Shotokan-kez

It would be such a shame to give up now after getting so far. I am also 1st kyu in shotokan and i wouldn't dream of giving it up now, but then our circumstances are different. I agree with Cathal about speaking to your sensei about how your feeling. I think you don't have very many options if the only available arts to you don't appeal to you. I would suggest to continue with your training if thats at all possible.

Well yeah, this is just it! They are just always told to tell the teacher, yet there have been many times when kids have gone to teachers with similar things and they have brushed it aside. And the trouble is, it's a no win situation, if he throws the first punch/strike he would be in even deeper trouble, of course i would defend him 100% if that happened. I do feel that Ryan needs to get 'harder', he is very wimpy and a little weak in the fighting department. I think if he just showed a little toughness then it will be better for him, i don't know. As it happens things have quietened down in school and they are all okay again, like i say i have a meeting with the teachers and head next week so i will talk about it with them also. Thanks for all your advice and support guys! Kez x

Yeah it's goof things are improving for you, best of luck, it does seem like you are on the right track.

thats exactly how we do it to. Eyes down.

Wow so many replies. Firstly we have to remember Ryan is only 9 years old, is he really expected to deal with this kind of situation effectively and properly? It's just like kids in the dojo, they fool around and treat their training as a bit of fun, and don't actually consider that they may actually be in a real fight some day and have to use his karate. Secondly, yes there were two particular boys that were the main instigators, but there was a circle of kids around him and they were also having the occasional kick. Reffering to a post made earlier. Ryan is a good kid and he is taught that violence is bad, and in the past i have always said to him. 'You can't hit people it's wrong'. But after this incident i have told him he has my permission to hit, but ONLY in self defence and they must hit him first. On the other hand we have his father who he visits once a week and he has told Ryan to go in to school and beat them all up! I totally disagree with this, he cannot go and beat them up for no good reason. But is there really a good reason to go beating anyone up?? But then i know Ryan and i know he just wouldn't do that, he isn't like that, and no he doesnt have any kind of fighting spirit, he doesn't like it because he is sensitive and kind and is a clever lad. What annoyed me a lot also is that when the teacher called me she wouldn't give me any names of the kids involved. (although she did say that even the kids that were 'egging' the bullies on were repremanded). Ryan has told me that things have calmed down since the incident and they have all kept away from him. I have a meeting in school nect week so i will definatly bring up the matter with the head. I can also visit the school at lunch time if i wanted to watch them all in the playground. I won't be taking Ryan out of training, what i will do is ask him if he's still happy taking karate and would he like to continue with his training. Maybe a short break would be in order and then see how he feels about it. When im back in training i will be having words with the sensei because i don't like to see Ryan getting told off all the time, i think it's something sensei needs to know.

I hear you there! My boy is a year old, and he likes to headbutt! Mine beats me up to, when im practising he tries to copy and then tries it on everyone else

Thanks everyone for the brilliant comments. Unfortunatly the kids won't be suspended, although they do come down hard on bullies i don't know exactly how hard. Ryan has said that he has made friends with the boys in question, but they do keep away from each other. The things is it's still bothering me loads, all that keeps going through my mind is that this happened on school grounds, where were the midday staff? And why was it left to get that far? Ryan says he did complain to a dinner lady and she just said 'keep away from them'. Ryan always tries to do the right thing in school, he rarely gets into trouble and he's in the top set for every subject. I think that may be why they 'target' him sometimes. Hiya Cross, i do kinda see where your coming from but im not sure i completely understand. Would'nt continuing his training help his confidence and improve things eventually? Or are you saying his karate training is a waste of time, because it isnt working for him? He did try to fight back, but to be honest i think i would be very intimidated if i was in that situation.

Yeah cheers for those replies. Fingers crossed his confidence will rise again (not that he had very much in the first place). Yes i think i will tell sensei, he may do more self defence techniques with the children, as he hates bullies he always makes that clear in the classes.

I don't wear make-up Carolyn but i am similar in that i act like im going on a night out when i go karate I slap loads of gel on my hair and make it look nice, even wear my best scent

Hi guys. Last week on friday at school he got into a fight in the playground. It wasn't his fault and he was basically a target for bullies. A boy and his friend grabbed Ryan by the throat and was swinging him round. Then the main boy put him in the head lock while the other kicked him. They then threw him to the ground, stamped on him and kicked him. While it was going on a crowd of kids surrounded him so he couldn't get away. That same day i had a phone call from school to explain what had happened and to inform me that the bullies were being dealt with and that their parents had been called. The thing that bothered me the most is that these are 9 year old kids and that was a viscious attack, on my boy, it brought a tear to my eye. Anyway when Ryan came home from school we talked about it, then his karate training came into it. He said he didnt see the point in doing karate anymore when the kids still beat up on him. He didnt even try to defend himself and he thought that was bad. He is embarressed and would hardly talk about it. In training on monday night he did dreadful, put absolutely no effort or work into it and he was constantly being told off from sensei because he was acting like he didnt care. He is a purple belt and was even messing up his basics, that is so not like him at all. I'm not sure weather i should tell sensei about what happened, but im wondering if this may explain his sudden change of attitude towards his karate?? He seems to have lost his confidence in the dojo, it's awful to see! Thanks for listening guys. Kez x

myself i have been lucky and not been in any kind of confrontation, not since school anyway.

OOOO that sounds interesting. I think if something like that was available in the uk i would go for it. I would love to be able to do something like that. You get so many degree's and diploma's in so many other subjects. yes you can get a sports science degree where maybe it may touch on MA, but to get a degree in MA itself would be cool.

Yeah maybe it has got something to do with different belt systems, but i have never really heard of it either. In our club if your a black belt, then thats what it is.

im lucky in a way that i am renting my house so anything like structural work, like windows, boilers ect is done by my landlord at their expense. The inside though doesnt half cost a lot!

Ok i am a girl, and in wednesday night training i was hit very hard in my chest by a guy. It hurt loads and i went to the ground with tears in my eyes. However at the end of the day it was an accident, the guy didnt purposly aim there (or i hope not anyway ). I could have hurt him in the wrong place by accident! I do think it's a little harder for ladies because they do have bits sticking out there that guys don't, but guys have sensitive area's too. Ladies should get breast protectors if they are concerned. I don't because i feel its all part of it!

I guess with us it does look a bit like a boxing stance, but i suppose when we do freestyle sparring it can be any stance you feel comfortable with. I don't see how a stance can make you a better fighter. Karateka's tend to have their own stance, everyone is different.

Oh dear. Sometimes i wonder why we do this.

I made a start! Brian your thread was a bad influence on me (or good) Ryans room has ivory walls with a blue ceiling and blue woodwork. I'm having his carpet fitted next wednesday. Then i'm going to buy his doctor who wardrobe and curtains. He's a lucky boy!

I'll take back what i said in my first thread Last night in training we were doing kumite. I won my first two fights with 3 straight points. Last fight i scored once to the face and then lost when the guy punched me hard in the chest (me being a lady it hurt a lot ). The guy did apologise profusely but where was his control! It was meant to be light freestyle. Anyway i was down on the floor for ages with tears in my eyes, i didnt want to stand up and let people se where i got hit! It doesnt half hurt this morning.

Aww glad to hear you had a great time Richard. I would love to be able to train oversea's. And it sounds like you had a great holiday at the same the time, welcome back!.

I took to Shotokan really well, that doesn't mean to say its easy though. I have never done any other arts so i can't really comment on that side of things. I think it does depend on the student tho, and the instructor, as others have said.

Manchester united football club

Yeah me too. It is rubbish, i have only heard of a few of them but when they put jades family in there i thought it was daft!

Wow far to many to list but here are some of my faves! Green mile, shawshank redemption, boys don't cry, million dollar baby, all harry potters, falling down, all the rocky's, daylight, monster in law, superman returns.....best stop now lol