It would seem that Martial Arts myths and urban legends are Alive N Kickin’. In particular, the myth that ‘black belts’ have to register with the Police or RCMP as ‘deadly weapons.’
The topic came up in a conversation about Martial Arts with someone the other day. The fellow in question was reminiscing about how he had once trained in Aikido with the first ex-wife of Steven Segal (former CIA operative and Über Aikidoka), among other crazy Aikido dojo exploits.
The conversation turned to Judo; probably when I told him I was an old black belt in Judo. Asked if I had registered myself as a deadly weapon, I came clean, informing my friend that the black belt police had a rogue Judoka on their hands; an unregistered and ‘deadly weapon’ of mass destruction (WMD) in the very heart of Greater Toronto!
Hearing most of these myths over my 30 years in the martial arts, this one always cracks me up. If it applied to martial artists, it would also have to apply to boxers, wrestlers and the majority of experienced combat sport participants. And why stop there? A pro baseballer with a bat or ball in hand could also be considered a ‘deadly weapon,’ as would a pro hockey player with a hockey stick, and let’s not forget the lethal skills of the ping and pong racqueteer; ping, pong and balls in hand.
As for the ‘deadly weapons’ registry, I’ll do my part. I’ll even pay the ‘deadly weapons’ tax in an effort to aid the economic recovery.
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