Karate Teacher Beats 12 Year Old Kid Over Bad Grades in Panama
#Panama - There are still marks on his body. With great pain in the chest, a young 12 year old boy came home last Saturday after receiving severe beatings at the hands of his karate teacher (sensei). The child, who has chest lacerations and red marks, told his father his mentor was upset because he had failing grades on his report card. In the DIA a DIA newsroom, he said before he entered the martial arts class, his sensei, Eduardo Carrera, told him in a defiant voice he was going to bleed. He added that his instructor began kicking him, leaving marks on the back of the knees. After this, he showed him the report cards from other children and began beating him with an open palm on his chest, as he said, "appreciate what you have." Jose Dionis, the father of the victim, was very upset and said this is not the way to discipline a child. Now his child does not want to go to the martial arts classes.
He Defends Himself: This newspaper (Dia a Dia) contacted sensei Carrera, who teaches the traditional Shotocan technique, who said he did not abuse the child, and that his actions form part of the disciplinary measures in youth who are at an advanced level, in this case, green belt. He said the boy's father told him to seek a way to discipline the boy because of poor grades.
That's Not How It's Supposed To Be: The sensei and President of the Karate Federation of Panama, Luis Pereira, said the action is wrong, because this can cause trauma to the boy, and in no way can you discipline a child with blows, and this is not part of the Traditional Shotokan. He said in the event the affected student does not perform at school, he can be removed from the list and prohibited from further promotions (belts).
He Can Be Traumatized: According to psychologist Geraldine Emiliani, no sport should be a source of abuse. She said the shock may cause fear in the minor to the point of self-conscious in the exercise of other sports. (Dia a Dia)
Editor's Comment: Criminal physical abuse, plain and simple. I've spent a lot of time in martial arts classes, and I've never seen any instructor hit a 12 year old kid as punishment, for anything, in any discipline or style. If you want to discipline a 12 year old green belt for bad grades, you wear him out. You make him do a whole lot of additional physical exercise as "punishment." And like Sensei Pereira said, you simply let him know that good grades and academic performance in school are part of the requirements for promotion and advancement to the next belt. Bad grades this time, well - better luck next quarter. In the meantime, drop and do push-ups with this six year old kid sitting on your back. Get the point? You praise good grades in public. You chastise bad grades in private - but verbally, not physically - and you just let the kid know what's expected. A Sensei can order a student to stand there basically at the position of attention - defenseless - and then slap the shit out of him. Completely and totally unacceptable, at any level. Carrera should be stripped of his belt and disciplined by the International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF). What's more, the parents of the child have filed a criminal complaint with the DIJ for abuse.
