AikiWeb Aikido Forums - View Single Post - Physical contact vs. "no-touch" policy

MaryKaye · 12-16-2005, 11:22 AM

If I have to get across "You may NOT kick uke when he is down," the child in question will likely have a "problem" with my behavior unless I am a milquetoast and don't enforce the safety rules. So that's not a completely reliable guide.

Small children are rather different from adults. It is not guaranteed they will be able to articulate "I don't like being touched there" in a way that distinguishes it from "How dare you tell me no!"--either when the touch is appropriate by adult standards or when it is not. So I think we have to bring our own judgement to the issue and not rely entirely on theirs.

Mary Kaye

12-16-2005, 11:22 AM	#28
MaryKaye Dojo: Seattle Ki Society Location: Seattle Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 522 Offline	Re: Physical contact vs. "no-touch" policy If I have to get across "You may NOT kick uke when he is down," the child in question will likely have a "problem" with my behavior unless I am a milquetoast and don't enforce the safety rules. So that's not a completely reliable guide. Small children are rather different from adults. It is not guaranteed they will be able to articulate "I don't like being touched there" in a way that distinguishes it from "How dare you tell me no!"--either when the touch is appropriate by adult standards or when it is not. So I think we have to bring our own judgement to the issue and not rely entirely on theirs. Mary Kaye