| The first time I saw a martial arts film in a local | | | | methods. Guns, knives, bombs and other types of |
| cinema, I told myself that I wanted to be a great | | | | killing tools were displayed unceasingly. It was like |
| fighter like Bruce Lee. In my mind, I was already | | | | a feast where killing is the main activity. I actually |
| a hero just waiting for an opportunity to show | | | | felt sick and disoriented halfway through the show |
| off my fighting skills. In my obsession I enrolled in | | | | and had to leave to retain some semblance of |
| a local karate school to learn how to punch, kick | | | | sanity. How would the film affect these who sat |
| and generally dispatch off another person with | | | | through the whole show? I am sure their brains |
| ease. | | | | were filled with images of violence. I only hope |
| What I experienced in the school was totally | | | | they do not go out and imitate what they saw. |
| different from what I imagined it to be. | | | | Not all these influences are harmful. It is when |
| In the first place, I learned that there is no | | | | they are carried out to extremes that we lose |
| heroism involved in fighting. Only fools fight among | | | | touch with ourselves and so live in a fantasy |
| themselves. Furthermore they get broken hands | | | | world. |
| and bruises all over the body for nothing. Learning | | | | In real life, nobody can go on fighting with an axe |
| karate is an arduous task. It is one that requires | | | | embedded in his abdomen. Only film heroes can |
| discipline and perseverance. After all the tough | | | | do that. Also we cannot hope to defeat fifty |
| sessions in the 'dojo' a karate practitioner will have | | | | opponents without even raising a sweat. People |
| no desire to go out of his way to fight with | | | | get killed in real life car crashes. Only film heroes |
| anybody. He knows what the consequence can | | | | escape minor scratches. Reality has little to do |
| be, so he avoids a fight. | | | | with such shows. |
| So in this aspect I would certainly say that films | | | | Fortunately, not all films and television programs |
| are harmful. They gave me a wrong idea of what | | | | are harmful. Documentaries and educational |
| martial arts is all about. It is with a bit of sadness | | | | programs are definitely beneficial. I learned many |
| when sometimes I see young kids showing off | | | | things about wildlife and people, their customs and |
| what little knowledge of fighting they have. I was | | | | traditions. In short these programs gave me a |
| lucky to have a good teacher who taught me the | | | | better perspective of the world that we live in, |
| inner aspects of martial arts. I learned to be | | | | the dangers we face, our heritage and the |
| humble and gentle, far different from the | | | | responsibilities we have if we are to live in peace. |
| arrogant film hero who could kill off hundred bad | | | | So it is up to you, the viewer, to decide what |
| guys without batting an eyelid. | | | | type of programs you want to watch. You can fill |
| Violence on television and films also do a lot of | | | | your brains with all sorts of muck about violence |
| harm on the viewers. In one film that I saw, it | | | | and killings or you can learn more about yourself |
| was nothing but a tale of murder after murder. | | | | and the world so that you can truly live like what |
| People got killed all over place by all sorts of | | | | nature intended you to. |