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Originally Posted by fightme
Many parents want to enroll their children in "martial arts" but want the structure so that it's a sport and not "fighting". And what the money wants...
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That's an
extremely good point. Parents enrolling their kids because martial arts is supposed to instill 'discipline', is really driving the industry in the USA, not self-defense.
This may even be a safety issue. Do we really want nine year olds being taught to keep their fingers relaxed when they spear someone in the eyes, so their fingers slide up the cheekbones into the eye if they miss? Teaching discipline is possible. Teaching judgement is another thing altogether. If I had known the techniques at 15 I knew at 35, I'd have killed somebody. I was just too emotional.
However, it's not martial arts that's being watered down. It's the value of a 'black belt'. Once upon a time, earning a black belt meant you could fight. Now it doesn't, pure and simple.