The Northwest Herald has been giving a lot of publicity recently to a 13-year-old Lake in the Hills girl who has been training at her father's Huntley gym in the "sport" of kickboxing. This morning's paper reports that she gained a national title last Saturday by kicking her opponent in the face in the first round that knocked her competitor out of the fight.
The opponent suffered a sprained neck in the fight.
To me, this is not sport. Why does society tolerate, even encourage, such fighting, and why isn't it penalized under the criminal code? Is it because it is pre-arranged? Because there are spectators? Because there is a "national title" at stake?
Baloney!
I agree that kids and adults should learn self-defense tactics and strategies, but this is not "self-defense." This is fighting for the "sport" of it.
What it escalates to, of course, is the major "event", such as was held a while back just east of McHenry, where some organizer put together an evening of fights and sold tickets for admission.
Do I want to worry whether some kid is going to come up and give me a swift kick - no, not in the backside - right in the face? As he approaches, should I ask, "Did you train at Z's Martial Arts Academy or at any of the myriad of other so-called "training" businesses that have sprung up all over McHenry County?"
When I see a gang of punks roaming the halls of a mall and dancing around, kicking in the air and making karate-chop gestures, do I need to worry about whether they are going to get in my "space"?
Responsible martial arts studios train their students in the art of self-defense and provide extensive practice. They also stress the importance of self-discipline and the avoidance of a fight. They train students to have the confidence to walk away from the fight. And to know that, if an aggressor goes after them, they have the skills with which to defend themselves.
And then there are these other places - the ones that glorify the attack and the win.
© 2008 GUS PHILPOTT
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3 comments:
its a sport maybe u should join. ur gonna need to defend urself soon. or are u afraid of getting beat up by a 13yo girl?
Nahhh, she has the smarts to use her fighting skills in the ring. Plus, I'll bet she doesn't strut around bragging about them. Or threatening people.
What, exactly, is it that you mean by "ur gonna need to defend urself soon"? Be specific. And be brave enough to identify yourself.
That is just making you go crazy not knowing who is behind a screen name. What Gus, are you afraid? Do you want him to be specific enough so the threat is not open ended? That way you can turn the comment into the police who don't give a rats ass about your crusade. Maybe when you are taking a picture of her you pedophile, she will have the smarts to kick the crap out of you.
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