Martial Arts
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Are Martial Arts a form of Cultural Appropriation?
The academic definition of Cultural Appropriation is “the adoption of elements of a minority culture by members of the dominant culture”. Last year, a large kerfuffle was made about a teenage girl’s choice of prom dress. The girl, a Caucasian, wore a
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Bare-knuckle Boxing Returns to the United States
After 130 years, the state of Wyoming has decided to let boxers “knuckle up”, under the old school, but arguably safer rules for a sport where you punch the other guy in the head a lot. via Wyoming News:
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Old School Karate? Cobra Kai’s Fangs Examined
The 1984 movie The Karate Kid was a stereotypical coming-of-age story that was once embraced by a generation without question. 2018’s Cobra Kai television series has allowed the same franchise to be re-enter the arms of this now rather jaded
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American Top Team Instructor Willy Hardoy Arrested – “Lewd Behavior with Victim Between 12 and 16 Years Old” (Developing)
This story is developing and we will provide updates as they emerge. At 9:30 PM EST tonight, Victor Guillermo “Willy” Hardoy, a Brazilian Jiujitsu black belt and instructor at ATT Cape Coral, was arrested and taken into custody for failing
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ATHLETES AT RISK: Time to Hold Abusers and Enablers Accountable
Final in a 5-part series COMMENTARY by Cathy Chapaty It’s time. It’s long past time for the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and USA Taekwondo (USAT) to admit that former leaders stood idly by while predator coaches abused young athletes unabated.
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ATHLETES AT RISK: 7 Tips to Prevent Sexual Abuse, Misconduct
Fourth in a 5-part series By Cathy Chapaty I’ve made a plethora of mistakes in my martial arts teaching career that horrify me today. Years ago, I: Took a 15-year-old student out to dinner at the behest of his parents.
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ATHLETES AT RISK: Education, Boundaries Key to Ending Sexual Abuse, Martial Arts Leaders Say
Third in a 5-part series By Cathy Chapaty Yudit Sidikman was 12 years old when a sexual relationship began with her temple’s cantor. It lasted until she was 18. “I didn’t call it rape until I was the mother of
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ATHLETES AT RISK: The Evolution of Abuse of Power
Editor’s note: Pronouns and adjectives in some areas of this article are in the feminine for the sake of simplicity. It’s important to note that both men and women are victims of sexual abuse and misconduct. Second in a 5-part
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ATHLETES AT RISK: Convincing Olympic Athletes to Report Sexual Abuse, Misconduct a Hard Art
First in a 5-part series By Cathy Chapaty Eight years ago in Las Vegas, I volunteered for USA Taekwondo (USAT) during its annual U.S. Open Taekwondo Championships. I was paired with a friendly USAT coach named Marc Gitelman. (His students
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