living up to that moral code. Now
there are also schools that teach violent attitudes, but we'll ignore those. ;-) So on average I think
martial artists are a pretty good bunch. However, once you start looking at individuals you are
going to find problems. Jeff brought out an example. I remember Black Belt magazine talking about
a martial artists that was convicted of some heavy duty drug trafficing charges. As a matter of fact I
had a student that had a problem with drugs. Clean cut, had a family, 1st Dan. He worked at a
hospital and was getting into the samples. My wife and I found out when we saw his name in the
paper. He had a problem bigger than he was. He's doing better now. Another martial artist I had
seen in the paper as one of "the sheriff's most wanted". So looking at individuals you will find flaws,
but on average our training helps create well disciplined/controlled people.
>
> now we all know how sensationalistic the bloody press is. well, wouldncha
> know the headlines the next day blared "black belt accused in murder of
> wife"!! WHY must they tie in his study of martial arts (or any profession,
> art or sport) with the murder? okay, okay, i know that's the way the media
> operate and m.a. training is seen as a fighting skill, but men without m.a.
> training kill their wives/girlfriends at an alarming rate. we see that in
> the paper everyday. yet because of this act of domestic violence, the whole
> art of karate has come under suspicion: e.g., did he use his training to
> kill her? did he use one of his weapons? is karate teaching kids/people to
> be violent? and so on.
>
The media latches onto it because it makes a good story. In the same way that OJ case made a
good story. Or Mike Tyson.
But, really those questions you ask at the end are important ones we have to face up to. And the
last one is one that we had better be able to honestly say no to. But, something that we need to
continually assess. We need to make sure that we are teaching our students to control violence not
unleash it. And this should be something that we should be able to prove. We should be able to
give cases where our students showed control over violence. Actually if you could get some media
attention that could make a good story.
So it's a hard pill to swallow, one of our own going astray, but just because one strays from the
path does not mean the "way" is a bad one.
Erik
Erik Kluzek, (CGD at NCAR)
National Center for Atmospheric Research
Boulder CO, (off) (303)497-1326 (fax) (303)497-1324
I saw an interesting video that the Atorney General in Utah had either produced or procured. A
point they tried to make to the kids is that adults are bigger, stronger, and more aggressive than
kids, so you aren't likely to be able to use some fancy martial arts technique you saw on TV to get
away. With that perspective they spent most of their time more on the prevention side. Although
they did show a few escape tactics.
Some prevention things they talked about was the buddy system -- playing with other kids. They
went over what a stranger is a lot. Most kids figure a stranger is some bad wicked looking dude,
but a stranger is just someone you don't know. Often kid's will trust a stranger if they are nice and
want the kids help looking for a puppy or something. Or if an adult tells them their parents are hurt
and they need to go with them or something. A neat idea they had out of that situation is to have a
family password, if a parent really needs another adult to pick the kids up or something in a real
emergency the adult will give the password. They also talked about telling your parents if
somebody does something bad to you. Sometimes and adult will do something bad, and tell the kid
not to tell anyone or else.... Or it's our little secret or whatever. They made a point not to have
secrets from you parents. Sometimes, parents are the abuser's, and they dealt with this as well, but
I don't remember quite the wording they used, so I'm just using parent. Inappropriate touching,
sometimes kid's are quite sure what that is. Anywhere where your bathing suit would touch. And
it's not appropriate for adults to display where there bathing suit would touch either.
As far as technique I remember foot stomp, and hammerfist to the groin. They showed a few
others, I don't quite remember what they did though. I think on the physical part you've got to
figure out what they're actually physically capable of doing against someone as pointed out earlier
-- bigger, stronger, and more aggressive. Many "standard" techniques just aren't going to work
here.
Other things I've heard about. Yelling "this is not my Daddy, this is not my Daddy". Makes a lot of
noise and also tells people that this is not a "domestic" which people are reluctant to get involved
with. Kicking at the knee from the ground.
This has been a particularly busy and nerve-wracking year at work. Participation in this activity has
helped keep my sanity, and helped me keep an ear to the ground of societal activities.
Just the other day while collapsed and exhausted in my Lazyboy watching TV, I heard a news story
about how a Santa Claus company was laying down the law with employees about "hugging
policy". Apparently the parents of a teenage girl were sueing the company for multimegabucks
because a Santa allegedly lifted a skirt and touched the derriere while hugging this girl who was on
his lap. At first I blurted out a string of expletives about lawyers, perverts, and spineless company
executives that would have made a Long Shoreman proud. Then I suddenly got this eerie feeling
that the ghost of Ron was hovering over my shoulder with a Cheshire cat grin while wispering "I
told you so, Bill."
I have not yet personally recovered from the awareness of issues and possibilities that have been
thrust in my face since we started on this process. I occasionally have lyrics of the old song
"American Pie" pop in my head - a song that I could play and sing long before the words ever
meant anything to me.
But after I get over the emotional response to what is happening, I review my own files of handouts
and realize that I too have been covering my bases. So if I am going to be scrutinized by either an
outsider who wants to know if I am to be trusted or an insider who wants to test the boundaries,
it's good to know that there is an activity and paper trail that tells people "I'm serious!"
And no, the music hasn't died for me yet. But we are trying to get our musicians in tune.
Bill Glasheen
Hello:
I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for your help and critical contributions to the Code
of Conduct and Ethics. I have participated in many program reviews, white paper evaluations for
industry and government agencies and publications. I found the process that we went through to be
one of the smoothest and more considerate I have ever participated in. There are probably a lot of
reasons for this, but I think the most important, at least that I sense, is a community spirit. No
matter how much we disagreed with particular issues I do not think any of us lost sight of our
common goals and values.
Participating with you in the process of writing the Code of Conduct and Ethics was very rewarding
for me and I appreciate the time, effort and concern you put in to it. Worthwhile organizations exist
to serve their membership, and the membership of this organization should take pride in the fact that
the underlying principles for behavior were committed to paper. I really feel this is important,
especially in these times where ethics and values are superficial and canned Mission statements can
be purchased.
Those of you who have known me over the years will understand how important the Code of
Conduct and Ethics is to me personally. To see this adopted into the martial arts fulfills some very
important personal and professional obligations. I thank you for this.
The NAC is offering the Code of Conduct and Ethics to martial artists and martial arts
organizations as our contribution to improving the quality of the arts.
Special thanks to George Mattson and Bill Glasheen for their tolerance, encouragement and
diplomatic skills.
Have a Good Holiday, and may the New Year be prosperous for all of you. Be safe and take care.
Ron Klein
Hello Mr. Klein from Chris LaVigne. I echo your sentiments on the significance of a code of ethics
in the martial arts community. I intially felt I would have time to contribute to the discussions but as
usual over burdened myself at a time that my practice was absolutely inundated with priorities.
After missing out on the first few issues being delt with it was impossible for me to catch up. It was
my lost. Sorry George!
A few thoughts of mine on the code. My feeling is that the Martial arts community is under public
scrutiny as never before. It is a given that instructors, dojo owners and professional karate ka have
a position of public trust of considerable importance. In furtherance of the obligations under this
trust NAC as one governing body ought to have a more direct hand in the formulation of ethics and
behavioural standards which are to prevail.
What the governing body can do is to raise the level of ethical consciousness in our community and
amongst our membership by providing quidelines of professional precepts in a "code". It could
never be determinative of all issues that arise in the day to day running of a dojo. It is a code of
"appropriate behaviour".
The martial arts world has become a booming business with stiff competition, large overheads, and
sophisticated marketing strategies. These changes must take place within a framework of ethics and
standards. My hat goes off to all of you who have had the vision and gumption to see the code
through to the end.
Chris and Family
Bill- in your rules for class behavior (which I lost) you mention no mind or mood altering
drugs. How do you deal with this issue? Ron
* You may not participate in ANY part of a workout while under the
* influence of a mind, body, or mood altering substance (alcohol,
* prescription drugs, steroids, etc.). Even a glass of wine with a
* meal before workout is unacceptable. Exceptions are made only with
* the written consent of a physician.
The impetus to write the above came about because of several things going on at UVa when I was
teaching: 1) I would occasionally smell alchohol on students while I was testing their sanchins, 2) I
noted that several of my students with asthma would take extra puffs on their bronchodilator
inhalers before running out to perform on a karate test (quite dangerous to the heart), and 3) I had
several run-ins with &*%holes in the weight room who were obviously on steroids (severe acne on
the back & shoulders, large size, agressive behavior) and wanted to see if they could bully me out
of using equipment they wanted. However note the last sentence. I did not want to get inbetween a
person and their doctor; rather I wanted to enhance that relationship. Another piece in a class
handout stated the following:
* Report all injuries, no matter how minor, to your instructor.
* Tell your instructor about any medical condition which may
* compromise you, your instructor, or your fellow students
* through participation in this activity. It is your
* responsibility to consult and abide by a physician on any
* health matter.
I tell most of my students to find a family doctor who is or used to be an athlete. They seem to have
the most empathy and understanding for the participant (won't tell them something like "stop doing
the karate") and are much more capable of working with problems peculiar to this group.
I think that if YOU think their is a physical or behavioral problem, then it is time to get the MD
consult. One is doing the individual a big favor; performance in karate is reflective of performance
in many important daily activities. I think the instructor has a great opportunity to make a difference
in a person's life by "tweaking" the body system (or getting someone else to tweak) until it works to
optimal levels.
Bill
I discovered this interesting document while searching for "chat" systems we might use on the Uechi-ryu Website. Although it is unlikely that we will have any problems while conferencing and chatting with fellow Uechi-ryu practitioners, going out into the regular chat world pose many potentially embarrassing or even dangerous situations, not unlike what you might encounter in some dojo. What follows is a kind of "code of conduct" for travelers on the Internet. GEM
HARASSMENT IN WORLDS CHAT (or when chat turns ugly)
As those of us that live there know, Worlds Chat is great place to socialize. Chatting can take many
forms ranging from humorous social banter to deep philosophical discussions. Intimate relationships
can even develop, from a one night stands of cybersex (wow!) through to more serious and
long-standing affairs.
Being an anonymous forum, Worlds Chat provides an opportunity to take on an alter-ego, and
perhaps try things which the constraints of the real world would not allow. However, like the real
world, there are certain patterns of behaviour which are clearly anti-social and unacceptable. Whilst
such activities are uncommon at present, occasionally a small minority can inflict their ugly brand of
humour on other users. It's possible that if these forms of behavior become common in chat, then
many people may simply stop visiting. In a worse-case scenario Worlds Chat could become like
some of the darker areas of our major world cities...a hostile environment, visited only by roaming
gangs of cyberpunks.
It is often thought that cyberspace is an "equalizer" giving the powerful and the weak an equal
voice.You can "give 'em as much as you get" so to speak. In some areas of the internet this applies,
particularly where they are moderated and people can be identified through their e-mail address or
in other ways. Moderators can throw people off chat channels, kill files can be set up (allowing
users to ignore certain people), or a systems administrator can take action against individuals.
Worlds is unmoderated, containing none of these mechanisms. From time to time, any of us may
experience an unpleasant time in Worlds Chat for a number of reasons. It could occur if you reject
a proposal for cybersex (especially if you are female), and the proposer takes exception to the
refusal. It could occur if you have won an argument, or if you've asked someone to stop acting like
a jerk! It could happen simply BECAUSE you are female (or at least have a female avatar).
Harassment seems to take 3 forms. These are listed in order of increasing seriousness.
1. Abuse
Aggressive, obscene whispers perhaps combined with the continual presence of the offenders
avatar...usually right in front of your face! As you can't kick them in the balls, the best policy here
may be to ignore them until they go away. They will soon tire of the game.
2. Shutting down your system.
This can occur if the offender whispers many single letters or words to you repeatedly, in rapid
succession one after the other. It certainly prevents you from talking to others and with a minimum
system (8MB) may even shut you down completely. A very vicious form of this can involve 2
people, where one sends the whispers whilst the other publicly denigrates you. Of course, you are
unable to refute what's being said.
The lack of a "mute" function in the software, makes this problem hard to overcome. Perhaps the
best thing to do is to log back on, whisper to your friends as to what happened and then let the
offenders have it publicly before they can shut you up again. Hopefully, your friends will support
you with this.
3. Logging on at a later date as you.
This can be one of the most vindictive and malicious acts. Here, the offender takes your name and
avatar, and visits people you know, gossiping and generally causing trouble. Often it's obvious to
your friends that it's definitely not you but sometimes the offender can be very subtle. They may
even accuse their victim of harassment just to watch the fun. Having you're own avatar may not be
any guarantee of security either. It should be easy enough to take a screen dump of someone's
avatar, and construct an identical one, which the offender then could use. Some may go to such
lengths to "pay you back" for a perceived humiliation.
Nothing can be done to stop people masquerading as you if they want to, but there are some way
to lessen the risk.
(a) If you have had an unsavory experience with someone, don't tell a new stranger too much about
yourself until you get to know them reasonably well. It may be the offender collecting information to
use against you later.
(b) If you think you might be talking to someone masquerading as a friend, test them with a few
questions, based on what you know about the other person. For example, if you know your friend
has no kids you could say "How's the baby?" If you get the reply "fine thanks" then you're talking to
an impostor!
(c) Whisper any personal details to people. Don't make them public, you don't know who might be
listening.
(d) If you know someone has been deliberately impersonating you, tell your friends and put it on
Sting's message board.
Of course, people may use your avatar and name quite innocently especially if the latter is common.
Having a public female avatar with the a common name like Rebecca for example, is hardly going
to be unique.
Worlds Chat Inc. is a free, anonymous, unmoderated venue. This is both it's strength and
weakness. It means we must all be responsible for moderating our own behavior and any
anti-social behavior in others. In this way, we'll all enjoy the party!
Terry-NZ
12/11/96: Greetings Mr Mattson,
I've followed the discussion in the current "Point of View" column with interest, due in part to my
profession as a psychologist. I will restrict my comments to the issue of instructors/students dealing
with potential interpersonal problems. It is quite apparent that the instructors who have participated
in this discussion, i.e. Gordi Breyette, Ron Klien and others, are quite astute observers and are
aware of potential problem situations. The question came up regarding "How do you screen for
problem students/ instructors?" While the field of psychology can perhaps make some
contributions, frankly, there simply are no simple ways of doing this.
An "educated" gut feeling about another person can be of great value in certain situations. One
example that was given was regarding a woman who crossed an personal "boundary" by calling the
instructor at home, telling him inappropriately of her marital problems, wanting additional attention,
etc. As a rule of Thumb, I would encourage an instructor (or student for that matter) to not ignore
the gut level feeling that someone crossed your socially-appropriate boundary. (Now, we all know
that "where" this boundary is established is highly cultural in nature to this must be taken into
account). Crossing these boundaries consistently might indicate social and/or emotional problems
that need to be addressed by appropriate persons, and may be of such consequence that they
might be terminated from training (or teaching). The sooner the issue is brought up and addressed
the better for all concerned. The student might feel misunderstood, but will know quickly what the
appropriate relationship with the instructor will be.
I tell my students that, statistically, the best way of predicting future behavior is to examine past
behavior. It would be difficult at best for an instructor to examine in any specificity an individual's
background, but some of this might be gleened during an initial interview for new students,
becoming aware of what motivates the student, noting social skills, maturity level, etc. Probably the
most attractive aspect of karate, for me, a fairly new student to the arts, is in the statement that a
primary goal of karate is in the perfection of the character of it's participants. This could be stressed
more in some dojo's though I know instructors are sometimes resistant to taking on this component
of training. Stressing "character development" in students more and also of instructors being
examples of good character development can be one way of helping weed out persons who are not
good ambassadors for our art.
On the reverse of this issue, I would like to comment on my perceptions, though brief, of the
practitioners I've met who study Uechi-ryu, the vast majority are exceptionally Nice People- gentle,
humble, polite, and generous. This makes me proud to work with my sensei John Ray, and belong
to my dojo and the larger family of practitioners whom I've had the pleasure to meet. I look
forward to following this thread in the future. (Also, congrats, this is a Great web site!)
Tim Lane , of Denton, Texas,
Nov 19, 1996: Dear Sensei Klein,
I and my students are grateful for the attention you gave my letter! Professionals such as yourself
are the backbone of any good set of standards and guidelines, and we want you and others to
know we rely on you and your expertise.
It's possible you received a garbled copy of my letter - I did in fact bring up the question "How
would a student tell if he or she is heading for trouble in a developing relationship of any sort with
the teacher? Or the teacher recognize that a student is laying a trap?" (This was the paragraph right
after the "certain personality types" and "red flags" paragraph.) I appreciate deeply the fact that you
are concerned for both sides, and while I have seen abusive teachers AND abusive students, I
have seen probably far fewer cases than you. It seldom happens out here on Okinawa - at least, I
see it far less often than it seems to occur Stateside.
In my classes, which are always mixed youth and adult, I have a fairly large number of medical and
technical professionals. Some of these are parents of the youth in the classes. Quite a few are Dan
students, looking forward to the day when they might become instructors as well. Occasionally we
sit down and confer on various subjects (sounds so much better than just "get together for coffee
and chat"). This was one subject on which we pretty much saw eye-to-eye. While writing a code
or rules of conduct will not, indeed, change anyone, it DOES have the highly desirable effect of
heightening awareness and perception of the situation, and alerting new instructors of the
possibilities of the misunderstanding of instructional technique.
In the case of my associate who was accused by his female student of molesting other students, an
interesting point was brought up - the difficulty in proving INTENT. It seems there has to be a lot
of evidence pointing to the accused's intention to perpetrate a molestation. The man's intent in
striking a student on the lower abs or giving the buttocks a thump was impersonal, and not intended
for any purpose other than to train or condition. All students (and the parents of youth students)
who were interviewed indicated no feelings of unease regarding the treatment, nor misunderstanding
of the training. The teacher was careful to explain to all parents and students BEFORE undertaking
the training that there was a great deal of physical contact, and if at any time the student or parent
felt uncomfortable with it, to please make it known. There are always alternatives.
Also, the instructor uses terms that are not suggestive - torso, trunk, abdominals, pectorals,
buttocks (or "gluteus" for adults), groin (when necessary), navel, etc. He doesn't get too technical,
but avoids any terms that might indicate any but a professional approach.
In his case, what saved him was his open approach to the training, and his class structure - since he
was my student, his classes are patterned after mine. I do not teach children and adults separately
but include a number of adults in a class of predominantly youth, and accept youth in my
predominantly adult classes (time of day decides whether a class will be one or the other). Classes
are for ages 8 and up, younger on a case-by-case basis - and I usually ask a parent to attend
classes (as either a student or observer) if the child is younger. That way I am not "baby-sitting" a
very young child, plus the parent assumes an active role in supporting the child's training - even if
only observing. In all cases, I encourage parents and spouses to please attend and watch class
sessions.
Adults attending the predominantly youth classes understand that they are also there to assist in
monitoring the youth students and to help with the training. Some of these adults are educators in
the local school system, or are interested in developing teaching techniques, with instructorship in
mind. A few are parents of attending children.
It's important to remember that the previously-mentioned instructor trains his students in the way he
was taught. While he has his personal approach and philosophy (he has a MUCH better sense of
humor!), much of his teaching mannerisms are based on the way he was treated during his previous
training - his classes are an accurate reflection of the classes he attended when coming up through
the ranks.
Thanks for pointing me in the right direction as regards locating more information - I will print out
the list of links found on the APIN page and pass this to interested persons - also make it another
sheet in my set of basic student handout material.
I learned many years ago that a karate instructor is NOT an all-wise, all-knowing Perfect Soul who
can solve all problems - that's a TV-perpetrated misconception. I am just another man, and my
particular specialty lies in only one area. I am NOT immune to the failures of being merely human,
though I do, like any other, have my fine moments.
However, I am not trained as a marriage counselor, and when a student wishes to talk about
marriage problems, I direct him or her to such an expert. I listen as much as I can, of course, but
am unafraid to tell the student that I have no formal training in such an area, and that my opinions
are only that - no better than any other - and so I prefer not to give it in such cases. In fact, it is
potentially dangerous to do so, not knowing the full story and not being trained to ask the right
questions. My opinions could only worsen a situation.
Same in the case of psychological problems, or even school problems. I learned to never "side"
with a child against parents but to always support the standards - the parents are the authorities,
and the schoolwork must be done. If there is cause for me to suspect abuse (child or spouse), I
speak to the appropriate authorities (school officials, parents, commanders, etc.) or direct the
student to do so. If it's a medical problem, the student must see a doctor - I have no "secret cures"
for any ills or disabilities, other than first-aid if necessary. This does not include the usual bruises,
occasional pulls or strains, sore muscles, etc. found in every sport and karate class. Even these will
be referred to a professional if persistent, however. I have no "cure" for ADD, ADHD, or the like,
other than a lot of patience and understanding, and a close association with the Medically-Related
Services Office - I do not recommend use or non-use of Ritalin, nor an increase or decrease of
dosage. Medical meddling is also a form of abuse!
While the solution is not always perfect, it takes the burden off me of having to be a "guru" and
places the problem in the hands of real experts.
I like to think I have a handle on the situation - but it's exactly that kind of thinking which makes
one complacent and vulnerable! I have had my share of inappropriately-interested or maladjusted
students, and have been victim of a physically-abusive instructor once (I suffered cracked ribs, a
broken wrist, some dislocated cartilage, my son got a fractured arm, other students did less well -
the teacher is no longer teaching). But it's not over by a long shot - there will be more to come, I'm
sure. I and my trainees - and the martial arts community as a whole - must remain ever vigilant.
Again, thank you for your comments and suggestions - I will pass them on. We are anxiously
awaiting the summary of these discussions, and future articles.
Sincerely,
Gordi Breyette
11/16/96: In response to Mr. Gordi Breyette article:
Thank you for your letter of November 11 regarding the Code of Conduct and Ethics.Your
experiences and approach to the problems you describe are valuable contributions and I am certain
will be greatly appreciated by all of us. In addition you raise several important questions that need
to be addressed by the NAC. These questions include the following:
1)How do I recognize "certain personality types" and avoid getting snared?
2)How do we recognize the "red flags" that get by us so easily?
3)How would a teacher tell if he or she is heading for trouble in a developing relationship of any
sort with the teacher?
4) Is there something we can do to prevent misconduct by seeing the causes early?
and let me add:
What behavior patterns should a student look for in an instructor that would indicate that they have
an abusive personality?
First, we will be addressing these issues in the coming year. In addition to distributing the Code of
Conduct and Ethics to the membership of the NAC we will be providing educational information.
Seminars will be conducted at the Summer Camp which will address many of the questions that
you raise. In addition, members of the organization have been sharing valuable information on these
topics. The NAC has an incredible resource in the shared knowledge and experiences of its
membership. In the note youreferenced I was referring to Dr. Paul Giella who is an expert in the
area under consideration.
Second, currently instructors are certified to teach Uechi Ryu through the Board of Directors of the
NAC. Requirements for certification at some future date will include having a working knowledge
of various aspects of the "Code." This will be accomplished by seminars at the Summer Camp, the
mandatory dojo visits by Senior Instructors and participation in various on-line dialogues. The
burden for this education will initially fallmost heavily on the shoulders of the Senior Instructors but
in a short time will be shared by all.
Third, I was very impressed by the quality of the debate among the committee that reviewed the
initial drafts of the Code. I am going to be posting a summary of the key issues and arguments that
were raised during the process. What is important here is that the vast majority of our instructors
and students already embrace the fundamental preconceptions of the Code of Conduct and Ethics.
Articulating the Code raised my level of sensitivity and awareness,as well as that of others. Many of
us, through our professional experiences have had formal training in human relations, diversity,
sensitivity and communications. I was surprised at the number of people on the committee who had
degrees in primary and secondary education! Perhaps as an organization we are much further along
that I had originally thought.
The last point is personal, though it does represent the opinion of many of my martial arts
colleagues. I believe that in order to instruct martial arts, especially to children, an instructor should
undergo a formal background check. This is conducted for instructors at daycare centers in many
states, and should be mandatory for martial arts. As a parent I would want to know if an instructor
had been accused of statutory rape, child abuse, orhad any felony convictions etc.
I take my responsibilities as a Senior Instructor very seriously. The schools I assist have excellent
programs and I try to really get to know the Full Instructors by spending time in training with them
and their students. When I request a Full Instructor certificate I send a letter with my assessment of
the instructor and the school's program. In this way I responsible for the instructor's certification. If
an instructor disagrees with me (which one has already) they can go directly to Mr. Mattson or
another Senior Instructor for an independent evaluation of their complaint.
You asked about information. There is an excellent article on recognizing the good and bad
qualities of a martial arts instructor in the latest issue of World of Martial Arts. Steve Hassan has an
excellent web site on cults-and unfortunately too many martial arts schools are run like cults. Judith
Weiss's Assault Prevention Information Network (APIN) has good information on identifying
quality martial arts and self-defenseprograms, she also has links to the best sites with information on
"abuse." I recommend APIN's site!! I also recommend that NAC schools or at least instructors
join one of the following organizations:
American Women's Self Defense Association (AWSDA) Pacific Association of Women Martial
Artists(PAWMA) National Women's Martial Arts Association(NWMAF)
All of these organizations deal with abusive behavior. PAWMA has an excellent information packet
on sexual harassment in martial arts that should be required reading by every dojo owner.
NWMAF's newsletter is also excellent in this regard. My dojo is asponsor of both AWSDA and
PAWMA; each of our female instructors receive a yearly membership in NWMAF as a personal
gift from me.
We are also identifying people with legal experience in martial arts/self-defense work, including the
"application" and training in the arts. More on this will be posted at a later date.
Gordi-thank you for your comments and insights I hope this information is helpful.
Ron Klein
11/15/96: From Bill Glasheen:
I read Gordi's note about the code and related matters. It was both interesting and balanced in its
description of obvious cases of instructor abuse AND student abuse. Believe it or not, I have seen
enough through my own experiences so that nothing Gordi reports shocks me.
In medicine physicians are creating practice guidelines for the treatment of various diseases because
1) they want patients to receive the most effective care, and 2) they want to establish that care that
was given was the most effective available at the time - regardless of the outcome. The protection
truly goes both ways. Then again, the lawyers view the guidelines as opportunities for lawsuits,
finding a more objective way to identify inappropriate care. So in the process to build walls to
protect everyone, we create a briar patch. The result is that we all must be even more on guard
after guideline identification than before. In other words, the solution is to resign that we must be
like a rabbit and jump on in the briar patch.
I have had the opportunity to be a direct witness of an abusive instructor. I have documented some
of what I have seen. I wish I could openly discuss a half dozen cases of "red flag" students.
However a respect for individuals' privacy dictates that I not do that in public. However I will say
that I have so far gone through life unscathed. Other than luck, I think what our friend Paul Giella
would say on review is that I dealt with the cases as soon as I sensed something felt wrong, and
called in outside help when I knew I was in over my head. I also personally believe that a less
authoritarian and more sensitive interaction with students works very well. Additionally, I have tried
to proceed in life with a view that everyone has good within and there are solutions available. I
cannot ever say that I dealt with odd cases in the most efficient manner, but I will say that I try to
act as kindly and as expediently as I humanly can.
I would also bet that the common sense that so far has served me well as a lay viewer of human
behavior can be codified. I too would be interested in any wisdom Paul or other experts have to
impart. Best to equip us all with the best knowledge available.
11/15/96: From Ron Klein:
I read Gordi's note about the code and related matters. It was both interesting and balanced in its
description of obvious cases of instructor abuse AND student abuse. Believe it or not, I have seen
enough through my own experiences so that nothing Gordi reports shocks me. In medicine
physicians are creating practice guidelines for the treatment of various diseases because 1) they
want patients to receive the most effective care, and 2) they want to establish that care that was
given was the most effective available at the time - regardless of the outcome. The protection truly
goes both ways. Then again, the lawyers view the guidelines as opportunities for lawsuits, finding a
more objective way to identify inappropriate care. So in the process to build walls to protect
everyone, we create a briar patch. The result is that we all must be even more on guard after
guideline identification than before. In other words, the solution is to resign that we must be like a
rabbit and jump on in the briar patch.
I have had the opportunity to be a direct witness of an abusive instructor. I have documented some
of what I have seen. I wish I could openly discuss a half dozen cases of "red flag" students.
However a respect for individuals' privacy dictates that I not do that in public. However I will say
that I have so far gone through life unscathed. Other than luck, I think what our friend Paul Giella
would say on review is that I dealt with the cases as soon as I sensed something felt wrong, and
called in outside help when I knew I was in over my head. I also personally believe that a less
authoritarian and more sensitive interaction with students works very well. Additionally, I have tried
to proceed in life with a view that everyone has good within and there are solutions available. I
cannot ever say that I dealt with odd cases in the most efficient manner, but I will say that I try to
act as kindly and as expediently as I humanly can.
I would also bet that the common sense that so far has served me well as a lay viewer of human
behavior can be codified. I too would be interested in any wisdom Paul or other experts have to
impart. Best to equip us all with the best knowledge available.
November 11, 1996
Dear Sensei Mattson,
Welcome back from Florida! I hope all went well and that you were able to establish many new
contacts. Okinawa is in the grip of another typhoon - Super Typhoon Dale, with winds near the
center of over 170mph. Last night it was about 400 miles SSE of Okinawa heading directly for us -
today it seems to be veering and might miss us off to the east. Still, we are in Typhoon Condition
One - winds of near 60mph expected within 24 hours. Highest winds expected at this time will be
about 60mph beginning tomorrow morning, as the storm passes about 230 miles to our east,
moving NE. Check it out on the satellite photo for the Far East - I think Allen Moulton still has it
linked on his page.
Meanwhile, back in the REAL world...
It is with great interest that I follow the controversy and points of view regarding your excellent
Code of Conduct. I mentioned to you some time back that I might have a few items to put forward
for your consideration, and while you were hard at work in Florida I found the papers I was
looking for in my lumberyard called an office.
About five years ago, a karate instructor on a USMC base was fired and barred from teaching on
post because of physical abuse of the young charges in his care - and he was then rehired almost
immediately. The teacher had an "in" with the Base Commander and his staff. Consequently, when
a young sergeant filed a police report on behalf of his son (who came home with bruises on his
thighs and buttocks, unable to sit for dinner that night), the report had an initial impact resulting in
the suspension and firing of the instructor, but met with such outrage at the "over-harsh" treatment
and loud complaints from "much more trustworthy, first-hand students" that the sergeant was
pressured unduly by officials to withdraw his complaint - which he did.
The instructor had whacked the child with his bo, for being unable to maintain a posture correctly.
Bruises were left on the child's buttocks - and stomach. Also, the other children had told police
their Sensei had hung one child upside-down by his tied ankles from the kickbag hook for
punishment, repeatedly knocked children on the skull with his knuckles, slapped them for incorrect
answers, and taunted them publicly for poor performance. All this time, parents and "outsiders" had
been forbidden from watching the classes without advance notice. BUT he had a very strong inside
connection with high-ranking officials, and was - is still - safeguarded from being fired.
While the incident was simmering, and in the few days prior to his rehiring, I was given a copy of
the report, and was asked to please submit my interpretation of "abuse" for consideration to include
in present and future contracts for the hiring of those who handle children. I wanted it to include
more than children, so left it generic as regards sex or age.
This was accepted for inclusion in contract agreements - and immediately rejected by the officials in
charge of such changes as "too restrictive" - this was around the time the instructor mentioned
above was rehired by those same officials.
Within six months, the office for which I worked - USMC Martial Arts Coordinator - was closed
down. My work for the coordinator was strictly voluntary, as I believed we needed a firmer control
over programs offered to our servicemen and women overseas - or anywhere - but somewhere
along the line, what was written policy became a joke. Too often, officials whose duty it is to
protect our youth turn their eyes away if a program appears to be financially successful.
The guidelines I submitted were for hiring martial arts instructors and maintaining classes. They
were written for the non-martial-artist to understand and apply when hiring karate instructors but
can apply to almost any activity or contract. Much of this will not apply to civilian or
privately-operated dojo, but some points apply anywhere. I am sending you the entire package, but
here I wish to specify certain areas for your readers, if you like.
****************************************
MARTIAL ARTS INSTRUCTOR CONTRACT GUIDELINES
1. The instructor named on the contract will be the person actually instructing the classes. The
contract specifies that the named instructor agrees to be physically present and rendering instruction
AS CONTRACTED. Assistant instructors may also be employed, however their names must be
submitted to the office of the Coordinator, along with [certification and qualifications]...
2. Abuse and punishment of students will not be tolerated under any circumstances and may
constitute grounds for permanent dismissal of the instructor. Abuse is defined here as:
a. any action or treatment found to be inconsistent with Equal Opportunity Treatment and
established sport safety guidelines,
b. detrimental to the physical, emotional, and/or psychological welfare of the student,
c. any form of physical, emotional, and/or psychological punishment,
d. any other actions definable as abusive, as determined by the Office of the Coordinator.
3. The Contractor and/or an authorized representative may visit any class session at any time and
without notice. Also, sessions may be viewed in part or in whole by parents, spouses, or parties
interested in enrolling in that class, on a no-notice basis and with no obligations on the part of the
visitors. Contracted instructors will adhere to the "Open Door Policy" on viewing of classes.
*******************************************************
Remember, this was for a USMC post, and in the military, control is a byword. However, these
guidelines were shelved - too many instructors would have to change their routines drastically if
such guidelines were enforced, contracts (and therefor profits for the contracting agency) would be
lost - and this simply was not convenient.
In 1994, when reviewing an offer to teach youth on Camp Lester (here on Okinawa), I was given a
typical USMC MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation) contract and was asked to make any
modifications necessary - once again, the idea was to use such modifications as a basis for future
contracts. Included in the packet of information I am sending are these modifications and the
original contract, for your records. But I wish to extract one more point to add to the above:
- Monitoring of the classes is vital to ensure the safety of the students, the health of the program,
and compliance with the contract. This simply has not been done in the past. It's long past time to
start! [This was in response to a statement in the contract that the classes are subject to monitoring
by the contractor - but the policy is NOT carried out in most cases.]
The changes proposed go to five pages in length. The cover page is the most important one -
defining abuse.
By the way, I did not accept the post. It appears that my suggestions were far too
"customer-oriented" and while I was repeatedly asked to reconsider, I refused to sign the contract
as it stood.
On to another related subject:
Rather than put out further guidelines for conduct of the teacher and student, how do we recognize
the "red flags" that get by us so easily? I read Ron Klein's comment that a certain doctor - whose
name escapes me at this time - might have changed a past situation if only a few minutes were spent
in discussion with the accused. Great - how about sharing some insights here?
How do I recognize "certain personality types" and avoid getting snared? I realize that this can be
as dangerous as asking for stereotypes and following them, but how about even some hints as to
what the "red flags" might be before it's too late?
How would a student tell if he or she is heading for trouble in a developing relationship of any sort
with the teacher? Or the teacher recognize that a student is laying a trap? Let's think about this, too
- beside warning teachers against developing such relationships, let everyone see how to recognize
this before it's out of control.
By the time the symptoms of misconduct are recognized by an outsider, it's too late. Is there
something we can do to prevent misconduct by seeing the causes early? Think of this analogy - an
alcoholic knows he shouldn't drive drunk or go to work inebriated, and so carefully and skillfully
chooses his times and places to drink, and avoids showing any hint of his disease to even close
associates. I was surprised to learn that someone I thought I knew closely for nearly twenty years -
even stayed at his home with him and family - was alcoholic. A solitary drinker, he would abuse his
wife and children as his disease entered the latter stages - when he finally sought help. He has my
full support and friendship - but he did damage his family relationships badly before he sought help.
That was a rather mild analogy (that is, not the situation, but the way I related it), but illustrates my
point - had I seen the signs (oh yes, they were there - the sudden changes of plans, excuses to be
home by himself at odd times, the sudden and frequent cancellation of appointments, the reluctance
of the children to be home or around at certain times, or to be left alone at certain times,
unexplained expenses taken out of the family account, his frequent headaches and nausea with no
apparent causes on certain mornings, and many more) I might have tried to help him early on. He
might not have listened to me, but at least the cat would have been out of the bag, so to speak.
John was clever at hiding his disease - he had years of practice. So do abusers of students and
children - and those who take advantage of kindly authority figures such as teachers and other
officials. Are we merely alerting them to become more clever, or are there ways to recognize them
before it's too late despite their attempts to cover up?
On a personal note, I feel it's not all that hard to recognize that there is abuse occurring - one has to
be sensitive, and cognizant of the issues to begin with. But on recognizing the symptoms, it's already
too late. Some damage has already taken place - and it's imperative that it be stopped before it
goes further.
A teacher I know was nearly ruined by a woman who was in his class along with her son. The
teacher saw the fawning, obsequious manners of the woman student as merely mildly irritating, but
non-threatening - even when she began calling him at 10PM each night to "express gratitude and
appreciation for all the great training" received that day. It got worse, as she began showering him
with little gifts and trinkets, recorded music and photos taken in class, then she began to talk at
depth about her marriage problems. Things I would hesitate to reveal to a marriage counselor,
apparently. Finally, he had it out with her - she was a married woman with a child, and he was not
interested in developing any sort of personal relationship. She was furious, and in a rage reported to
the local authorities that the teacher was abusing children in his classes. She apparently described to
a non-martial-artist a Sanchin check in the most lurid and warped fashion imaginable. Naturally, the
authorities were alarmed - and launched a full investigation of the matter which lasted for more than
six months.
Fortunately, the instructor, though shocked by all this, kept a cool head. He cooperated fully with
the investigative authorities, and opened his personal phone directory to them for interviews of any
or all students, parents, and associates. Being one of his close associates, I was able to follow the
case along with him as it progressed. It was later revealed that investigators were enrolled secretly
at intervals in the classes as temporary "visiting students" to observe firsthand how the class was
operated, and to ask questions on the training methods.
Not all are fortunate enough to have this type of treatment or consideration when accused of
wrongdoing. This young man was very lucky. Most are not. Had he seen for himself how the
situation was developing in it's early stages, he might have done something to prevent its growth
early on - and had he not been so level-headed and honest about his training and procedures,
things might have been worse for him yet. But he had no clue until the hammer fell. Just dismissed
the treatment she gave him as "mildly irritating" for such a long time, until it was far too late. She
MIGHT have successfully put him behind bars, or at least ruined his dojo.
She later lost her job position when she tried the same with her choir director, and yet another job
when she did it again with her son's soccer coach. All of them are married men. I have no idea how
her husband was taking all this - while present throughout, he simply doesn't seem to come into the
picture as an active player.
At the risk of sounding discriminatory and prejudiced, there MUST be a way to recognize this
personality type (and others) long before it goes to work on a new victim! And there has to be a
way to get this information to all teachers AND students in a fashion other than just relating stories
and personal experiences.
Perhaps someone with the know-how and expertise can write and publish a treatise on recognizing
potentially dangerous personality types - HOW to recognize them, and WHAT to do to manage
and control the situation until you are sure - one way or the other.
I hope this doesn't get too complicated - the more complex the plumbing gets, the easier it is to
stop up the drain...
Sincerely,
Gordi Breyette
George: The following is an exchange with Ron Klein regarding the idea of a closing statement for
the "Code". My suggestion is there but I defer to you on an appropriate closing if you agree that
one is warranted.
Regards, Rich Castanet Richmond VA
---------------------
From: RDKLEIN@am.pnu.com
To: UechiRich@aol.com
Date: 96-10-25 08:22:12 EST
Rich:
Excellent idea! Why don't you reword this note and send it to George. A summary statement
should be added to the Code....excellent...... I too am a Tell em, them Tell em and then tell em
what you told em kinda guy.
Thanks for the comments on the Shinwa patch. I just received another order and have some
left-how many would you like?
Have a good weekend
Ron
Subject: Re: Re[2]: The Code:::::
Author: UechiRich@aol.com at INTERNET
Date: 10/24/96 8:12 PM
Ron: Thanks for the response. I did in fact have it all. What I had in mind was a short overview at
the end, even if somewhat redundant. As an engineer, I was trained as follows: "Tell them what you
are going to tell them." "Tell them." "Tell them what you told them." IE: Conclusion: The NAC and
its associates subscribe to the above "code" and its defined mission to insure that the proper spirit
of martial arts is perpetuated and made available to the public...... Or something like that.
Regards, Rich Castanet Richmond VA
By the way, your "True Path" patch is very popular. If you ever run another batch, let me know so
I can purchase a few for other dojo mates.
Nov 5, 1996: Now and then I run across an interesting "potential" challenge for a student. There is
one in particular that I will use as an example.
There is a wonderful woman who works with me who has one "normal" and one "challenged"
daughter. Virginia is one of those children who has obvious handicaps, but nobody has been able to
come up with a pat label for her. The latest (and possibly the closest) classification used is
Asperger's Syndrome. There is a University of Delaware web site which has quite a bit of
information on it.
Virginia is now entering puberty. I look at her and think "Oh my God, this kid's a walking potential
victim." Virginia has a few inappropriate social habits. Cheryl, her mother, says they might be at a
truck stop and Virginia will walk up to a complete stranger and force the stranger to shake hands
with her mother. Some people diagnosed with this genre of syndromes display unusual talents
(precocious reading abilities, fascination with parts of objects which lead to special skills, etc.).
Virginia might better be described as mildly retarded. She is also receiving growth hormone to
make her physically within the normal size for her age group.
There are some physical habits that make Virginia similar to someone with AS. She does have
"marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors sich as eye-to-eye gaze, facial
expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction." And she can be - in a word
- clumsy. What strikes me about these faculties in question is that they are a few of the very things
that martial artists (and me in particular) strive to perfect.
Virginia is damn lucky to have a saint for a mother. However her mother will not be there forever.
Virginia herself is a charming person, but her peers view her more as a mascot (patronizing) than a
friend. She is receiving help today, but if she is not empowered, she will need to have assisted living
(and all the warts that come with it) for the rest of her life.
So where does the code fit here? Virginia is being treated, but needs activities to help her develop.
One could not take on a student like this without directly dealing with the psychological syndrome,
its limits, and the techniques necessary to manage the individual. The probability for any success in
taking her on as a karate student is low, but the potential realized by Virginia could be dramatic and
significant if changes occur.
I have followed Virginia's progress for years through her mother. Just recently I casually brought up
the idea that there might be a win-win by our taking her on as a challenge in the karate class. I told
her mother that I would consider her own participation in the effort key to our having any
probability of success.
I have seen the work done with a blind individual within our Uechi clan; I have witnessed both a
shodan and nidan exam. But what about the mentally impaired? Do we not all learn by taking on
challenges like this - in conjunction with work through trained professionals?
Bill: I appreciate the comments of Steve Banchick. All I read into his note is becareful.....act smart
and not stupid, be aware...... The detail he mentions isinherent in the code. I don't view this as
being obsessive, just details of how Steve and not you or I may behave. I would be concerned as a
parent is, for example, an instructor was delighted to help adjust my son's athletic supporter for
example (mom or dad does that.......)
The code is going to evolve, but cannot be burdens with specifics. I will have more detailed
amendments for my dojo-that would not be appropriate for someone else's. The code provides the
framework for defining appropriate behavior. But I will add, this stuff is real and I want people to
think about and not reflexively label it as PC. Being prepared and having a reference allows us to
consider these issues in a more rational manner and not become overwhelmed with the obviously
silly.
We thank people for their input---lets move on........
Ron
Ron
Funny thing - I agree with you and everything you said. I have similar experiences to share. And yet
I feel you missed my point.
My original concern was that Steve (a person I know who by the way put myself and a few
students up in his house for a night) was suggesting that we include a section in the Code which
would state that certain behavior be avoided. Steve can avoid that behavior all he wants. I would
never criticize him for that. However I would like to see is that a Code define the ETHICS and
PRINCIPLES and then let us all individually determine how to adjust our behavior to meet them.
That document would be far more concise and yet far more encompassing. It would also be
generalizable to all cultures and both sexes. It would not appear petty, short sighted, or overly
restrictive. With reason comes acceptance and with acceptance comes good behavior and good
outcomes.
My greatest shortcoming in this discussion was probably jumping so readily on what bothered me
rather than actively drawing out the underlying principle that Steve was trying to express. Mea
maxima culpa!
I think we all walk around with our own paradigms about how the world works and we all do what
we can do to keep OUR world in control. My attitude is "Vive la difference!" I also recognize that
we all are fallible (especially me) and so make mistakes in spite of our best intentions. What I hope
is that we can appreciate our diversity and in doing so understand the principles that bind us
together. Unlike Okinawa, we are culturally heterogenous and much more egalitarian when it comes
to the roles of the sexes. We have special problems and yet the optimist in me believes there are
ways to overcome them - if we allow ourselves.
Yes, The Code is great. I have felt that all along and have stated so. You are right - there are other
dragons to slay.
The true understanding will come when the organization become involved in applying the code
where things went wrong. There WILL be cases where we all agree something went wrong and yet
we all see different aspects of the truth. Human behavior can be a frustrating science. The smartest
behavioral scientists in our health plan network cannot agree on the best way to cure many
behavioral disorders (or even agree that a disorder exists). At that point I am confident that the
reasonableness and intelligence of the members of our organization will work to make us all wiser.
Again, the principles must and will hold us together.
Bill
The following excerpts come from a school handbook that one of my kids brought
home.
Abuse
According to Massachusetts, any teacher who, in his/her professional capacity has reasonable
cause to believe a child under eighteen (18) years of age is suffering serious physical harm or
emotional injury resulting from abuse or from neglect is required to report this to the Department of
Social Services. All such reports are made in conjunction with the Director of education. Any
teacher who does not file reports of possible abuse or neglect could be fined up to One Thousand
($1,000.00) Dollars According to law.
Behavior
Proper respect toward teachers and the educational process is expected at all times
School Discipline policy
The school believes in each child's right to learn and to develop in an atmosphere of caring and
mutual respect. It is therefore incumbent upon us to ensure an environment conducive to learning,
by teaching our students to act in ways that contribute rather than distract from a positive learning
environment. Students are expected to exhibit appropriate behavior at all times. This means
consistently demonstrating respect for themselves, their classmates, and their teachers. It is
expected that students will not disrupt or interfere with the learning experiences of their classmates.
In the event that a student engages in behavior which is disruptive or disrespectful to his teacher or
classmates, the School Discipline Policy will be enforced in the following manner:
1. If the student, after being warned by a teacher or school staff member, that a particular behavior
is inappropriate and unacceptable, continues that behavior he or she will be sent to the office, with
an assignment, for a short period.
2. If a student is sent out of the classroom a second time teacher must contact the parent and file a
report with the school office.
3. If the student continues to misbehave and is sent to the office a third time, parental conference is
required prior to readmission to class.
4. If a student is sent out of the classroom a fourth time, he or she will be suspended from the
school.
No student will be permitted to continue in behavior which prevents other students from learning
Steve DiOrieo
More thoughts from Bill:
>..But I will add, this stuff is real and I want people to think about and not reflexively label it as PC. Being
prepared and having a reference allows us to consider these issues in a more rational manner and not
become overwhelmed with the obviously silly .. . .
Please don't discount a more fundamental philosophical issue I am bringing to light here.
Everyone agrees that being poor is bad. How people deal with that is a matter of endless debate.
Some want to use government for targeted interventions to help level the playing field and create
more opportunities for the downtrodden. Some want a strong safety net to protect all below a
certain level of poverty. And then there are some who feel that certain free market principles on the
whole are good and that government should stay out of the way of these natural economic forces
so that incentives drive people to work hard and reap the rewards of their ethics.
We all agree that inappropriate touching - perceived or real - is a problem. No disagreement there.
Now what should we do about it?
Well if you are a control freak in the dojo and you operate in a militaristic fashion and don't allow
people to talk much, then perhaps you should think real hard about each and every action that you
and your fellow instructors take. Want a lot of control? Better be prepared to take on a lot of
responsibility.
On the other hand if you believe in empowering your students and allowing frequent comment and
including people in decisions that are made, then maybe a different approach could be taken.
Perhaps relinquishing some control brings as an advantage the ability to train people to think for
themselves and speak their needs. Art Rabesa once told me that one of my female students (Maria
Olivas) would "just as soon tell you to go shit in your hat as say hi." This particular student (a brown
belt at the time) called a number of high ranking individuals to task for sexist comments they made
at a camp. George caught an earfull at the time, and was big enough to make some public
comments concerning what he heard. I heard even more than what George heard. Now you tell me
- how likely is it that this person would put up with inappropriate behavior to the point that she
would allow it to precipitate legal action? And how easy would it be for this person to be
victimized?
I can do everything I can to shelter my son from being sexually abused by predators. But unless I
educate my son about inappropriate touching, then I'm going to have to spend the rest of my life
following him around to protect him. And what is the likelihood that the predator that I fear is a
stranger? Statistics say "not very likely." Have I been a good martial arts instructor to him by being
his own protective mechanism? And what about all my karate students? Do I have to constantly be
evaluating my well-intentioned behavior for fear that an opportunistic lawyer may strike? What
happens if I train my students (using standard techniques) to differentiate between good touch and
bad touch, and inform them that they must speak out when they are uncomfortable?
Some days Maria would want to hug me or be hugged. Some days she was "hands off". I never
was fearful of Maria because I always knew where she was coming from. Furthermore I have more
than a few tales to tell about how Maria handled sexist situations while an exchange teacher in
Japan.
I would like all of my students to be empowered to understand their environment and know that
they have choices and courses of action - both inside and outside the dojo. Ultimately I feel I have
served them best by approaching the problem in this manner. Not everyone feels the way I feel,
and I can accept that. However I resent anyone telling OTHERS to restrict their freedoms (hence
the PC label) because THEY had bad experiences as a result of a more fundamental environmental
problem.
And Ron, I think Jefferson would agree!
OK, OK, I'm off the soap box.
In the past year I have received calls from a number of parents concerned with how their children
have been treated at different martial arts schools in the midwest. Some comments were trivial
others bordered on descriptions of physical abuse. Parents voiced concern about the necessity of
dojo sleep overs, video parties and the discovery that instructors were not trained to work with
kids. One parent could not understand the necessity for these social activities and was aghast that
people would leave their children in the hands of untrained persons.
The martial arts attracts many different kinds of people as we all know. For instructors,some sort of
background check would be valuable, the same type of background check several states have for
daycare providers, teachers etc... During my recent trip to Florida I was informed by an attorney
that State is implementing a law requiring anyone who has contact with minors (e.g. instructors of
dance, martial arts, gymnastics) to undergo a background check. My understanding is that this
would include fingerprinting and asearch of the FBI data base. The search would reveal any felony
convictions, and investigations or complaints of child abuse or molestation. I am unclear as too the
criteria for issuing a license to instruct, but would imagine that some individuals would be restricted
as to whether they could teach minors. Our NAC group here and representatives of other styles
support this type of legislation which we feel would go a long way to improving the professional
quality of martial arts instruction.
The NAC's recently completed Code of Conduct and Ethics goes a long way toward defining the
basis for appropriate behavior of students AND instructors. The definitions are moral, ethical and
above all, legal. One goal of providing a "code" is the establishment of various reference points with
which to enhance our awareness and provide the means by which to make decisions.
In the case of Sensi Robert Keith, mentioned in my posting last Friday, it is my sincerest belief that
a ten minute discussion with Dr. Paul Giella in the early 1990's would have raised Bob's awareness
considerably. It believe that it might have sensitized him to the danger presented by certain
personality types represented in individuals he had as students and also befriended. I also believe
that the Code of Conduct and Ethics would haveprovided an avenue to raise that awareness if it
were part of the Instructor Certification Program and the responsibility of a Senior Instructor to do
so. This especially true if and when we institute a required seminar for Senior and Full Instructor
certification taught by Dr. Giella! I point out again, the tragedy entangling Sensi Robert Keith could
befall anyone.
I am not a nay sayer about human relations. I care very much for my family, friends and community.
As I became more deeply involved in understanding the moral, ethical (and yes) criminal issues that
necessitated composing the Code of Ethics and Behavior Irealized that they were not as rare as I
had originally thought. They vary in degree. I advertise my self-defense classes as "teaching
self-defense without fear." I want to advertise the necessity for our constant awareness without
becoming preoccupied with fear or paranoia. Similarly, these issues of conduct and behavior are a
fact of life and working with people. This awareness is only one of many issues we need to keep in
mind as professionals The word of mouth advertising for my self-defense class is bringing me
people who have survived nightmare situations or who have a friend or loved one who has been
assaulted. Not much is said in the classes about these assaults because these people now realize
that such things are a fact of living and have been with us for all time. This unsavory and unromantic
aspect of our existence is something that clearly highlights how ineffective much of martial arts
training is in general. For me this is one of the strongest motivators I have for the in-depth study of
our kata and pragmatic/no nonsense applications of our art.
We need to understand the pragmatic aspects of our art, physically , mentally and spiritually just as
well as the dynamics of positive and negative human interactions. The later can range from unjust
accusations to physical assault. We have an obligation as martial artists to teach without fear, teach
without using fear, to live and to enjoy this life we are given without paranoia.
Ron Klein
Clarification:
The legislation in Florida is either pending or currently being written. The central portion of the bill
will be mandatory background checks of persons who will be working with children. I am too
receive descriptive information sometime this week-which will include the background research.
From my conversation with an attorney last night who is aware of this work-it sounds like
something that fits in well with the spirit of our code. I will get the information to you as soon as
possible.
take care.
Ron
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