I put this on the General Martial Arts Talk forum after some thought; it really is not 'Study' Forum material since it is MA-related, and it's not 'Horror Stories' Forum material because first, no one has been convicted, and second, I'm sure there are a lot of people who are going to think this instructor did nothing wrong. But please - please - be civil inmartial artist arrested your responses on this thread.
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/06/17/martial-arts-instructor-charged
http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/a...uctor-charged-with-assaulting-4-students?bn=1
We hit and get hit in my dojo. We don't try to hurt each other, but people get bruises, and sometimes we get hit hard by mistake, either though not blocking correctly, or a karateka who doesn't have quite the level of control he or she should yet.
I'm a little concerned about students and parents of students not understanding that martial arts instruction necessarily involves controlled violence. If their child was taking boxing lessons, would they think the kid would not get punched in the head? However, I could understand if an instructor were sadistic or hurting people because they wanted to being the subject of such charges. I myself have been warned about a particular instructor in the area (not in my dojo) who likes to display his talent by hurting students. I've never seen this, only heard about it. So I guess it can happen.
I am very unclear on what happened in this dojo, so I won't offer a criticism of the sensei; but it's clear that at least someone thought he crossed the line with the level of physicality in his dojo.
What are your thoughts on this? Again, let's keep it polite.
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/06/17/martial-arts-instructor-charged
NEWMARKET - A Richmond Hill martial arts instructor who was trained by the Russian army was released on bail Friday, after he was charged with assaulting four of his students with a weapon and uttering death threats.
Viktor Sokolovski, the 57-year-old owner of Tsunami Club on Elgin Mills Rd. E., was arrested Thursday at the studio where he teaches judo, karate and jiu-jitsu. HeÂ’s charged with assault, assault with a weapon, and uttering death threats. At least four boys between the ages of six and 14 were allegedly beaten, York Regional Police say.
“These assaults took place during a period of four years, since 2007,” Const. Rebecca Boyd said. “We got a phone call from a parent in May, saying they were concerned. Investigators had enough evidence to believe (the line between training and assault) had been crossed, but ultimately, that’s going to be for a court to decide.”
http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/a...uctor-charged-with-assaulting-4-students?bn=1
Outside the courthouse, students and their parents praised him as tough but fair.
“Viktor’s nice,” said David Tsitrin, 10, who began training with Sokolovski at his Tsunami Martial Arts Club school when he was three years old. “Sometimes he makes us do hard work. Mostly, we do some laps around the whole building. People think that’s way too much. I actually think that’s fun.”
We hit and get hit in my dojo. We don't try to hurt each other, but people get bruises, and sometimes we get hit hard by mistake, either though not blocking correctly, or a karateka who doesn't have quite the level of control he or she should yet.
I'm a little concerned about students and parents of students not understanding that martial arts instruction necessarily involves controlled violence. If their child was taking boxing lessons, would they think the kid would not get punched in the head? However, I could understand if an instructor were sadistic or hurting people because they wanted to being the subject of such charges. I myself have been warned about a particular instructor in the area (not in my dojo) who likes to display his talent by hurting students. I've never seen this, only heard about it. So I guess it can happen.
I am very unclear on what happened in this dojo, so I won't offer a criticism of the sensei; but it's clear that at least someone thought he crossed the line with the level of physicality in his dojo.
What are your thoughts on this? Again, let's keep it polite.