Forms on the Platform?

I suppose that letting some aggression out on the platform can be a good idea after all - in any case I am quite certain it is far better to do it there - on something solid - than on people inside a crowded subway carriage.

Perhaps that was the idea behind a well known sports brand being given the go ahead to install padded punching bags at the Xujiahui subway station in Shanghai?

The idea behind it is allegedly to allow stressed out commuters punch and kick the bags to let off some steam.

And who knows, perhaps you could even do your next workout while waiting for your train to arrive? Just don't start doing form though ... that would look totally uncool :-)

Fukuda Sensei, 10th Dan

California -- Please forget the absurd nonsense of 9-, 15- or 20-year-old "experts" or "masters". Yes, the kids are great and cute and all that, but lets get real. Being a true master or expert takes a life of dedication to an art.

It definitely involves more than being able to perform intricate patterns, kick high, win medals or being handed belts like candy.

One such true master, expert and legend is Keiko Fukuda sensei from San Francisco, who recently received the highest honor of judo. At the age of 98, she has been awarded the ultimate rank of 10th dan. Bravo and congratulations Fukuda sensei!

She is the first woman ever to be promoted to this rank. Not only that, there are just three people before her, all Japanese men, who have reached that level.

Fukuda sensei still teaches at the women's dojo in Noe Valley, and she was reportedly in tears when she was brought the news.

"All my life," Fukuda sensei said, "this has been my dream."

Nun-Fu?

Singapore -- It could perhaps have been nun-fu ... she could even have been a nunchaku fan.

However, 55-year-old Sister Linda Sim is not into kung-fu or weapon arts, she is an avid taekwondo practitioner, according to koreaherald.com.

While visiting Korea recently with some of her students to participate in a taekwondo youth camp, the Singaporean nun told reporters she is finding strength and also peace in taekwondo.

Sister Linda reportedly took up the martial art in her church when she was 17-years-old.

Instructor Gets 30 Years

Georgia -- We have previously mentioned a former martial arts instructor and chiropractor who was arrested back in 2006 for coercing underage boys to send him pornographic pictures of themselves.

After being convicted by a federal jury, the 39-year-old man has now been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, according to journalinquirer.com.

MMA Backflip Fail

Time for another video... This time a total self-inflicted MMA-fail. Hold on to your seat as this guy does an awesome (at least to the spectators) back-flip flop.

Why let your opponent have the pleasure of injuring you when you can fix it all by yourself? Makes perfect sense, right?

Too Much Ninja Turtles

UK -- (Northern Ireland) A judge has allegedly lamented that too many young men today are "fascinated by martial arts and Ninja Turtles".

This rather strange conclusion came after a 22-year-old man was found guilty of assault and various other offences.

The defendant was reportedly arrested after being seen staggering along the streets of Londonderry carrying a circular saw and later holding a police officer in a headlock.

So there you have it ... those green fellows may land you in a heap of trouble. I better cut out this martial art thingy all together.

I suppose alcohol is still OK since the judge didn't make a note about that.

Molested by Chief of Police?

Update, October 18:
After failing to cooperate with an ongoing investigation, the 56-year-old police chief accused of molesting two teenagers has been fired from his position. The man had been suspended without pay since the summer.

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Wisconsin -- The 55-year-old chief of police in a Western Wisconsin village has been charged with molesting two male teenagers, aged 16 and 17. This is according to kare11.com.

The two boys were reportedly arrested in March 2011 after they broke into an area church. They later told investigators that the police chief offered to "mentor them and teach them karate".

The boys claimed the man had spiked their energy drinks with alcohol, showed them pornography and repeatedly molested them on a number of visits to his apartment. They were allegedly threatened with juvenile detention if they told anyone.

The man told investigators he had an addiction to pornography, according to court documents.

Confuse-Us Speaks #24

OK ninjabbers ... time for an other complete martial arts comment fail, something master Confuse-Us would be proud of; nay, scrap that, he would probably be sobbing silently.

Today's entry: "The judo kick"... Yes, you got that right. We all know about the famous (and totally lethal) judo chop. But a judo kick? I guess that's more like "toetally" lethal?

Anyhow, apparently gullible reporters from gacksports.com talks about the first time ever judo kick. Allegedly delivered during a soccer match in Brazil. Sure, we know that the sport of soccer is a full contact blood sport and all that, but a judo kick...? Quadruple wow!

In all fairness, the fantasy land reporters states: "It's not often that you see someone judo-kick someone in the back of the head". Spot on guys, spot on. Could it be because judo don't involve kicking? Just saying...

Death Sentence

Sri Lanka -- After being found guilty of murder, a 52-year-old former karate teacher was sentenced to death, according to dailymirror.lk.

The Homagama resident was accused of murdering a 32-year-old woman, a mother of two, in January 2007.

Shakin' All Over

S. Korea -- A skyscraper in Seoul reportedly had to be evacuated during a vigorous workout recently.

It is said that the cause for the evacuation was a group of middle-aged people doing Tae Bo (a fitness workout which combines taekwondo and boxing). Allegedly, this group exercise caused tremors, which in turn set of the need for evacuating the high rise building.

The owners of the building said the upper floors of the tower was shaking for 10 minutes, as a result of the group exercise on the 12th floor gym.

And who said that middle-aged people doing Tae Bo isn't dangerous stuff... :-)

Ninja Games

Virginia -- A 13-year-old boy was lucky to get away without serious injuries after he impaled himself through the neck with a bamboo spear while playing a ninja game in Lynchburg, according to upi.com.

The child was injured while playing with friends and he apparently had the stick on to his back when the mishap occurred.

A friend said that the boy had jumped and that the makeshift spear went through his neck when he hit the ground. "The stick must have went forward," the friend, said.

The stick reportedly went through the boys's neck and exited 3 inches behind his left ear. He was rushed to hospital, but no arteries were hit as luck would have it.

Karate Expert, Weapons Dealer

UK -- A 35 year old karate expert has been give a strict jail sentence in Newcastle.

The karateka was allegedly ranked at #17 in the UK at one time.

The black market weapons dealer smuggled what has been described as as appalling armoury of martial art throwing stars, butterfly knives, knuckle dusters and even blowpipes from Pakistan, and sold them on for huge profits.

Officials at Newcastle Airport reportedly discovered a shipment of 2,700 weapons in boxes marked only as hand tools, according to chroniclelive.co.uk.

When a random check was done of cargo arriving at Newcastle on an Emirates flight, officials recovered a total of 1,005 knuckle dusters, 600 butterfly knives, 1,800 throwing stars and 720 dart firing blowpipes.

When officers later raided his home they discovered a haul of a further 1,500 similar weapons.

Students Accuse Instructor

Colorado -- A taekwondo teacher has been accused by three female students of sexual assault. The assaults started in 2008, according to one of the alleged victims.

Aurora Police have arrested the 31-year-old man, of Aurora in connection to the accusations from the three teenagers, according to 9news.com.

The man is reportedly accused of sexual assault on a child in a position of trust and sex assault on a child.

Fighting Spirit

UK -- Eleven-year-old Daniel Kimmins was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2006, according to thisisbath.co.uk.

After two operations, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the young boy was reportedly left mute and unable to move the left side of his body.

Now, this real-life fighter, who has had to learn to walk and talk again, is set to achieve black belt in taekwondo. Way to go son!

Accused of Raping Student

Georgia -- A 28-year-old popular taekwondo instructor who was training for the 2012 Olympics is in jail following an alleged sexual assault of a 9-year-old student.

The man was reportedly arrested on June 25 when a 9-year-old girl told police the instructor assaulted her at his martial arts school in Lithonia, according to examiner.com.

Instructor Indicted

Tennessee -- A 25-year-old Hendersonville man who owned a martial arts studio attended by dozens of local children has been indicted on a number of counts related to possession of kiddie porn.

The martial arts instructor was arrested  March 18 after a forensic analysis of his computer showed that he was in possession of child pornography, according to tennessean.com.

Taekwondon't

Update, August 27:
The 16-year-old boy from Florida has been sentenced and ordered to serve up to eight months at a youth correctional institution following the assault at a local martial arts competition.

Update, July 7:
It was originally thought the fight broke out prior to a match. However, it has emerged that there was no "fight", but an outright assault - and that it happened after a bout.

The attacker, who just prior to the incident had lost his match, went over to the winner and delivered a vicious kick to the head of the totally unprepared victim.

A witness said that neither the assailant, nor his father, seemed to have any remorse (why am I not surprised...)

Read more mercurynews.com - a nasty story for sure!

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California -- In San Jose, two juvenile competitors - aged 15 and 16 - got into a brawl prior to their scheduled match at the USA Taekwondo Junior Olympics, according to examiner.com.

As a result of the violent fight, one of the boys were arrested and the other was taken to a medical center, a police spokesman said.

Shameful and stupid behavior if you ask me.

Judo Benefit Fiddler

UK -- While teaching and practicing judo, a 46-year-old black belt judoka has been pocketing in excess of £1,000 a month in disability support, according to thesun.co.uk.

The civil war refugee from Congo, who does judo at a community sports center in North London has allegedly even been posting pictures of himself in judo gear on Facebook.

Documents supposedly show the man, who's also been described as "a violent drunk" was sent a letter in April 2008 where officials accepted he was "virtually unable to walk" and needed "attention with bodily functions through the day".

MMA Fighter Beating Wife

Minnesota -- A 30-year-old, well known MMA fighter has been arrested by police after he allegedly beat and strangled his wife in their Apple Valley home.

He was charged with felony and gross misdemeanor charges: third-degree assault, domestic assault by strangulation, having a pattern of stalking conduct and one count of endangerment of a child, according to huffingtonpost.com.

Mmafighting.com reports that the fighter's contract with the MMA organization Strikeforce has been terminated.

Arrested for Child Abuse

Florida -- A former police officer from Buckeye, Arizona has reportedly been arrested in Florida for child abuse.

Police said the 39-year-old man taught karate to juveniles before landing a new job with with American K-9 Detection Services, according to ktar.com.

The man was arrested on a number of counts of sexual conduct with a minor, kidnapping, aggravated assault, sexual abuse, voyeurism, indecent exposure, and threatening and intimidating.

The alleged victims are between the ages of 9 and 14 according to Buckeye police officials.

In September 23, the man was fired form the police force when he was accused of plagiarizing police reports, improperly investigating and closing cases, as well as improperly impounding evidence.