Researcher
09-26-2006, 10:35 AM
Comments and Opinions re the following would be appreciated.
INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR
Regular readers of Traditional Karate will recognise my articles as nearly always being somewhat outspoken regarding many aspects of karate practise. For this I do not apologise, as all of the points I have tendered for revue are valid and important to the many karateka they refer to. I am not here as an advocate for sensationalism, but purely to voice the thoughts and concerns of many of the karateka who discuss their problems with me via the internet, as they quite often feel forgotten, overlooked, harassed and even abused.
Over the years I have had heard a few instances concerning this topic, twice from my own female students who also received unwanted “attention” from teachers from this group/association many years ago. I have always pondered whether to write regarding this matter but, following the recent revelations I have had conveyed to me, I believe that it is now time for me to support these people and offer their problems up for the information/judgement of the readers.
Traditional Karate Magazine has for a long time been recognised as being the fair and democratic voice of the Karateka, never shirking in its responsibility to its readers, and always willing to support the good name of UK karate, and for this reason I’m sure they will offer their support in eradicating this serious problem. I appreciate that this is a very contentious subject to be publicised in such a high profile magazine, but it is happening, and should be brought to the attention of all karateka, as well as offering some hope to the victims that it will be taken seriously, and hopefully stamped out.
It is my understanding that there are only 2 or 3 guilty parties involved in this dishonourable behaviour, all within the same group/association, and I sincerely hope that this article doesn’t open the floodgates for further accusations against other parties.
This article focuses on some of the methods used in hopefully, a minority of dojo
within UK karate. I DO apologise on this occasion for the severity of the contents.
In bona-fide dojo the Sensei is seen as the leading light hence, his/her words and actions should be totally absorbed and retained, as much as possible, for future reference, as normally these words and actions provide valuable insight into pertinent points of a student’s training.
The words provide for the explanation of technique, and all the required movement necessary to achieve it in the best way an individual can. They offer encouragement, support and the required knowledge in order to gain success.
Apparently, and unfortunately, some of the words used towards female karateka have a hidden agenda, which doesn’t have anything at all to do with karate, but in fact is targeted as sexual innuendo and even blatant suggestion and proposition. The words are more often than not verbal but, in some extreme cases, they are even to be found in written text in the form of emails, letters and gift cards. Both the emails and letters usually contain explicit sexual suggestion, enticement, offers and even demands to provide sexual experiences in the most lurid of text. Invariably the women targeted are single but, it has been known for even married women, and women in relationships, to also become targets. The sending of disgusting written emails and letters obviously proves that even having a supposedly extremely high senior grade, and title, doesn’t always imply that the authors have any intelligence, as emails and letters can be easily traced back to their point of despatch in this age of innovative forensic science, and high level computer technology. Telephone calls, calls and text messages via mobile phones are also used to pursue this disgusting behaviour.
As with all forms of threat, bribery or coercion the victim is nearly always provided with some form of reward for complying with the requests/demands of the aggressor. In normal society this is often seen as a monetary benefit, but invariably in karate it is the inappropriate progression through grade, or for those who refuse to capitulate to the demands, it may result in a reduction of grade level or even expulsion.
A sensei’s actions are viewed as the display of technique, attributes, and honest and worthwhile principles. They are in constant view by the students, and are seen as the physical requirements that a student needs to evaluate and perform in order to progress.
Inappropriate actions can often be camouflaged as accidental, but to the recipient they are obviously premeditated and invariably unwanted. Sensei of both gender are always very wary about how they touch students when trying to correct their stances or techniques, as it can lead to embarrassment for both the sensei and the student, but the people who use their status as teachers to attain sexual gratification, invariably touch, pat, grope and stroke their victims in places on the body that legally would be deemed as SERIOUS SEXUAL ASSAULT, if reported to the police. Again the rewards can be high for those who accept such disgusting behaviour, as instant advancement in grade would be acceptable to a certain minority of students but, for the majority who find this intolerable, the result is more often than not ridicule during the classes, or again even expulsion.
As with any club, or gathering of people, rumours very often run amok, with many being groundless, but some having fact behind them. They often say that “walls have ears” and children and teenagers definitely do. Are we supposed to stand back and let the kids listen to, and view, some of the shameful happenings that are occurring within some dojo? Do we, as responsible karateka, want our names to be associated with the sort of people who intimidate females, and quite often force them into positions that they are invariably unwilling to be in; I for one think NOT.
The other frightening concern with this is that these aggressors may even be viewing young girls, who are students, as future victims ….. this thought fills me with HORROR.
Below is a genuine written statement from one of the victims.
“I am a female karateka who, 18 months ago, went to train with a group headed by a very high profile, high ranking and titled teacher. Initially I was pleased to be part of such a group but before long the head teacher, a married man, started making suggestive remarks to me about how I looked and how I moved. Not wishing to over-react, or cause trouble of any kind, I kept quiet and hoped the problem would go away if I simply ignored it.
However, this soon progressed to emails and phone calls during which he suggested that we have an affair. I was very shocked by this and made it clear that I dated neither married men nor my teachers. At that time I had just begun a new relationship but this did not seem to make any difference to this senior teacher.
He became even more insistent, the emails and phone calls became more frequent, and more graphic, to the point where it was becoming distressing to even go and train. I received letters and gifts from him, and even a signed Valentines Day card. Eventually I had to stop training there altogether, as not only did I feel humiliated, degraded and abused but, I was also concerned that his constant pursuit of me may soon become apparent to other students. I know that he has told numerous other senior grades within his Organisations, and posted it on his websites, that I was expelled for misconduct, when in fact I left due to the trauma I experienced from him on a continual basis.
Many people have suggested to me that I could sue for sexual harassment, as I have both written and signed letters and cards, as well as witnesses who are prepared to vouch for the fact that they also overheard/listened into the foul content of his phone calls. I am concerned though that this would bring not only this offender, but also innocent people in this organisation, and karate as a whole into disrepute, and could affect the training of other innocent parties.
I am very grateful to Peter Evans for taking the trouble to highlight this problem, and also to Traditional Karate Magazine for agreeing to publish this article.
I hope that other influential masters and teachers reading this will take the issue seriously, and that karateka of both sexes, and all ranks, will be vigilant in ensuring this does not happen in their dojo.”
I have been advised to withhold my name for legal reasons.
The above points are not fantasy or unfounded allegations, as we can provide the written evidence to support these claims, but highlights of some of the problems that are pertinent to female karateka. These acts are not only intimidating but also extremely upsetting for the victims. In modern society these problems should not happen, and the offending culprits should be exposed, and shamed in public, to protect present, and future, female karateka. Far too many promising female karateka have ceased their training due to unwanted sexual harassment and abuse.
Sexual harassment/abuse is illegal, and furthermore it should not be countenanced within any dojo. If we want to see the continued influx of female students into dojo we must act now, in order to ensure that there are no more victims.
These offenders know who they are, and I urge them to cease their intolerable activities before they further blight the good name of karate in the UK. Continued repetition of these acts must surely result in the pursuance of legal action.
Obviously we haven’t actually named the offenders, not out of fear of repercussions or legal action, but for the fact that we, as responsible karateka, do not wish to cause upset or ill-feeling amongst past or present students, or other Senior Grades and Associations involved with these people, we just want them to cease what they are doing.
Contact details are provided below for readers who are keen to react to this subject, or for the provision of further substance matter.
As stated, this article is featured in the October 2006 issue of Traditional Karate Magazine, but posted on here will offer a far greater range of opinion and comment from people outside of the UK.
Peter Evans
INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR
Regular readers of Traditional Karate will recognise my articles as nearly always being somewhat outspoken regarding many aspects of karate practise. For this I do not apologise, as all of the points I have tendered for revue are valid and important to the many karateka they refer to. I am not here as an advocate for sensationalism, but purely to voice the thoughts and concerns of many of the karateka who discuss their problems with me via the internet, as they quite often feel forgotten, overlooked, harassed and even abused.
Over the years I have had heard a few instances concerning this topic, twice from my own female students who also received unwanted “attention” from teachers from this group/association many years ago. I have always pondered whether to write regarding this matter but, following the recent revelations I have had conveyed to me, I believe that it is now time for me to support these people and offer their problems up for the information/judgement of the readers.
Traditional Karate Magazine has for a long time been recognised as being the fair and democratic voice of the Karateka, never shirking in its responsibility to its readers, and always willing to support the good name of UK karate, and for this reason I’m sure they will offer their support in eradicating this serious problem. I appreciate that this is a very contentious subject to be publicised in such a high profile magazine, but it is happening, and should be brought to the attention of all karateka, as well as offering some hope to the victims that it will be taken seriously, and hopefully stamped out.
It is my understanding that there are only 2 or 3 guilty parties involved in this dishonourable behaviour, all within the same group/association, and I sincerely hope that this article doesn’t open the floodgates for further accusations against other parties.
This article focuses on some of the methods used in hopefully, a minority of dojo
within UK karate. I DO apologise on this occasion for the severity of the contents.
In bona-fide dojo the Sensei is seen as the leading light hence, his/her words and actions should be totally absorbed and retained, as much as possible, for future reference, as normally these words and actions provide valuable insight into pertinent points of a student’s training.
The words provide for the explanation of technique, and all the required movement necessary to achieve it in the best way an individual can. They offer encouragement, support and the required knowledge in order to gain success.
Apparently, and unfortunately, some of the words used towards female karateka have a hidden agenda, which doesn’t have anything at all to do with karate, but in fact is targeted as sexual innuendo and even blatant suggestion and proposition. The words are more often than not verbal but, in some extreme cases, they are even to be found in written text in the form of emails, letters and gift cards. Both the emails and letters usually contain explicit sexual suggestion, enticement, offers and even demands to provide sexual experiences in the most lurid of text. Invariably the women targeted are single but, it has been known for even married women, and women in relationships, to also become targets. The sending of disgusting written emails and letters obviously proves that even having a supposedly extremely high senior grade, and title, doesn’t always imply that the authors have any intelligence, as emails and letters can be easily traced back to their point of despatch in this age of innovative forensic science, and high level computer technology. Telephone calls, calls and text messages via mobile phones are also used to pursue this disgusting behaviour.
As with all forms of threat, bribery or coercion the victim is nearly always provided with some form of reward for complying with the requests/demands of the aggressor. In normal society this is often seen as a monetary benefit, but invariably in karate it is the inappropriate progression through grade, or for those who refuse to capitulate to the demands, it may result in a reduction of grade level or even expulsion.
A sensei’s actions are viewed as the display of technique, attributes, and honest and worthwhile principles. They are in constant view by the students, and are seen as the physical requirements that a student needs to evaluate and perform in order to progress.
Inappropriate actions can often be camouflaged as accidental, but to the recipient they are obviously premeditated and invariably unwanted. Sensei of both gender are always very wary about how they touch students when trying to correct their stances or techniques, as it can lead to embarrassment for both the sensei and the student, but the people who use their status as teachers to attain sexual gratification, invariably touch, pat, grope and stroke their victims in places on the body that legally would be deemed as SERIOUS SEXUAL ASSAULT, if reported to the police. Again the rewards can be high for those who accept such disgusting behaviour, as instant advancement in grade would be acceptable to a certain minority of students but, for the majority who find this intolerable, the result is more often than not ridicule during the classes, or again even expulsion.
As with any club, or gathering of people, rumours very often run amok, with many being groundless, but some having fact behind them. They often say that “walls have ears” and children and teenagers definitely do. Are we supposed to stand back and let the kids listen to, and view, some of the shameful happenings that are occurring within some dojo? Do we, as responsible karateka, want our names to be associated with the sort of people who intimidate females, and quite often force them into positions that they are invariably unwilling to be in; I for one think NOT.
The other frightening concern with this is that these aggressors may even be viewing young girls, who are students, as future victims ….. this thought fills me with HORROR.
Below is a genuine written statement from one of the victims.
“I am a female karateka who, 18 months ago, went to train with a group headed by a very high profile, high ranking and titled teacher. Initially I was pleased to be part of such a group but before long the head teacher, a married man, started making suggestive remarks to me about how I looked and how I moved. Not wishing to over-react, or cause trouble of any kind, I kept quiet and hoped the problem would go away if I simply ignored it.
However, this soon progressed to emails and phone calls during which he suggested that we have an affair. I was very shocked by this and made it clear that I dated neither married men nor my teachers. At that time I had just begun a new relationship but this did not seem to make any difference to this senior teacher.
He became even more insistent, the emails and phone calls became more frequent, and more graphic, to the point where it was becoming distressing to even go and train. I received letters and gifts from him, and even a signed Valentines Day card. Eventually I had to stop training there altogether, as not only did I feel humiliated, degraded and abused but, I was also concerned that his constant pursuit of me may soon become apparent to other students. I know that he has told numerous other senior grades within his Organisations, and posted it on his websites, that I was expelled for misconduct, when in fact I left due to the trauma I experienced from him on a continual basis.
Many people have suggested to me that I could sue for sexual harassment, as I have both written and signed letters and cards, as well as witnesses who are prepared to vouch for the fact that they also overheard/listened into the foul content of his phone calls. I am concerned though that this would bring not only this offender, but also innocent people in this organisation, and karate as a whole into disrepute, and could affect the training of other innocent parties.
I am very grateful to Peter Evans for taking the trouble to highlight this problem, and also to Traditional Karate Magazine for agreeing to publish this article.
I hope that other influential masters and teachers reading this will take the issue seriously, and that karateka of both sexes, and all ranks, will be vigilant in ensuring this does not happen in their dojo.”
I have been advised to withhold my name for legal reasons.
The above points are not fantasy or unfounded allegations, as we can provide the written evidence to support these claims, but highlights of some of the problems that are pertinent to female karateka. These acts are not only intimidating but also extremely upsetting for the victims. In modern society these problems should not happen, and the offending culprits should be exposed, and shamed in public, to protect present, and future, female karateka. Far too many promising female karateka have ceased their training due to unwanted sexual harassment and abuse.
Sexual harassment/abuse is illegal, and furthermore it should not be countenanced within any dojo. If we want to see the continued influx of female students into dojo we must act now, in order to ensure that there are no more victims.
These offenders know who they are, and I urge them to cease their intolerable activities before they further blight the good name of karate in the UK. Continued repetition of these acts must surely result in the pursuance of legal action.
Obviously we haven’t actually named the offenders, not out of fear of repercussions or legal action, but for the fact that we, as responsible karateka, do not wish to cause upset or ill-feeling amongst past or present students, or other Senior Grades and Associations involved with these people, we just want them to cease what they are doing.
Contact details are provided below for readers who are keen to react to this subject, or for the provision of further substance matter.
As stated, this article is featured in the October 2006 issue of Traditional Karate Magazine, but posted on here will offer a far greater range of opinion and comment from people outside of the UK.
Peter Evans