During Saturday’s class (12/15/2012), we discussed the event in Newtown, CT and the mall shooting in Oregon. The discussions started with knowing exactly what happened. What did everyone read / hear? For the most part no one really knew what the details were. All that was known is that a young adult entered a school and a mall to conduct these horrific crimes. What is important is that everyone knew the basic information. The sources of information varied from internet sources, TV news reports, and newspaper articles. I have continued to further study on what has happened and one good source of information to watch a 60 minutes clip that you can find on www.60minutes.com for the event in Newtown, CT.
Upon piecing together and understanding further what information was available at the time, the first question that came up was what would you do if you were in the classroom? What can you do to stop this from happening or going any further? It was important to see that everyone agreed the actions that needed to happen in a classroom or mall would be very risky and difficult. Martial arts moves, quick and strong movements, using the materials around us to deflect or off-balance and off-target the gunmen would be difficult to pull-off with a successful disarm and safely restrain these gunmen unscathed. Knowing that not acting or reacting would do more harm than good, action would be taken to disarm, jam up, confuse, and disrupt the gunmen from getting clean shots.
In back tracking the information, we discussed how risks and casualties would change if the gunmen were detected in entrances of the mall or the school. We shared how in intercity high schools metal detectors and security personnel are used at these entrances that would reduce the level of carnage, but not entirely stop it. In charter schools (elementary schools), they use electronic door locks and cameras that are manned at a central control station to authorize entry into the building. This too may greatly reduce risk, but may not entirely stop it. What is later revealed in sources is that the gunman in Newtown, CT bypassed the front entrance and broke into the school by breaking a window to gain entry.
Upon further discussion, we talked about how the origin of crime started at home (at least it did at Newtown, CT). How would we raise our children to know if they were troubled and how do we know when we ourselves are far gone (in our frozen lake)? It was interesting to share/know how various influences and pressures were pointed out that can reduce our judgment and responsibilities in our own actions:
1) Substance abuse
2) Being overly medicated (ex. Hyperactive take medicine to alter behavior)
3) Not having both a father and mother figure to help you grow
4) Not having a support group to help you grow (ex. group of friends, folks to share hobbies, people to learn from and accept you as you)
5) Not having an outlet to convert your negative energy to positive energy (ex. participating in martial arts, playing sports, creating art, playing an instrument)
These influences were shared and how each of us overcame these influences. It took a great deal of maturity, trial and error, friends that accepted and encouraged growth, and an individual desire to overcome these failures and the knowledge that these influences impaired our judgment to foresee the outcome/consequences.
It dawned on us that our martial arts groups and how we train others can influence others to become more responsible. We are owners of our actions. When you read, watch, or listen to news, media or others that just don’t know better, they want to point a finger to one easy root cause. The gun is a tool and by itself it cannot cause all this damage. We are trained to know that a thousand hands are with you in battle and were the ones that taught you this martial art. We don’t just train to protect ourselves and our families, but also our communities, our friends, our co-workers, and neighbors…. As a teacher, a soon to be parent, a soon to be husband, a brother, a friend, and a son, my home is many places and I want to ensure that home is safe. A place to learn, be free, and where influences to grow and improve can flourish. As a Sayoc instructor and part of the Sayoc system, we establish protocols in class to keep us all safe while training and we use those protocols as a way to ensure our lives and loved ones remain safe.
Special Thanks to Tang Muay Thai for attending and sharing!!
Upon piecing together and understanding further what information was available at the time, the first question that came up was what would you do if you were in the classroom? What can you do to stop this from happening or going any further? It was important to see that everyone agreed the actions that needed to happen in a classroom or mall would be very risky and difficult. Martial arts moves, quick and strong movements, using the materials around us to deflect or off-balance and off-target the gunmen would be difficult to pull-off with a successful disarm and safely restrain these gunmen unscathed. Knowing that not acting or reacting would do more harm than good, action would be taken to disarm, jam up, confuse, and disrupt the gunmen from getting clean shots.
In back tracking the information, we discussed how risks and casualties would change if the gunmen were detected in entrances of the mall or the school. We shared how in intercity high schools metal detectors and security personnel are used at these entrances that would reduce the level of carnage, but not entirely stop it. In charter schools (elementary schools), they use electronic door locks and cameras that are manned at a central control station to authorize entry into the building. This too may greatly reduce risk, but may not entirely stop it. What is later revealed in sources is that the gunman in Newtown, CT bypassed the front entrance and broke into the school by breaking a window to gain entry.
Upon further discussion, we talked about how the origin of crime started at home (at least it did at Newtown, CT). How would we raise our children to know if they were troubled and how do we know when we ourselves are far gone (in our frozen lake)? It was interesting to share/know how various influences and pressures were pointed out that can reduce our judgment and responsibilities in our own actions:
1) Substance abuse
2) Being overly medicated (ex. Hyperactive take medicine to alter behavior)
3) Not having both a father and mother figure to help you grow
4) Not having a support group to help you grow (ex. group of friends, folks to share hobbies, people to learn from and accept you as you)
5) Not having an outlet to convert your negative energy to positive energy (ex. participating in martial arts, playing sports, creating art, playing an instrument)
These influences were shared and how each of us overcame these influences. It took a great deal of maturity, trial and error, friends that accepted and encouraged growth, and an individual desire to overcome these failures and the knowledge that these influences impaired our judgment to foresee the outcome/consequences.
It dawned on us that our martial arts groups and how we train others can influence others to become more responsible. We are owners of our actions. When you read, watch, or listen to news, media or others that just don’t know better, they want to point a finger to one easy root cause. The gun is a tool and by itself it cannot cause all this damage. We are trained to know that a thousand hands are with you in battle and were the ones that taught you this martial art. We don’t just train to protect ourselves and our families, but also our communities, our friends, our co-workers, and neighbors…. As a teacher, a soon to be parent, a soon to be husband, a brother, a friend, and a son, my home is many places and I want to ensure that home is safe. A place to learn, be free, and where influences to grow and improve can flourish. As a Sayoc instructor and part of the Sayoc system, we establish protocols in class to keep us all safe while training and we use those protocols as a way to ensure our lives and loved ones remain safe.
Special Thanks to Tang Muay Thai for attending and sharing!!
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