Does Kyokushin make us immune to violence?

[smoothsake]

So this actually happened right outside my home... granted I live in a very nice quiet, upscale neighborhood with million dollar homes (but this is LA so take that into account).

I heard a commotion from my window so I went outside to see what was going on. I found a small group of people standing around some guys in shorts and girls in bikinis - obviously enjoying the community pool on this hot summer day. And there it was, 3 big Mexican chicks beating up 2 skinny white girls. The 3 Mexicans were basically just grabbing the two white girls by the hair and punching their faces. A couple of the adults from the neighborhood were telling them to stop and were basically in a panic, screaming. One guy tried to jump in the fight to stop it but there were two big Mexican guys standing there and although I didn't hear the comment, he told him to back off and just let them fight it out, oh and apparently he had a gun.

So the fight lasted maybe 30 seconds and then the Mexicans jumped back in their cars and screeched off. Someone got a picture of the car and license plate. Cops showed up within 5 minutes and interviewed everyone.

So what really surprised me was how I was so relaxed during the whole situation. I didn't panic like the other adults. The whole time I was thinking this white girl needs to move to the side, create a better hanmi, block those punches, throw some combinations, maybe grab that girl by the head or hair and knee her in the face. It's actually quite wrong for me to think this way, but I beg the question... does Kyokushin make us immune to violence (at least the brawling type) since we are exposed to fighting several times a week??

Should note, this was a couple weeks ago and I've seen that white girl around and she seems recovered and fine. With the license plate I'm sure those perps got a nice visit from the LAPD. Happy ending.

[kakatootoshi]

Dear smoothsake,
What a funny story!

I guess I may do the same if I am in the same situation (living in a million dollar home). For me it has nothing to do with Kyokushin. If I see something obviously wrong like someone trying to grab a purse or someone is going to be raped then I will stand up, but in this case I do not see how I am going to put myself in the situation. How can you know if the White ladies or the Latin ladies were on the right side of the argument? Violence is not good but it is a pragmatic solution to solve problems in our society. If I am a school teacher and they are my students then of course I will stop them no matter what, and teach them the need of unity. But c'mon these are adults! But in your case I do not feel comfortable with the guy with a gun. The only good thing is that he did not use the gun to threaten the rival ladies or aid in the combat of his own side, obviously he wants to make sure to grudge between the two groups of ladies were to be sorted out between themselves.

OSU!

[vapor]

Immune....don't think so, but Familiar would be the word that I would use as a decriptor.

The adults that were screaming and panicing have probably never seen anything more physical that the top to their starbuck frappachino being popped on by the store clerk, so it would be outside of their reality to even understand what was happening, much less react in a manner differently than they did.

But, like you say, in a dojo setting, there are more opportunities for physical altercation...if you want to put it in brash words...so we are familiar when someone makes motions or leaves their normal state of calm.

vapor

[kakatootoshi]

I would like to add something. I think "violence" is more disorganized. I have seen too people being beaten up in Kyokushin but usually they are beaten up beautifully, ugly for those who are knocked down by sloppy techniques. But in real street violence, seldom do we see the attackers and the people who go down move gracefully. In retrospect I do not think I am completely immune to violence (unless it is a masterpiece).

OSU!

[meguro]

Osu! Don't these million dollar homes have sprinkler systems you can use to water the lawn and chill-out the street brawlers?

The women who got jumped were lucky. Out-numbered and out-gunned, I don't know if my training would have made a difference in the outcome if I were facing the big ladies.

So what really surprised me was how I was so relaxed during the whole situation. I didn't panic like the other adults. The whole time I was thinking this white girl needs to move to the side, create a better hanmi, block those punches, throw some combinations, maybe grab that girl by the head or hair and knee her in the face. It's actually quite wrong for me to think this way, but I beg the question... does Kyokushin make us immune to violence (at least the brawling type) since we are exposed to fighting several times a week??

Smoothsake, if I might observe, maybe you were relaxed because you weren't getting pummelled by three big women. In answer to your question, Kyokushin training doesn't make me any more or less immune to violence, only more aware of the potential harm and therefore more selective in the type of violent activity I choose to participate in.

Most of us chose to take up Kyokushin, so as a group I'd have to say we are more inclined to appreciate violent encounters in the abstract as well as in person. There are limits, of course; mine is armed oppoents. Had I been there, I would hope to have been the first to dial 911 and turn on the lawn sprinklers.

[Dent]

Osu!

We may be enured by our exposure to violence, but it is a double edged sword. There comes a point when we need to act, otherwise the consequences can shadow us for a very long time.

Osu!

[kakatootoshi]

Originally Posted by Dent

Osu!
There comes a point when we need to act, otherwise the consequences can shadow us for a very long time.

Osu!

Dear Dent,
Like when you see a camera in front and know you will show up on prime time TV?

OSU!

[Dent]

Osu!

Originally Posted by kakatootoshi

Dear Dent,
Like when you see a camera in front and know you will show up on prime time TV?

OSU!

Just like that, KakatoOtoshi! You have got it in one!

Osu!

[cochito]

Dear Smoothsake,
I would be so freaked out in that situation. No matter how long I've trained or how much I'm devoted to MA, I won't get used to any form of violence. Of course, I can tell both my mentality and physical skills are still very premature. But, I think I would go somewhere else (to avoid being seen by the gunman) and call police right away. To be honest, I get nervous and disturbed even when I hear people arguing. I admit I'm a little chicken-hearted .
I hope my mind can grow up, and eventually I can act calmly.

[tmd]

Street violence still puts me on edge as it brings back more memories of similar encounters than thoughts of dojo training so I would say no I'm not immune.

My instinct is to plan an exist strategy, take mental notes of the situation as I see it and not confront any of the participants until I'm real clear as to what's going on and if I need to get involved to secure the safety of myself or others. Can't recall the last time I just watched a street fight though.

Had this beating gone on at what point would you have stepped up?

[Dent]

Osu!

Originally Posted by tmd

Can't recall the last time I just watched a street fight though.

As opposed to active participation?

Osu!

[DKKC]

Originally Posted by tmd

My instinct is to plan an exist strategy, take mental notes of the situation as I see it and not confront any of the participants until I'm real clear as to what's going on and if I need to get involved to secure the safety of myself or others.

Ditto!!!

[smoothsake]

Originally Posted by tmd

Had this beating gone on at what point would you have stepped up?

That's a very case-by-case question. For this particular case I don't think I would have gotten involved at all. First off, it's not like I can get involved and then hide in secrecy. They know where I live - it was in front of my house! Gangsters (if that's what they were) aren't dumb. Say I beat one or two of them up... well they'll come back in bigger numbers with weapons. And like what Kakatootoshi said... I don't know who's wrong. Just because it was 3 against 2 doesn't mean that the 2 were wrong; just disadvantaged. Life's not fair.

Plus I didn't feel at anytime that the fight was getting out of control. It was just a skirmish and a bad one at that. The 3 bigger girls were punching like they've never punched anything before. I'm sure their thumbs were bloodied up based on the angle of their punches.

And with a guy, supposedly with a gun as a deterrent, I don't think it's worth risking my life for. I don't know these people and at no point was my own safety or the safety of my loved ones at risk.

It's best for the cops to deal with.

And to meguro, the sprinklers turn on some set schedule that I'm oblivious to.

[Aunty Ichigeki]

I think I know what you mean Smoothsake (not about the sprinklers unfortunately) but about being immune. I find Kyokushin people are more likely to raise an eyebrow & shake their heads at a skuffle on the street. Once you know what causes damage & what doesn't a skuffle can seem a bit silly. You're just waiting for it to escalate really & if it doesn't best not get involved in LA! And if it does I'd be in my 'panic room' dialling 911.

[tmd]

Originally Posted by tmd

Had this beating gone on at what point would you have stepped up?

Originally Posted by smoothsake

And with a guy, supposedly with a gun as a deterrent, I don't think it's worth risking my life for. I don't know these people and at no point was my own safety or the safety of my loved ones at risk.

It's best for the cops to deal with.

In my opinion Smothsnake the correct answer - too often I think people feel obliged to help without using rule 1 of first aid - will I be putting myself in danger by helping?

[jake_kingeri_kiai]

Originally Posted by kakatootoshi

Dear smoothsake,
What a funny story!

I guess I may do the same if I am in the same situation (living in a million dollar home). For me it has nothing to do with Kyokushin. If I see something obviously wrong like someone trying to grab a purse or someone is going to be raped then I will stand up, but in this case I do not see how I am going to put myself in the situation. How can you know if the White ladies or the Latin ladies were on the right side of the argument? Violence is not good but it is a pragmatic solution to solve problems in our society. If I am a school teacher and they are my students then of course I will stop them no matter what, and teach them the need of unity. But c'mon these are adults! But in your case I do not feel comfortable with the guy with a gun. The only good thing is that he did not use the gun to threaten the rival ladies or aid in the combat of his own side, obviously he wants to make sure to grudge between the two groups of ladies were to be sorted out between themselves.

OSU!

I dont think anything makes us immune, because if it was , for example, your daughter getting hit, the panic wud come back again but it numbs the fear of getting hit, because that is our only fear in a fight