Author Topic: Broke a student's arm! (Read 696 times)

Heather · « **on:** December 16, 2009, 08:33:05 AM »

Oh my I feel awful. Last Friday I was teaching a 14 year old female student some self defense. I was teaching her how to escape a choke hold. She wasn't executing the technique properly so I held on until she did. When she finally escaped the force throwing her backwards coupled with the fact that her gi pants were under my foot caused her to fall on her wrist. It is broken! I feel horrible. I understand that accidents happen, but this one could have been prevented if she was in a uniform that fit her. I feel that this is double my fault because as one of her instructors I should have not let her do the hand to hand with her pants way too long. I should have known better, and now this poor child will most likely not come back and she was only one testing away from black belt. Sigh...thanks for letting me ramble guys.

Heather

Redtail1949 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 16, 2009, 08:36:49 AM »

hey its not your fault..i understand how you feel but do not blame yourself.

Questor · « **Reply #2 on:** December 16, 2009, 08:58:00 AM »

I know the feeling. I did that once too and I still think about it 37 years later. The good news is that no lasting harm is done, so it'll be alright. In the long run you'll feel worse about it than she does.

Rustyinfla · « **Reply #3 on:** December 16, 2009, 04:07:46 PM »

Heather, It's a contact sport. accidents happen. It wasn't on purpose and I'm sure her parents know that. If she was one test away from black she's been at it at least what... 2 years or so? I doubt the girl would put that much time into it and be that close to testing for black and then just toss it. During the time I was taking TKD I saw two broken noses and a 3rd Dan Black knocked a yellow belt cold.

Elijah Gunn · « **Reply #4 on:** December 16, 2009, 05:49:15 PM »

Just learn from this and let it go. Life involves risk,and these kinds of things ARE going to happen.

redboot612 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 16, 2009, 07:04:40 PM »

Well you learned from the mistake, so just go on, and don't let it bother you, accidents do happen.

Red

Squib · « **Reply #6 on:** December 16, 2009, 08:44:24 PM »

don't let her take a few months off, keep her in the gym doing instructing for the "noobs" as much as you can. keep her in the game, keep her in shape with yoga, keep her motivated. if she comes back for the first time in a few months with an achey wrist and noodle arm then she probably will quit. it'll also set the example for caution for the rest of the students.

why was a long-term student not wearing the right gear? if she can't afford it then buy her a new gi perhaps, it is just about christmas. butter her up to keep her going but not out of guilt- and DON'T give her the belt because you feel sorry for her. if you poke at the issue a bit (she got her wrist broke from a silly mistake sparring, much less violent than the real deal) then she SHOULD be ready to show you a few moves by the time she's healed up (I'm not saying get her fuming mad but the occassional razzing will do).

please don't run a stinky class (my old one had people that wouldn't wash the gi's to keep them competitive by biohazard)

Brett · « **Reply #7 on:** December 17, 2009, 05:28:04 AM »

Don't be too hard on yourself Heather.

It is a contact sport after all. I'm sure the girl read/signed a waver informing her that there are some risks involved and if she is that close to a black belt I'm sure she is aware that she is not playing patty-cake.

If something like this had happened to you when you were that close to getting your BB would you bail or would you have hung tough? Give the girl some credit till she proves otherwise.

Chalk this up to a lesson learned about the importance of properly fitting attire and move on and encourage your pupil to do likewise. I like Squib's idea of keeping the girl involved somehow until she heals up.

Spanky · « **Reply #8 on:** December 17, 2009, 07:06:25 AM »

Things happen... sometimes bad things.
There is a lesson to be learned from it, just figure out what it is and move on.
God has a plan for everything... even broken arms.

Spanky

slim rem 7 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 17, 2009, 07:41:30 AM »

what spanky said covers it..my best to you an matt. an don t worry.. does absolutely no good. :)slim

Heather · « **Reply #10 on:** December 18, 2009, 04:44:28 AM »

Well she came to class last night with her pink cast. Last testing cycle she no changed on her testing when she couldn't break her wood, and her older sister and younger brother passed her in rank. She seems to be most upset by the fact that they will pass her even further now that she will miss this testing. She seems to have the determination and drive to stick with it though. All is well and thanks for the comments. :-)

Heather

Spanky · « **Reply #11 on:** December 18, 2009, 04:55:37 AM »

Did she try breaking the wood with her cast?

The younger brother passing her is gonna be her driving force now. She'll probably be the hardest working student you have.

You don't ever want to be bested by a YOUNGER sibling!!

Spanky

Squib · « **Reply #12 on:** December 18, 2009, 08:26:59 PM »

and now YOU don't have to razz her, her family will

she'd gonna have the "eye of the tiger"

I don't know about that pink cast though, not very hardcore of her