This is a very disturbing topic. Please comment about the topic and not about any specific person.
There are millions of decent teachers and others who have authority over children and none of them would ever consider abusing them. Nevertheless, there is always one bad apple in the bunch. This one bad apple will bring hatred upon an entire group by using his/her authority for their own pleasures.
There are many ways that children can be abused and many environments that the abuse can take place.
Listed are some of the most devious:
Another can compound all of the above.
Some environments that the abuse can occur:
Any place where there is a person who has authority over children.
What is most disturbing to me is the abuse of children in the dojo. We all know this has happened in the past and it will happen again. When a person, who has gained the respect and loyalty of children, uses that edge to abuse them it is a most despicable act.
A child who attends a self-defense institution, is supposed to be learning how to recognize abuse and warn others that they are being abused. When the person, to whom the parents have trusted to teach their children how to defend against these atrocities, is the culprit, it makes for a nasty predicament for the children to be in.
How does a child defend against this abuse?
Verbal communication between the parent and the child.
A parent should always ask their child if he/she is comfortable in the dojo-learning environment. They should ask the child if he/she is comfortable with the Sensei, or instructors touching certain areas of the body. A touch in karate training is considered a prodding of an area to determine a focus of that area. A touch is not considered to be a fondle or "feeling" of the area.
The head, shoulders, hips, lat muscles, kidneys, arms, hands, fingers, elbows, legs, neck, chin, stomach, chest area of males, back feet and toes, are common places that students will be touched or prodded by an instructor or sensei.
The child should not be comfortable with the "Feeling of the body" which is considered a rubbing or placing of the hand on an area that is deemed sexual by response of that touch.
During Uechi-ryu Karate classes, some of the adult students get a two handed smack to the sides of the buttocks from the rear, just to check that the gluteus maximus muscles are tucked in. There should be absolutely no rubbing in this area, as that would constitute a sexual infringement.
There should be absolutely no touching or fondling to any genital areas, buttocks, and breast area of female students. No karate instructor or sensei has any need to "touch" a student in these areas.
The breast area of female students does not need to be touched. An inadvertent touching of the knuckles of the attackers fist to the female breast does not constitute a sexual touch. The rubbing of the breasts from behind, or on the side or from the back is definitely sexual in nature, which should not be allowed by the student.
Arm rubbing only, is part of the curriculum. There should be no rubbing of the legs of female students. It is not a conditioning method to rub the legs, unless the student rubs them himself/herself.
If a student is hurt in the dojo, a sensei or instructor does not have the authority to rub a bruise that is considered to be in any area of the body that is deemed sexual if touched. On female students, areas are the genitals, breasts, buttocks, and thighs. On male students, areas are the genitals, thighs, and buttocks.
During BJJ, Judo, or grappling classes, there is the chance that some inadvertent touching to these areas may occur. The children or female adult students who are 17 or younger who are at the age where they begin to feel uncomfortable with these areas being touched, should not be allowed to perform randori with students, instructors, or sensei of the opposite sex. It is too easy for a planned assault of these areas to occur, while making it seem like it was accidental.
What do you do to insure that your child is not being abused at the dojo?
Never leave your child in a class when there are no parents in the viewing/reception area. Even if there are many children students in the class. Children do not know when others are being touched sexually. Some think that is OK because of the trust that they place in the instructor or sensei. Teach your children to tell you what happens in the dojo. The child must be able to communicate all aspects of his/her training. If the dojo policy does not allow the parents to watch the classes, find another dojo that will. There should be no reason why a parent cannot observe his or her child while in a class.
However, some touching (prodding) is necessary when learning a contact sport or self-defense. You must make sure that the touching is specific to learning knowledge and not sexual in nature. The child should be able to tell you if they are comfortable with the other children, the instructors, adults, and Sensei.
An ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure.