Is using martial arts for self-defense all right in a school setting?

Question

i'm a student in high school and i'm currently a practicioner of about 4 martial arts styles. one of them is aikido, and most of our techniques are defensive but can be quite dangerous and usually cause injuries (and even sometimes fatal depending on the situation). if i were to be "attacked", so to speak, at school, would self-defense be a logical option?

Answer 1

No, you cannot beat the crap out of your teacher.

Answer 2

First, I'd like to point out something else: the Zero Tolerance policy.
I don't know if your school has the "zero tolerance" policy. But essentially, the idea is that if two students get into a fight, or do anything violent *whatsoever*, the school can "pass the buck" by creating a paper trail that says they did everything possible to resolve the situation... but the students continued to escalate it. Thus, they place the blame on the student and save themselves from being sued. This doesn't inherently demonize the school; they *do* have to be careful about lawsuits, and they *do* have to try to prevent fighting. But it often comes at the kid's expense. Essentially, a kid can be thrown out of school for engaging in self-defense.

http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/zerotolerance.htm explains this concept in further detail and how to counter it if it ever happens to you.

With that in mind.... YES, you can use martial arts for self-defense in a school setting. If someone immediately threatened your well-being (such as a bully raising his fist to punch you), then by all means, do what it takes to keep yourself safe. BUT, violence is really the absolutely last thing you want to resort to, in lieu of possible lawsuits/the zero tolerance policy. If you have to defend yourself, make sure you use no more force on your attacker than is absolutely necessary, and try to get good documentation on what the attacker did beforehand, so you can prove that he was really a threat.

Answer 3

No! No! No! PERSONAL EXPERIENCE!!!! PLEASE LISTEN TO ME!

Seriously, and I mean seriously!, you can not under almost all situations use your martial arts in school! The school actually has a policy that says acting in aggression EVEN in self-defence is not permitted. If your seriously being pushed around, you would be allowed to maybe push them away really hard and then run to a teacher but if there is any question that you tried to restrain the attacker by yourself, when there is an alternative. You will see serious trouble by the administration. Only use any form of martial arts, if you are in absolute need. You need to understand, when I say need, I MEAN need. I've been through the whole ordeal myself thinking my actions were justified and was grossly surprised by the results.

Answer 4

Only once. I was unfortunately forced into conflict with a drunk at a party, fortunately however he was very drunk and not very alert. The drunk approached me yelling and cursing and with both hands grabbed my shirt...i hit his chest and stomach with a short burst of palm strikes, i then stepped to his side and used a couple of kicks to the knee and some punches to the back of the head and neck. He let go of my shirt, i stopped punching and that was that. The tussle itself lasted maybe only 4 or 5 seconds and neither of us was severely harmed. My Wing Chun technique was far from perfect but it was enough to diffuse the situation and thats all i could ask for. I despise violence and will flee before i fight 9/10, however it is nice to know that that if that 1 time unfortunately comes..i may know just enough to save my life.

Answer 5

In our school system, if two students are fighting, both get expelled. Of course, if a student says "don't pick on me, I know karate," the bully would tend to want to call him out on it.

I know a parent whose daughter was bullied by some other girls until she did a high kick that missed one girl's chin by two inches. There was no fight, but there was a promise that if there were to be a fight, there could be some physical damage done in the fight.

The best policy is to avoid fights. NEVER have a fight on school grounds or on a school bus.

Answer 6

nope, it is never all right. Only as a last measure of self defense. You need to do well in school so as you can grow in life, leave all the fighting up to the dumb****. Train, compete if you want, but never street unless you must - then do whatever you need to survive - but only that.
If you possess the skills you say, you should also understand total restraint. Leave the skills where they belong, and school where it belongs.
That means if threatened always defend, never be the aggressor. .

Answer 7

If someone attacks you and you defend yourself, and you do not use all of what is available to you (i.e. your martial arts training) you are just asking to get a beat-down. You did not start the fight. As long as you dont beat the snot out of a defenseless person; after they realize they will not succeed in messing with you - defending your self is recommended. Otherwise you will just become a target.

Answer 8

yes definetly
in martial arts u learn control so if u have 2 resort to using martial arts for self defence by all means use it.. just make sure u use enought to subdue attacker and not cause permanent injury after all ur in school not the street

Answer 9

If you are being attacked, and have made reasonable provisions to avoid the confrontation, you are justified in using the means at your disposition to defend yourself.
However, you are still subject to the idea of reasonable force. Don't forget some of these techniques were developed with the idea of life-or-death situation combat in mind. Very seldom would you be in life or limb kind of danger in a schoolyard fight. Using a move that would be appropriate in a life or death situation could be grossly inappropriate here. So you have to measure your response.
That is one thing that is really nice about Aikido. You can easily measure your response. If somebody lunges at you, sending them head first into the pavement (especially in the context you describe) is inappropriate and may actually land you in court. That response is more appropriate in response to a real criminal intent on doing real harm to you. Blocking the blow, tenkaning out of it and just pushing your opponent off balance so they fall on their but in the hope they get the message would be more appropriate.

Answer 10

Of coure.
BUT there are techniques that can neutralize your oponnent and there are those that can kill.
Choose self control, humility and calmness and neutralize your opponent.
Most likely you're already a peaceful person and are respectful to people so you don't have to worry about getting into a fight to begin with.
Just go about your life, help people and perfect your character and people USUALLY won't mess with you.

Answer 11

if attacked, use the most defensive technique you can to stop harm from coming to you. no offensive action should be taken, because you are going to have to explain your actions and any offensive action in a public school setting can get you suspended. also, read up on your school's or school system's policy for fighting. in some school systems, any action taken in a fight can get you suspended. just be careful with what you do.