Reasons for someone to take karate lessons? +how long does it take to be a pro?

[slackerinabox]

So I'm writing a screenplay now and I need a female character to have a non-melodramatic cataclysmic event that leads her to taking Karate lessons.. At first I had her nearly get raped in an elevator but my professor said that that was a bit too much.. I need it to be realistic yet have some form of violence behind it (the point of the story is that a violent act lead to her life taking a positive detour).. I figured getting mugged would be find but my professor still thinks that's melodramatic - agree or disagree?

Also.... How long does it take someone to be good enough to be a karate teacher? Let's assume that this person is dedicated and loves the martial arts with a passion- how many years before they can start a dojo of their own?

 

[JBAR]

Make her an Elvis fan who wanted to emulate her hero.

 

[Lager]

She gets irritated by a person taking too long coming out of the parking spot so she proceeds to beat up the guy who took too long.

 

[Walleye]

imo, raped would be reason to start carrying a gun.

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: Walleye
imo, raped would be reason to start carrying a gun.

Yeah, you're right.. Not having to worry about getting raped is one of the few benefits of being a tubby indian guy..unless I go to prison, of course..

 

[Walleye]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: Walleye
imo, raped would be reason to start carrying a gun.

Yeah, you're right.. Not having to worry about getting raped is one of the few benefits of being a tubby indian guy..unless I go to prison, of course..

me = law abiding fat white dumpy guy.

dont have to worry either

 

[Nocturnal]

It depends, if you're talking about an older woman maybe she is taking it for self-defense. Maybe she recently moved to an area where things aren't so safe so she is taking up a martial art to defend herself. Maybe if it's a teenager she is taking it for self-esteem issues and or a bully is bullying her in school. Hope I helped.

 

[OulOat]

She's wants to bump heads with Bruce Lee?

 

[Hossenfeffer]

Big-busted biker babes in bondage.

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
It depends, if you're talking about an older woman maybe she is taking it for self-defense. Maybe she recently moved to an area where things aren't so safe so she is taking up a martial art to defend herself. Maybe if it's a teenager she is taking it for self-esteem issues and or a bully is bullying her in school. Hope I helped.

I should have specified that she's 26... Moving to a crappy areas a good possibility.. thanks!

 

[Hossenfeffer]

As far as what drives you to take karate classes, there's gotta be a -bit- of oddness or melodrama to it. It's karate, man.

Maybe the instructor is the hot.

Maybe she's looking for a way to keep in shape but has a mean streak.

Maybe she won a contest for a free month of lessons.

Maybe she missed out on the "toy of the season" because she got trampled by the walmart shoppers. Next year, there's gonna be some payback. Oh yes, payback will be hers.

 

[sillymofo]

Have you seen that movie "Enough"?

 

[Cyberian]

a non-melodramatic cataclysmic event

Isn't this a bit of an oxymoron?

Anyway, don't some people study Karate just for the discipline involved?

 

[Walleye]

Originally posted by: Hossenfeffer
Big-busted biker babes in bondage.

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: Cyberian

a non-melodramatic cataclysmic event

Isn't this a bit of an oxymoron?

Anyway, don't some people study Karate just for the discipline involved?

Cataclysmic as in an event that acts as a catalyst.. Some people take it just for the discipline, but not this character

 

[Schadenfreude]

Usually, to get a black belt, you need at least 5 years of training - meaning, 5 days a week, 2 hours a day . . .. And if your actress doesn't know Karate, well, you're in a world of sh!t - you're going to need either a stunt double, or it's going to be very, very noticable.

Uh, well, to be a teacher, I believe that it really depends on teh organization - now, you can have a class without being designated a "master" which is approx. 4th dan and above (if I remember correctly) and consider:

Till black belt (1st degree): 5 years

Till 2nd degree: 2 years

Till 3rd degree: 3 years

Till 4th degree: 4 years

Well, that adds up to about 14 years in training. Why karate? Why not another style, like Bagua, or Wing Chun, Aikido, or Hapkido? Is it the association of martial arts = "karate"?