I Got My Blackbelt Taken Away!

[STASH]

Last week I got into a huge mess. Basically I was attacked and I had to defend myself, I sort of lost control and messed the guy up pretty bad. The police and ambulances arrived at the scene and I got blamed for everything. No one placed charges but my instructor decided to put me on "probation", I cant do any martial arts for a while, I lost my blackbelt, (TAE KWON DO by the way) I cant participate in any tournements and the incident goes into my reference, which means I'm going to have a hard time getting into a new school. I'm really pissed off, ok maybe I lost control but I still think the consequences were a little harsh. I have no clue what I should do now. What do you guys think?

[Andrew Green]

First, you're rank cannot be revoked. Universities can't take away your degree, your instructor can't take away your certificate. He can not let you wear it though.

As for the appropriatness of the punishment, thats his call. Just be happy he's allowing you to continue training and train.

[Chazz]

Andrew is right. Your instructor can not take your rank away. But your Org. that you are with can disown you or take away your rank within their org. Most Orgs would take away your rank and priviliges if you were involved in something like that.

You are lucky that your instructor is letting you continue. A lot of school would kick you out if something like that happened. Be Happy, you got off easy.

[Saz]

Best thing you can probably do is be glad it wasn't a lot worse, the consequences would have been a lot harsher if you'd landed up in jail. No charges where held against you, which makes you pretty lucky.

Just take it in your stride, return to training when you can, and try to learn what happens when you lose control of your skills.

[Andy Murray]

Hi Stash,

Sorry to hear about what happened. This was obviously upsetting for you, but maybe you can take something positive from it all!

What would have happened if you had not defended yourself?

Only a week has passed you say? A lot can happen in that time, and hopefully your Instructor will go looking for some facts before condemning you out of hand!

It's funny that, when you talk to the Police about ' minimum required force', they will agree that this is what the law 'says'. They usually then *wink* and go on to say that there are always those that deserve one extra.

Try to use your suspension as a time for positive reflection, as this is something you will have to look back on for the rest of your life, regardless of whether you get your Instructors sanction or not!

Chin up old Spud, the guys n gals on 'map' are always here to help

Andy

[Freeform]

Well I don't see that you did anything wrong (well as long as you weren't stomping on his head whilst he was on the ground?!?! ).

You can't have your rank stripped, although has it occurred to you that your instructor is doing this to be seen to be disciplining you, to save the club face?

Thanx

[pabloco]

Originally posted by Freeform
Well I don't see that you did anything wrong (well as long as you weren't stomping on his head whilst he was on the ground?!?! ).

… has it occurred to you that your instructor is doing this to be seen to be disciplining you, to save the club face?

Two good points there which should cheer you up a bit.

And think about this - if you had a choice between losing your blackbelt and losing some teeth/some blood/your life then I would say that probably chose right. But that's something you have to decide for yourself.

You said you lost control, I'd be more worried about that aspect of it if I were you! Adrenalin flows much faster in a real fight than in any kumite (sparring) situation and you should try and keep your cool and not overreact. But again, I didn't see the fight and only you can judge whether you used excessive force.

[Chazz]

You also say that you cant do any martial arts for a while. NOT TRUE!! you dont need to be with your instructor or in a dojang to do your martial arts. You to a park, your yard, or in your house, use this time to go over all of your martial arts and make yourself better. Fix the things that you think you may need work on. Use your new found time to make you a better martial artist than before. Use the mental aspects of the martial arts a little more now.

[Joseki]

I agree with both chazz982001 and pabloco
Good luck with the out come and training.

[STASH]

Things are starting to get better. I have talked to several instructors from different schools and two of them are willing to take me in. Its not gonna be the same without competitions but atleast I can go to a school now. Thanks for the advice guys.

[Chazz]

Good luck in all that you do in and out of the martial arts!

[Sonshu]

Look - if you were attacked you have been learning how to defend yourself.

If you knew locks and restraints then a quick kick/punch would have put you in a position to control the attacker and restrain them.

It comes down to politics and crap like that - you have a black belt - you earnt it. Do a different style that wont punnish you for protecting yourself, smothing that is well - less sport orientated.

If you over did it then that is a DIFFERENT situation, learn locks and restraints to compliment your striking ability, you can only do what you are shown, Most (not all) TKD schools dont give you the restraint option.

In short if you are attacked you did what you were taught to do - PROIVIDED you were not the attacker or beer filled so you think you were the victim. No perm damage to the guy and as a result you get the blame more politics - its bolix.

Just pick a different art, jujitsu, sombo, Arnis, Ninjitsu or somthing to compliment what you know and add the missing links - or a less silly TKD school.

Done job

SONSHU
A tough call though for anyone!

[craigwarren]

If it will make you feel better you can always pp into your local sports shop and buy a new black belt. It may make you feel better.

[jonestown9]

New to the forum... but this post sucked me in ;)

Getting in scraps sucks, but at it's core that is what learning a MA teaches. Hurting someone else isn't cool, but they attacked you then you are as much w/in your rights to put them down as anyone who doesn't study, and any instructor who cuts you down for that isn't worth learning from.

Hopefully you didn't hurt the other guy to bad, but it's better to put an antogonist down fast then let them smack you around. Contgrats on sucessfully defending yourself -- there are alot of high-ranked MA's who seem unable to make the transition to applying their art in the real worl -- and hopefully it'll be a long time before you find it necessary to do so again.

-jones

[morphus]

Though you should be proud to have reached your belt level in TKD, that belt level means almost nothing when walking into a ju jitsu class anyway. So there is no reason you can't study another martial art with another governing body and be proud of a new beginning!

If you were genuinely defending yourself i'd say your instructor was PERHAPS being a little small minded.(Granted i do not know all the circumstances of the affray)

[Mind Aflame]

It might help us if we knew what exactly happened? I mean did he have a knife? What did you actually do?

[K93200]

Last week I got into a huge mess. Basically I was attacked and I had to defend myself, I sort of lost control and messed the guy up pretty bad. The police and ambulances arrived at the scene and I got blamed for everything. No one placed charges but my instructor decided to put me on "probation", I cant do any martial arts for a while, I lost my blackbelt, (TAE KWON DO by the way) I cant participate in any tournements and the incident goes into my reference, which means I'm going to have a hard time getting into a new school. I'm really pissed off, ok maybe I lost control but I still think the consequences were a little harsh. I have no clue what I should do now. What do you guys think?

that's messed up man that was self defense you used on that guy the freaking pigs can't take away your belt for doing nothing wrog you should take those guys to court man

[jokerlaughsatu]

If it will make you feel better you can always pp into your local sports shop and buy a new black belt. It may make you feel better.

If that doesn't work try poo pooing into a local shop

[Andrew Green]

this happened over two years ago guys...

[semphoon]

this happened over two years ago guys...

Yeah, who dug this up?

The guy is probably dead or something (hopefully the latter)

[Saz]

STASH still visits MAP from time to time. He even wrote an article for us not long ago.

[semphoon]

Good....so he's still with us.

Not dead.


Phew.

[yes]

anyone know what happened?

[Poop-Loops]

Yes, before we side with him, we should know all the details. How were you attacked? What did you do to defend yourself?

PL

[Adam]

Stash checks in here about once or twice every three months guys. You want answers, email him.

And who started this gravedigging trend on MAP? Some of those threads are older than dirt!

[axemaster]

i guess im kinda late, but....

if you are attacked you ought to put you attackers' heads in the pavement, why your master would beupset that you defended yourself as best as possible is questionable (actually its tkd so maybe not :p) where i train they'd congradulate you for proving the street effectiveness of the art (isnt that what ma is for?) not demote you.

[YODA]

Stash checks in here about once or twice every three months guys. You want answers, email him.

And who started this gravedigging trend on MAP? Some of those threads are older than dirt!
It's the "Similar threads" feature that's to blame!

*Get's the padlock out.