An article entitled “Exposing the gangs’ secrets” by Rafe Arnott recently ran in The Times. The article includes plenty of insights into the psychological lure of gang society on our youth and reports on a forum that was recently held, entitled “Secrets Gangs Never Tell.” The forum featured speaker and gang expert, Mike Knox. Three key factors in the attraction of gangs to youth are acceptance, protection and respect, according to Knox.
“The need to feel acceptance, protection and respect are key factors in what drives youth straight into the arms of gangs and trouble’, according to gang expert Mike Knox.”
It’s no surprise that many are looking to martial arts (especially non-offensive martial arts such as Aikido, taught in a traditional environment) as a solution to the problem of gang violence. A traditional martial arts dojo offers the three key factors that Knox referrs to: acceptance, protection and respect in the following ways:
- Acceptance: A traditional martial arts dojo (school) is a community, rather than just a “place to work out.” Every member of the dojo community adds value to the organization and therefore gains a sense of self worth. This provides a strong sense of acceptance and belonging.
- Protection: Martial arts training builds confidence and self esteem, while providing self defense tools. The cammeradery found in a traditional dojo provides a sense of mutual protection within the group – everyone looking out for everyone else.
- Respect: Progress in the art is publicly recognized in various ways, including testing and promotion in rank. This contributes further to the feeling of self esteem and self worth, and respect.
At the forum, Knox continued by addressing the topic of parental involvement.
“Knox said it’s all about educating your children and taking a vested interest in what is going on in their lives. ‘A parent’s job’, he said, ‘is to prepare their children to live in the world without them. In order to do that, you have to teach them to make good decisions. And the only way to learn how to make good decisions is to practice them.”
At Aikido Kenkyukai Pennsylvania, we had a father and son team who trained. The son was starting to have trouble getting along with his mother, his grades were starting to fall at school, and the father was concerned. He felt that the 13-year-old needed to take up a martial art and thought that Aikido, with it’s basic principle of peaceful resolution of conflict, would be the best for him. To the father’s credit, he signed himself up, as well.
The result was that the son got a great workout each class, facilitating positive and productive father-son discussions on the way home afterwards. But also, it wasn’t long before the father got new insights into dealing with father-son conflict, as well as new options or “tools” to suggest to his son for the son’s various day-to-day conflict situations. (Read the son’s story here.)
Knox also explored the concept of “Mental Aikido,” as he referred to it.
“Putting the onus on parents, Knox insisted that it’s up to them to analyze themselves and ‘come up with an appropriate, but unexpected, response. As long as parents respond the way kids anticipate, the kids are in charge. So that when kids do push that button, they don’t get the anticipated response, and when they don’t get that anticipated response, they’re confused. And when they’re confused they’re susceptible to suggestion and that’s when you plant that little seed of wisdom in their little brain.”
Click here to read the original article.
Technorati Tags: aikido, martial arts, at risk youth
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