...aspects of Martial Arts? First, there are many different personal definitions of self-defense so the answer may vary according to the subjective perspectives of the person answering.
My own definition of the self defense aspects of the martial arts is the knowledge and training necessary to counter voilent attacks on a person and either escape or neutralize the threat of violence when it is encountered. In my opinion the ability includes the preparation for the pinnacle of violence, the lethal encounter that intends grave bodily harm and/or death, and the ability to scale down from there to deal with the most minor physical confrontation.
So, from my perspective of being prepared and trained in the self defense aspects of a martial art is to prepare for the extreme and then learn how to scale down response appropriately from that extreme.
Is it a good idea, or even possible, to teach children the self defense aspects of Martial Arts?
I do not think it is a good idea to attempt, nor do I believe it is possible.
@Ymarsaka - I always value and gain insight from your perspective. I wish my circumstances were such that I lived in the area of you and your associates in TFT. I'm sure we'd agree and disagree in a productive manner through a dialogue on this topic. I agree in educating and training children up to a point but after that point I believe the exposure to and knowledge of certain aspects of violence can have negative consequences. It's finding that balance that remains a problem in my approach.
@JWbull - Your answer reminded me of an incident at a family gathering where one of the cousins-in-laws was trying to get at a water balloon that landed near me. He was about 9. As I reached for it and tried to prevent him from getting it he grabbed my hand and did a small joint manipulation on two fingers, to which I reflexively flipped him on his butt. It wasn't until I felt how stiff and swollen that my fingers were that I realized why I had even flipped him or what he had done. His father's a police officer and I assume taught him some chin na or jujutsu. Luckily his mother and the rest of the family thought the whole spectacle was hilarious.
My own definition of the self defense aspects of the martial arts is the knowledge and training necessary to counter voilent attacks on a person and either escape or neutralize the threat of violence when it is encountered. In my opinion the ability includes the preparation for the pinnacle of violence, the lethal encounter that intends grave bodily harm and/or death, and the ability to scale down from there to deal with the most minor physical confrontation.
So, from my perspective of being prepared and trained in the self defense aspects of a martial art is to prepare for the extreme and then learn how to scale down response appropriately from that extreme.
Is it a good idea, or even possible, to teach children the self defense aspects of Martial Arts?
I do not think it is a good idea to attempt, nor do I believe it is possible.
@Ymarsaka - I always value and gain insight from your perspective. I wish my circumstances were such that I lived in the area of you and your associates in TFT. I'm sure we'd agree and disagree in a productive manner through a dialogue on this topic. I agree in educating and training children up to a point but after that point I believe the exposure to and knowledge of certain aspects of violence can have negative consequences. It's finding that balance that remains a problem in my approach.
@JWbull - Your answer reminded me of an incident at a family gathering where one of the cousins-in-laws was trying to get at a water balloon that landed near me. He was about 9. As I reached for it and tried to prevent him from getting it he grabbed my hand and did a small joint manipulation on two fingers, to which I reflexively flipped him on his butt. It wasn't until I felt how stiff and swollen that my fingers were that I realized why I had even flipped him or what he had done. His father's a police officer and I assume taught him some chin na or jujutsu. Luckily his mother and the rest of the family thought the whole spectacle was hilarious.