Breach of sparring etiquette

[parkerlineage]

We've had several guys leave our dojo for various reasons - moving away and so forth, and all of them randomly came back to visit tonight. Two of them have been training at alleged MMA places (please note that this post is not intended in any way to put down on MMA, I just wanted to clarify that right now). Basically, from what I saw tonight, that meant that they stopped kicking except for the occasional front kick, started grabbing and sweeping, and used tighter fighting stances.

I felt no strong pull toward liking or disliking their new way of fighting, but what I did not appreciate was their attitude. Both of them were/are black belts in our dojo, so they know the etiquette, but they were both overly aggressive toward lesser ranking students, and the student population in general. One green belt got a bloody nose from one of them.

My instructor is out of town, so before anybody starts putting him down, he wasn't there to stop any of this.

As the second highest rank but youngest student in class, my words carry little weight. The highest rank, a Nidan, told the one who gave a bloody nose to our green belt to calm down, but he didn't.

I believe actions speak louder than words, so I let them both have it. I am recovering from a sprained ankle I gave myself doing aerials three weeks ago, so I was fighting on my less preferred side, and was unable to kick - which is my forte. I would like to say, however, that I thouroughly mopped the floor with both of the over-aggressive students - the one who had given the bloody nose especially. He can sweep, but I can land four punches and a front kick on the way down, then a front kick while I roll backward, and another three punches on my way back up. Which I did. Twice. (Slight bow)

Am I proud of myself? Perhaps - they used to beat on me when I was little, so turnabout is fair play, eh? Was it proper - I'm not even going there.

But please, remember that no matter where you've gone after you leave a dojo, if you return, play by their rules, not yours.

[glockmeister]

What you did was right, putting them in their place. And I agree, you go by the rules of the dojo you are at. Seems like these guys got a little to big for their britches.

[bushido_man96]

I applaud you for your actions, Parkerlineage. I think that not only what you did is right, but almost necessary. You don't need thugs coming in and pounding on your students. They should be ashamed to associate themselves with ever being involved with your dojo after those actions.

Too bad the head instructor wasn't there. But, you handled it well. You tried handling it reasonbly first, by speaking to them, but then had to take it to the next level, which is very reasonable on your part.

Just something I picked up on your initial post---maybe you should start sparring with your bad side forward, so you can still kick, if it is your strong suit. Just think of how much better you could have done (just messing with ya )

[Anbu Alex]

i agree with everyone else you did a good job putting them in place the same happened to me with an unruly green belt didnt even listen to the sensei so i had to pop him and throw him hard

[jaymac]

I for one and glad and impressed by you, but saddened that once respectable ( I think) black belts at your dojo would come back purposefully try to belittle fellow students. I hope they will not be permitted to return to your dojo in the future.

[Sohan]

My sensei would have all of our tails in a sling if he found out we were pounding on each other like that over ego issues. I train in other styles but I always enter my dojo with the proverbial "empty cup"---regardless of what I learn on the outside, when I'm in the dojo, I respect my art.

Giving a lower belt a bloody nose like that is inexcusable. They should be suspended from the dojo for a period of time to learn to treat others with more respect. It's said you can tell the character of a man by the way he treats his dog---this goes doubly for a black belt and a kyu level student. It's a shame you were forced to handle it the way you did, but I likely would have done the same.

With respect,

Sohan

[cathal]

I'm with Sohan on this one, too. However putting them in their place shouldn't have even been necessary, the Nidan should have asked them to leave.

[danbong]

The way you handled it was old school and that's what traditional martists would expect to be done in that situation. It shows a total lack of class for them to rough up juniors.

[pittbullJudoka]

You should be proud you stood up for your dojo.Contact your instructor if possible and talk with him about it or contact him as soon as possible after he gets back into town.But I do know that if that had happened in the dojo where I train it would be up to the senior student to take action against those disrespecting our dojo.

My instructor has said if any ever comes into our dojo and tries to beat up on his students they will recieve another invation to our dojo to descuss the matter and he will deal with the person as he sees fit.If sensie is present at the time of the incedent he says they will get just a bit more than they are giving from him.He is very old school in some of his ways.I agree 100% with you actions

[ps1]

I believe you handled yourself appropriately. "Karate is aid to justice."

I am deeply saddened by their actions as it is just the attitude I am seeing from many who study in MMA schools. Too often, I see them believing they are superior to other MA stylists. Please keep in mind that I train in an MMA school now also (for reason outlined on another thread). Too many people learning fighting and too few really grasp the way of the thing itself. At times it can feel like organized thugary. Fortunately the instructor and i are able to set many of them straight.