From the Desk of Keith Hafner 

Martial Art Schools Are Not All the Same!

I received an interesting e-mail the other day from a guy named Larry (not his real name).  Larry had come to us with his son.  He was very interested in raising his son’s self-esteem.

Larry really like what he saw when he visited us and watched his son taking the Introductory Program.   To him, it seemed to be just the right thing for his son, Jonas (not his real name, either).

But here’s what happened.  Larry ultimately enrolled in another school…because it was closer to his house.  I’m sure he reasoned something like this:  “Martial Arts are Martial Arts…how different can this other school be from what Hafner is doing?”

I hadn’t heard from Larry in a while…until the other day, when I received this e-mail…

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Hello Sir,

I have an issue that I could use your advice with.  My son and I enrolled in a Martial Art school (2 blocks from our house) and there are some activities going on there that I have issue with.

One issue, they have white belts sparring and of course Jonas, my son, got banged up a bit and now he doesn’t want to spar anymore.

Second, the instructors walk around with the padded sticks like prison guards, constantly hitting the students with them (trying to make them tough.)

I am trying to build self esteem for my son, not turn him into a bully.  He says that he doesn’t like being touched/hit like that and that he wants to kick Grand Master ——- (name withheld to protect the unenlightened) down to the ground when he does that.

Next, they have the entire class sit to the sides and they bring up two students, have them begin sparring and then they throw the padded stick down on the ground and the two students fight to get the stick and then the match ends with one student wacking the other with the stick.  Not sure what the purpose of this is other than amusement for the spectators.

Lastly, we celebrate birthdays by lining up as in two rows and kicking the birthday student in the rear as they are led down the line, this is for their birthday….

My issue is that I want to express my dislike for these practices (EVERY CLASS this happens,) however I am certain there will be negative results in me bringing it up.  Do you think I should either suck it up and continue or should I say something to him and run the risk?

I suppose it doesn’t matter what happens, because we are going to class less and less the more I see how they are ran.

I value your input.

Thanks,
Larry

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So — is my point that they are bad and we are good?  Nope.  Thirty years ago, you could have written the same report (or worse!) about my school.  But we are proud of what we’ve accomplished…and what we’ve become along the way.

Thanks…as always…for your friendship and support!