There’s never been a more important time to promote karate in Britain

A lost generation
Thomas Devlin - aged 15 - Belfast
2005
Stabbed on the way way home from buying sweets
Michael Chapman - 16 - Sittingbourne
June 2006
Beaten to death whilst out with his girlfriend for talking to a girl. The 18 year old murderer was sentenced to just two years!!!
Michael Dinnegan - 14 - Islington
June 2007
Stabbed to death by 15 and 20 year olds for looking at someone the wrong way
Ben Hitchcock - 16 - Penge
June 2007
Beaten to death by rival gang members - Suspects aged 13 - 16
Michael Dosunmo - 15 - SE London
March 2007
Victim of mistaken identity - shot in his home
Billy Cox - 15 - Lambeth
March 2007
Shot in his own house
Kamilah Peniston - 12 - Manchester
May 2007
Shot by a 16 year old boy
Andrew Holland - 16 - Manchester
August 2007
Stabbed in the neck by 21 year old after an argument outside a takeaway
Rhys Jones - 11 - Liverpool
August 2007
Shot by a teenager whilst playing football. Thought to be the innocent bystander in gang violence
I’m not being cynical when I tell you, that family memberships, and memberships for use by  teenagers and children should be literally getting ripped out of your hands. Britain has never been a more dangerous place for youngsters to grow up, and in the first 6 months of 2008 alone 20 children aged under 18 have been murdered by similar-aged peers – some of them killed at school. And that’s not counting murders by parents, ex-boyfriends, disgruntled junkie customers of parents, and adult psychos setting fire to houses...

I am not talking about commercial concerns, when I tell you that we are letting down the youth of today when we don’t get them signed up and doing karate. There are hundreds of thousands of kids out there, who could go down the wrong track, or who will become victims of other kids who have already done so, that we are FAILING by not getting them into the dojos. Ladies and gents, we are in a position to make a meaningful difference to society, and I am not lying or using hyperbole when I say that. Even if we only prevent one child falling in with a gang, or one teenager from becoming the victim of a gang member, isn’t that something to be glad of? I am sure that we are already making a massive difference in thousands of lives, and you all have the power to expand that range of positive influence. I’m sure that you all know the reasons why karate can make a difference, but let me just recap for you in the context of this horrific and heartbreaking surge of youth violence, the benefits of GKR Karate:

  • It can give kids confidence – the confidence to walk away from a fight, or to resist gang membership

  • It can give kids self-defence skills so that their odds of surviving violence are higher

  • It can teach kids the awareness to recognise developing situations and walk away before they escalate

  • It takes kids off the streets for a while, so that they are less available to be caught up in violent incidents

  • It provides positive role models to counter the influence of some hate-preaching musicians, and violent movie and sports stars

  • It increases fitness so that kids actually have the option to run away

  • It teaches respect, so that hopefully kids don’t talk their way into the situations that result in violence

  • It teaches common sense so kids know when to keep their mouths shut and not get involved

    It teaches self-discipline so that kids have the inner strength and confidence not to prove themselves through acts of violence.

The son of a neighbour is in jail right now for murder. He wasn’t a bad kid. When he was 15, he was in a car park with a group of friends, when his closest friend took the bobble hat from his head. The boy demanded the hat back repeatedly and was refused. He then pulled out a knife and stabbed his friend in the heart. Two lives ruined because of pathetic teen bravado and the need so many of them have to prove to their peers that they are not to be trifled with.

This “Don’t mess with me” mentality has become endemic, and it stems from deep-seated insecurities – sometimes brought about by self-absorbed, distant, immature or absent parents, but that’s another article...

Incidentally, the British Crime Survey apparently reports that violent crime is down 43 percent since 1997. However, according to the Daily Telegraph (Friday August 24th 2007), this is a fabrication caused by the fact that the survey does not cover rape, murder, and most relevant in the context of this article, violent crime against under 16s, amongst whom such incidents have exploded in frequency and severity.

Statistically, although gun crime has generally risen since 1998, in the last 12 months it has fallen (although knife crime is on the rise). Nevertheless, this does mean that statistically, victims have a greater chance than last year of defending themselves against violence if they have the proper skills. I will be publishing videos on this site soon, demonstrating how GKR karate can be used to defend against knife attacks.

Managers and SDCs, I know that you would never be so cold as to abuse the current wave of violence in signing up new students, but the facts speak for themselves, and it’s not unreasonable for you to point out what dangerous times we are living in. Today’s kids are in desperate need of a lifeline, and we are the people holding it. Let’s lead the way towards a happier, more secure society, by introducing more people to the genuine physical and emotional benefits of karate.

Bullying - The first step

Many adults think of bullying, as kids simply playing a bit rough, but it can have devastating effects. Even when adults acknowledge the unpleasant nature of bullying, many people fail to realise the psychological damage resulting from being forced to associate with one's tormentors day after day.

Read these stories if you don't believe me:

Jared's Story

Ben's Story

Sian's Story

Update

About a month after writing this article, the following article appeared in the Daily Mirror newspaper.

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