[Gar23]

Hi, it's been awhile since I made a post but i'm wondering to what lengths people have defended the traditional view of this relationship. I'll admit that this is more or less a personal post.

I study under an 8th dan female instructor who I've known since I was about 8. This instructor while certainly a capable teacher has at a few times confided in me the difficulties and insecurities of being a female kyokushin artist. Recently, I was out with a few co-workers (one of them being my supervisor) when I casually brought up possibly getting a few of them in to the dojo for fight night, have a few rounds and possibly make some new students. Well, of course, once they realized that "shihan" was a "she" in this situation i was barraged with the usual questions. "Is she hot?" "is she a homo?" "would she like it if I made a pass at her?" and others that are too disrespectful to Kyokushin to state. Of course I declined to state anything and made clear that giving any answer to that at all would be insulting to my instructor and that they had hit a nerve and should change the topic. But this made them press the issue. In the end, established friendships were broken and I fear that my job isn't going to be the same as it was before. But one thing I can't seem to shake from my mind is: Am I wrong?

Should I have played along and prevented any escalation of the conflict knowing I was disrespecting a respected figure from my childhood? Or was I right in staying true to my spirit no matter what the cost was? (no, there was no physical conflict of any kind). Any input would be greatly appreciated.

-Gar