| There has been a fair bit of controversy | | | | martial arts instructors teach respect and |
| surrounding the Karate Kid Movie 2010. Despite | | | | avoidance of violence. |
| the debate as to whether this film is suitable for | | | | The tournament in this movie, just like the first, is |
| children to view, many youngsters will see it. As a | | | | not even close to what an actual martial arts |
| kids karate sensei, I would like to make | | | | tournament is like. Realise there are rules in |
| suggestions on how to view this movie, and how | | | | tournaments and they are designed to prevent |
| to discuss it with your child. | | | | injury. There is also mandatory protective |
| First off, violence sells in Hollywood. MMA is so | | | | equipment worn in tournaments. If tournaments |
| popular because people want to see real fighting | | | | were run like this no one would ever attend them. |
| action, maybe even someone getting hurt. | | | | Look for good in this movie. Try to find lessons |
| Sometimes more violence than necessary is | | | | to be learned about life in the story. Try to put |
| shown to make a movie dramatic and sell tickets. | | | | yourself in the different actors' positions in this |
| The consequences of such violence are not | | | | movie and see where they are coming from. Is |
| shown either. Missing teeth, broken bones and | | | | there peer pressure amongst the bullies? Was the |
| other serious injuries are not portrayed accurately | | | | bully brainwashed by his instructor? Was he |
| by Hollywood because it is too gory. The pain and | | | | racist? Who taught him to be racist? |
| trauma is also not shown because it is too | | | | Try to see how another culture lives from day to |
| confronting to viewers. | | | | day. Remember, different is not always better or |
| Realize that fighting is not the way to solve our | | | | worse-it is just different, and that differences in |
| problems. There are many better ways of | | | | language, food, and customs is what makes life |
| resolving conflict other than violence, and the first | | | | interesting. How interesting would the world be if |
| is communication-talking it over. Could the | | | | we were all the same? Look for common threads |
| differences between the characters in this movie | | | | as well, as there are many western influences in |
| have been resolved in a better way? | | | | China today. Is the western way of life always |
| The bullies in this movie, like the original Karate Kid | | | | the best? Look for the beauty in the scenic |
| Movie, trained in dojos that taught glorification of | | | | sense, and also in the people and how they live. |
| violence. This is extremely rare in the martial arts | | | | Remember, the martial arts originated in this part |
| world, but it makes the movie more dramatic, | | | | of the world. |
| because there has to be a bad guy in this story | | | | What lessons did you learn from this movie? |
| to make it interesting. The vast majority of | | | | |