Danger in the Dojo?

[DWx]

There is this other student who trains in one of my classes and he keeps bringing weapons to the dojo to show off. So far he has brought kamas, butterfly knives, a long sword and a bo staff. I wouldn't mind if he was just showing them to people but he keeps practising combos before and after training showing off to everyone that he can twirl them. He has had very limited actual teaching in any of the weapons and has not practised with any of them for a long period of time.

Am I over-reacting or is it right for me to feel very uneasy or practically on the brink of paranoia around him?

The weapons he brings aren't even safety versions and are sharpened. When he throws them about I feel very on edge as its a 50-50 chance of him actually catching them properly. Since our school doesn't actually teach any weapons, the insurance we have doesn't cover accidents arising from misuse of weapons. Aside from the legalities of it all, a lot of the younger students are becoming interested in swords and the like, buying replicas and intending to copy him.

He hasn't hurt anyone yet but he has come very close with a number of mistimed spins and strikes. I've said to him a number of times that I don't like being near him when he "plays with his new toys" and feel that not only is it a hazard, it also destroys my personal warm-up and cool-down before and after the sessions.

What do I do as talking to him is obviously not working?

[lordtariel]

Is this just a standard class or a weapons class he's going to? I would talk to your sensei about this because I feel it's a bit out of line, and if he's throwing them around like that, it's obviously a danger. Live blades can come loose if the weapon is poor quality and they are swung around carelessly.(I speared my couch from seven feet away with a cheap gim once) If I tried that sort of thing at any of the dojos I've trained at I'd probably be sent home packing.

[blackxpress]

"Since our school doesn't actually teach any weapons, the insurance we have doesn't cover accidents arising from misuse of weapons. "

If your school doesn't teach weapons, there's no reason for him or anyone else to bring them into the dojo. I can't imagine your sensei allowing such a situation to go on. It's a disastor in the making. My sensei would have a cow if someone did that.

[DWx]

If your school doesn't teach weapons, there's no reason for him or anyone else to bring them into the dojo. I can't imagine your sensei allowing such a situation to go on. It's a disastor in the making. My sensei would have a cow if someone did that.

The first time he brought them was on my sensei's request as he was interested in seeing how well made the sword was. He never asked him to use them at all but the student decided to show us his moves (if thats what you want to call them) and he has brought a different one each lesson ever since... One time our sensei told him quite clearly that he should stop practising with them in that lesson as he was conerned about safety however I don't think he has realised that that was a polite hint to stop bringing them altogether...

It doesn't help when some of the other teens ask him what else he's got and can he show them to him...

[bushido_man96]

I would stay on your sensei about having him not bring them. An accident sounds eminent.

[lordtariel]

I agree. Sounds like the only reason he's doing it is to show off and that has no place in a dojo.

[Jay]

Sounds like something he should be doing in his own time if he cuts himself then so what at least other people are ok and also its destroying good training time i think you should speak to ur sensei on this one

[ARADOX]

Actually this guy sounds kinda like me at the moment I am ashamed to say, except I try not to show off and to actually research and find out proper movements rather that auditioning for the majorettes like this guy seems like , If you can convince him to try to learn proper movements, and not twirl his weaponry around all the time thaen maybe, the people at your dojo might learn to respect him not for having cool weapons but knowing how to use said cool weapons, if there is an accident with a live blade, it can get VERY nasty, my sensei woud say; if you carry on with all that useless crap, how in hell do you expect to be able to defend yourself in a proper combat situation. This sounds like it could actually be a good thing as it could bring your dojo into a new field, but please don't let him try to teach anything that looks too flippy and flashy as it simply aint gonna work

[DWx]

It seems he (this student) thinks he's learning XMA but it just look flashy acrobatics with bad weapons skills. Last session he tried to run up the wall in the car park before proceeding to produce his latest metal and wood hazard. I would be less irritated if he learnt actual techniques (in the comfort of his own home) but when he keeps trying to swing stuff around and twirl it before and after lessons, it just convinces me that his ego really is bigger than he can handle.

I will try to catch my sensei next lesson.

[Eric7_27]

This guy sounds like he needs to be in flag troupe and should be twirling nice and safe flags, not sharpened swords in an uncontrolled manner near impressionable observers.