Poll: mentally disabled

[LeaF]

personally I don't allow myself to be concerned with other people. I do not compare myself to the people I train with. I do not think it would take away from my belt, because if I know I have worked hard for it and deserve it that how hard other people work for their rank is irrelivant because I know I deserve to be where I am. Although I say this I have never really been in a situation where I don't feel the people who have their belts don't deserve them (well maybe once there was this samll woman...not that I have a problem against women she was just an underachiever and always did worse then everybody else) but I try not to let these things bother me and just focus on myself.

[G95champ]

Everyone should meet that style requiremnts but you can't say he or she has disability they will never be a blackbelt.

[Bon]

::edit:: Edited September 29, 2002 by Bon

[The_Yak]

exactly Bon

[metalhead]

The fact that someone else was awarded any belt or rank has no affect on me. My rank or skill level is just that mine. I find it odd the way people obsess about someone elses belt level, but thats just me.

 

If I thought my school was giving out belts without merit I would leave and find a school that would make me feel like I accomplished something.

 

I do think that there should be a standard and that it should be upheld regardless of the person trying to achieve it, to do any different would rob that individual of their accomplishment. If you are physically or mentally unable to obtain a certain level than it wasn't meant to be. It doesn't mean that you didn't work hard or try like heck to achieve it.

 

Thats my opinion and what I look for in a school.

[LeaF]

but should this standard be held for the mentally disabled. It is impossible for some of these people to come any where near to these standards. So should they have their own standards, No because each cases is unqiue and different and it would not only be immpossible the try to come up with special standards but it would also be incrediablly unfair.

 

So are you then saying the the martial arts should not be open to the mentally disabled. I don't agree with that either. Because the martial arts can have profound influance and effect on these people's lives, It can help teach them things that we don't even realize the importance of. I think the martial arts can have a very positive effect on these peoples lives, and isn't that what the martial arts are all about. The arts are not really about learning how to fight, or exercise, or even expanding our knowledge, it is about instilling self-confidence with in us and being happy about who we are and the world around us and this is done through learning self defense techniques, getting in shape/exercise, and expanding our knowlege about the world around us.

 

So this is why I do not believe in having a standard in the respect of the mentally disabled because each person has a different degree of their disablity and standards simple do not work here.

 

Thank you

[metalhead]

When I said standard I meant across the board for everyone, no consideration of size, gender or mental ability. I agree it would be impossible for each person to have their own standard.

 

I am not saying that the martial arts should be closed to anyone. In fact I believe quite the opposite. What I meant was that I do not believe in preferential treatment as I think it does more harm than good. If someone has limits than they must operate within them. It doesn't do anyone any good to make them think they can spar with a seasoned fighter when they cannot. However, to teach them to defend themselves and be confident in their abilities is always a good thing.

 

I agree with everything you have said LeaF even if I am unable to communicate my opinion clearly.

[LeaF]

Fair enough I think I understand what you were trying to get at a little better now

 

[color=yellow]And congrats on the yellow belt [/color]

[metalhead]

Cool, maybe I am getting better at this expressing my thoughts in writing thing. I thought maybe it was the language barrier you being Canadian and all - j/k

[G95champ]

Bon

 

I agree with that. Al I was saying is that you can't say well he or she has a problem and will never be able to reach this leval. I do think that ones mental ability can make up for his or her physcial ability. However it don't work the other way IMO.....