SUFFOLK, VA
A karate instructor was arrested and charged with child endangerment after an 11-year-old student said she kicked him in the abdomen more than 200 times, in what police described as a teacher’s challenge to her class.
The Karate teacher of Hampton, VA was teaching Nov. 7 when the incident happened, said Lt. D.J. George, a police spokeswoman. The boy suffered internal injuries and possibly a broken rib from the kicks, George said.
The third-degree black-belt instructor, told her class of about a dozen students that her Hampton pupils had received a certain amount of kicks to the abdomen “and basically challenged these children to see how many kicks they could take,” George said.
Each student went down to a push-up position on their knuckles, and the instructor began kicking, George said. This continued until the student told her to stop or went to his or her knees, George said.
Two students, including an 11-year-old boy, received more than 200 kicks, George said.
“The class was counting,” George said.
The 11-year-old boy didn’t immediately report what had happened. “He didn’t tell his parents until he needed medical attention,” George said.
Child Protective Services learned of the incident on Nov. 14, and police arrested the suspect on Nov. 20, George said.
The karate instructor was charged with one felony count of child endangerment. The family of the other student who received more than 200 kicks did not file a report with police, George said.
…stories like this one prove the importance of researching any facility that will be working with your child. Remember to check references and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Wishing you the best,
Rich Brugger
Teaching Martial Arts & Life Skills to families in New Providence NJ, Summit NJ, Berkeley Heights NJ, Gillette NJ, Stirling NJ, and surrounding areas.
