Martial Arts - Is it violent?

Parents these days are rightly concerned about exposing their children to violence, especially on TV or in the movies. Yet most children, boys especially, are two-legged tidal waves of energy and aggression. Martial arts can offer a healthy, controlled way for children not only to release some of that energy, but also to learn to channel it into self-discipline and character development.

It's just that sense of controlled mayhem that frightens parents. Martial arts are simply choreographed violence, aren't they? To a certain extent, yes. But then again, so are football, rugby, hockey and any number of other sports.

It's important to remember that with few exceptions, television and movies offer a horribly distorted view of martial arts.