How do you know your student is not the future Jon Kreese

Question

When you're a martial arts teacher, how do you know your student is not the future John Kreese? In the Karate Kid films, John Kreese basically took Karate and completely erased its ethics. He taught his students how to hurt people badly when they feel like it, not how to defend yourself in a fight. Some words of wisdom from Kreese include...

1. Pain does not exist in this dojo

2. Mercy does not exist in this dojo

3. When a man faces you, he is the enemy, the enemy deserves no mercy. (This basically means, when you're beating someone up, make sure they don't/barely live to see the sun rise).

4. (When you come in second place in a tourney) YOU ARE A LOSER AND DO NOT DESERVE TO COME BACK OR EVEN LIVE ANYMORE.

So as a teacher, how do you know your student is not going to take the art and do what John Kreese did to it in the Karate Kid films? Even if you teach your student about good conduct, and even if you make them pledge/ take an oath that they will never use their martial arts for wrongdoing, how would you know that they're not silently scoffing to themselves?

Answer 1

You can't really-just make sure you have Mr. Miyagi's number handy to kick his butt when the time comes.

Answer 2

You don't know that.  You can only hope and do your best to guide students down the path you hope for them.  But ultimately, they will choose their own path.

James