[Rqqneujr]

I've always thought that small countries should convert their pocket-sized armed forces into engineering crews to build up the infrastructure and that these nations should rely upon the U.N., NATO, the OAS, etc. for their military protection. Their armed forces aren't big enough to protect them and their main use appears to be to overthrow the government.

However, for the nation to have SOME way of self protection, it should train all of its children in unarmed martial arts. If any big nation decided to invade, it could walk in, but then it'd be facing an angry nation of hand-to-hand specialists, who could never be disarmed.

[tattcasetle]

In the sense of sports it can be good, in the sense of 'real' (war-like) combat it has no place in a modern society.

[Quaganoca]

Originally posted by aneeshm
An open question: should children be trained, as a part of their normal education, in combat and fighting? I mean the whole range of combat, or some suitable subset thereof - unarmed, hand-to-hand fighting, then fighting with swords/sticks, and finally with guns.

There are a few reasons I think this is necessary.

First of all, self-esteem, or rather, confidence. All this modernist crap about encouraging self-esteem is nothing compared to one month of intense training in fighting. Your self-esteem increases dramatically when you can genuinely respect both yourself and others, and fighting and combat teach this like no other discipline can. In fact, I'd propose a test. Take two groups of children. Teach one bunch of kids combat and fighting for one month. The other should do "self-esteem building exercises" as prescribed by the custodians of current educational culture. Then test the self-esteem and confidence of both. I'd bet a thousand bucks the fighters would be in a higher league.

Secondly, the effect on the nature of the citizenry. Fighting and combat inculcate, at the tip of the sword, the values of self-reliance, independence, and the respect and camaraderie of the strong. These are the fundamental values necessary in today's world.

Thirdly, the effect on culture. A culture in which the majority are free men who know how to fight, or can at least defend themselves coherently when attacked, is not one to fall easily. It is also one which will not cave under pressure, will handle crises gracefully, and will not sacrifice its integrity for immediate gain. Cultures are not entities with no connection to its constituents, it is an expression of the nature of the strongest within it. All this modern effeteness will go away with the implementation of this measure.

Fourthly, and lastly, this is tremendously useful from purely a policy point of view, as the government has a hugely expanded base of potential recruits for its armed forces. In essence, if invaded, the entire country can be turned into one big army just by giving each man a gun.

A note: I am not saying that children should be given actual guns, swords, or whatnot, merely that they be trained in their use. For instance, hand-to-hand fighting can be done with either partners or with a coach, with rules to prevent the more damaging of injuries. The rest is character-building. Swordfighting can be done with blunt wooden swords instead of sharp metal blades. As for combat training and commando operations, you always have Airsoft. Modify the pellets to not hurt so much if that is a consideration.

EDIT: This is meant to be something you do as part of your education, not apart from it. I can't help but picture a cross between Blood Diamond and 300 here

[IteseFrusty]

I'm with Gramps and BeBro. Children learn to face life's harsh realities fast enough.

[Pasy]

I think the notion that enforced studying of martial arts would make people disciplined is crap.

[GueseVekdet]

Originally posted by Lazarus and the Gimp

Absolutely, and I didn't see that Cuban taekwando bloke kick the referee in the head either. But he was practicing foot-to-head combat, not hand-to-hand combat, that's different

[POMAH_K]

Originally posted by Lazarus and the Gimp
I think the notion that enforced studying of martial arts would make people disciplined is crap. I think you may be misunderstanding or misusing the term disciplined


1. training to act in accordance with rules; drill: military discipline.
2. activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training: A daily stint at the typewriter is excellent discipline for a writer.
3. punishment inflicted by way of correction and training.
4. the rigor or training effect of experience, adversity, etc.: the harsh discipline of poverty.
5. behavior in accord with rules of conduct; behavior and order maintained by training and control: good discipline in an army.
6. a set or system of rules and regulations.
7. Ecclesiastical. the system of government regulating the practice of a church as distinguished from its doctrine.
8. an instrument of punishment, esp. a whip or scourge, used in the practice of self-mortification or as an instrument of chastisement in certain religious communities.
9. a branch of instruction or learning: the disciplines of history and economics.
–verb (used with object) 10. to train by instruction and exercise; drill.
11. to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control.
12. to punish or penalize in order to train and control; correct; chastise.


With that being shared, I would say that forced martial arts training should not be used with children at all


But for the record, a true martial artis is most definetly disciplined

[dmoiknlasd]

Yes, but only against the hindu Indians

[giftplas]

I'm sorry to hear that you're tainted Gramps.

[clubcughSheet]

Originally posted by aneeshm
Secondly, the effect on the nature of the citizenry. Fighting and combat inculcate, at the tip of the sword, the values of self-reliance, independence, and the respect and camaraderie of the strong. These are the fundamental values necessary in today's world. Either you've never been in the military or you are nuts. You are not independent in the military. The military is pure authoritarian. When they say jump you say how high.

What a horrible suggestion, but I'm not suprised to hear it come from you.

[Ferrotoral]

Originally posted by Kidicious


Either you've never been in the military or you are nuts. You are not independent in the military. The military is pure authoritarian. When they say jump you say how high.

What a horrible suggestion, but I'm not suprised to hear it come from you. haha true.

but first time i jumped i wanted to say " **** i changed my mind! "

[ballerturfali]

Originally posted by Oerdin
Should children be trained to fight in India? Yes, there are all those barbaric Hindus around trying to burn alive train loads of people. You got that one backwards.

[logpogingg]

No.

They should be trained in thinking and imagining.

[saumemeva]

Well, I'm sure he'll soon be pointing out that, as I used words that may be considered insulting, he is, technically speaking, insulted, regardless of his actual feelings in the matter. And then we can quote definitions to each other until our jaws fall off.

[Maribellin]

Originally posted by Lazarus and the Gimp
Well, I'm sure he'll soon be pointing out that, as I used words that may be considered insulting, he is, technically speaking, insulted, regardless of his actual feelings in the matter. And then we can quote definitions to each other until our jaws fall off. Seems your wrong once again Lazarus and the Gimp

I considered the source and felt no further need to pancake..or was it waffles...

Anyhoo, you have your opinion me mine..

Plus I been working all day so this is first chance to dabble in useless drivel

If you will give me a moment, I am going to put an extra bolt in my jaw so it wont fall off talking to A WALL Lazarus and the Gimp


Originally posted by Tuberski


I'm sure he would be insulted if you used words that weren't regional. Nope, in respect to you and your sweetheart Tubes (& Mrs. Tubes) i have nothing but respect and admiration.

[xanonlinexan]

Originally posted by Dr Strangelove
Oh this is great. You know what the Asians do to help their kids learn discipline? Kung-fu, Juitsu, Karate? Nope. They enroll them in after hours tutoring. That's why their kids smash ours at testing. Instead of sending our kids to classes where they might get the impression that they're hot s**t at fighting and that that means something for their future, why not discipline them with something useful? Q F T

[derisgun]

Originally posted by David Floyd


That might be partially due you not having much experience in martial arts, although your point is partially taken.

Much more important than the discipline aspect, though, is the self-esteem aspect. I can speak to that from personal experience.

As for FORCED martial arts training/combat training, I'm not so sure. I do think it should be heavily encouraged, though. It will also have the VERY USEFUL side effect of eliminating the scourge of humanity we refer to as soccor moms within a generation. You know who I'm talking about - those minivan-driving, holier-than-thou *****es who can't bear the thought of anything mildly violent or out of step with their own opinion. Basically, the kind of stupid ***** likely to join MADD, be heavily involved in Neighborhood Associations, and just generally be a mindless ****. Couldnt agree more David

[Michaelnewerb]

Originally posted by Kidicious


Either you've never been in the military or you are nuts. You are not independent in the military. The military is pure authoritarian. When they say jump you say how high.

What a horrible suggestion, but I'm not suprised to hear it come from you. Hey, in the military you don't ask "how high?". When they order you to jump, you jump. If they don't specify how high it's up to you how high you jump. But if they give the order and you ask back instead of jumping at once it's insubordination, and probably something else because you implied the order wasn't clear, so you can face all kinds of bad consequences, like execution etc.

[machpamb]

Originally posted by BeBro


Hey, in the military you don't ask "how high?". When they order you to jump, you jump. If they don't specify how high it's up to you how high you jump. But if they give the order and you ask back instead of jumping at once it's insubordination, and probably something else because you implied the order wasn't clear, so you can face all kinds of bad consequences, like execution etc. Just don't show up to bootcamp with a mohawk like I did.

[Patgaepx]

I think you'll find it is, after you've picked yourself up from that wave of hysterical mocking laughter that just blasted you off your feet.