I have started to teach silat again after the Movement Control Order period due to the popularity of the Mat Kilau movie.
My neighbours kept complaining that their children were so mesmerised by the movie that they had begun to copy movements that they think are silat.
As the only certified silat instructor in the neighbourhood, I felt a sense of responsibility that compelled me to begin a silat class. I have to admit, the sparkle in these kids' eyes made me feel like I am a hero to them.
Looking back at my pre-silat days, during my first involvement with martial arts, my mother always sent me to my taekwondo classes, then left.
Why won't she join me? How would she protect herself if I am not there? That made me wonder, do parents expect their children to learn martial arts to protect themselves and their parents?
In my mother's defence, she had to juggle her job as a principal at a prestigious school as well as look after two sons.
What about parents who send their children to martial arts classes, then watch by the side and talk with fellow benchwarmers or go have coffee or tea somewhere until the classes end?
If I see parents or guardians of my students lepak on the side, I would invite them to join my silat class because it is good for them health-wise and their participation would boost their children's confidence.
As a silat teacher, I know martial arts can only help in certain situations, especially when it involves children.
Say a family of three, consisting of the parents and their son, were strolling around a secluded park. The son is 10 years old and a middle-ranked martial arts student.
Then say a stranger comes from behind them with a knife and grabs the father by the neck. The mother goes straight to her son to protect him, or he goes to her to protect her.
The son knows a few techniques to break free that he learnt from continuous training. The father is the kind to always send his son to classes then goes off somewhere.
Does the father expect his son to rescue him? Maybe in his mind he is thinking, 'I paid for his martial arts classes, now be the hero and save me!'
This unfortunate incident could end in tragedy or the father could save himself and his family if he had trained in martial arts or self-defence.
This is why I encourage parents to learn martial arts with their children. It is not the responsibility of children to protect their parents. It should be the other way around.
Don't be fooled by television shows or movies that show kids turning into superheroes because they learnt an exotic martial art.
Imagine a criminal who knows how to fight on the streets going against a kid who is only trained in martial arts in a controlled environment.
First, this scenario should not occur if precautions were taken and if the parents are responsible with their child's safety. Second, the kid would be at a big disadvantage and it would be better for him to flee to survive.
Parents who have the time and opportunity to learn martial arts with their kids but choose not to must change their attitude.
Don't think that by sending your child to a martial arts class that you as a parent or guardian are not accountable anymore for the child's safety and security. Also, don't place the responsibility of educating your child in the ways of survival solely on martial arts teachers and instructors.
Martial arts should be seen as an extra survival skill that comes with other benefits. When parents and their kids are in tune with ways to survive that start at home, they would naturally go together to self-defence classes and training sessions.
The days when it was common to know martial arts might be long gone, but for those who have the privilege to learn them now, make it a part of your family's daily lives.
The writer is senior lecturer at the School of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management, Universiti Utara Malaysia
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times