'Give my son a black belt': Karate Karen throws tantrum after son is denied a black belt, instructors defend themselves

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jun 23, 2024 2:00 PM EDT

This Karen has never heard the word "no," and apparently, neither has her son.

It turns out that the most dangerous part about the Karens of the world is that there is a high likelihood that they will pass their toxic traits onto their children. What this essentially means is that where there is a Karen parent, there is likely a Karen child ready to keep that entitled behavior going until they themselves have kids. So on and so forth. The dynasty of Karens will seemingly never end. 

Here, we have a unique tale of a temperamental kid who did not understand that he needed to earn a black belt. Instead, he demanded one within the first five minutes of his first lesson after having already offended one of the female instructors. When his mother intervened, she chose not to discipline her kid but rather to double down, demanding that he receive a black belt immediately. 

Tension escalated very quickly, and before the karate instructors knew it, they were fighting off the Karen in front of a whole crowd of students and parents. Keep scrolling below for the full saga. When you're done, take a look at this post about some iconic entitled folks and their one-star reviews.

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  • 01
    空手
    via Thao Lee
  • 02
    Worst Karen I've ever seen caused a blow up for the ages because I wouldn't give her son a black belt on his first day of karate
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 03
    Background: I teach Kenpo Karate as a second degree black belt. I also have an assistant, Keira, a first degree black belt in her own right. I don't own the gym, my instructor does, but since he's gotten older me and Keira handle the younger classes while he handles the business side of things plus adult class.
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 04
    We have three classes: Kids class (Age 5-10) Intermediate class (Age 11- 15) Adult class (Age 16 & Up)
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 05
    Main story: So kids class has just ended when a woman walks in with her son. She says her 13 y.o son wants to take karate lessons, so I shake hands with her and have her sit down with my instructor to fill out the waivers, and get him his gi measurements.
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 06
    Other students file in for the intermediate class and me and Keira get down to business. I take the bulk of the class, around 15 kids, while Keira goes with the new student one-on-one to teach him basic strikes and stances. Not five minutes later I hear Keira upset, telling new boy to do ten push ups.
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 07
    Why? He called Keira, who's essentially a VOLUNTEER, a f bo Karen, the mother, stands up and says her son can't do push up's, as she doesn't want her son to be sore. Keira let's him do the push ups on his knees, but not five minutes later she makes him do twenty more, since he's now called her a SO
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 08
    For reference, Keira is in her early twenties, and the boy is thirteen. Not to mention there's other parents and kids here as well. It's wholly inappropriate.
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 09
    So I walk over and ask Keira to switch with me. As she does, she gives me the bug eyes and mouths "what the f" So I walk over and ask the boy why he insulted my assistant Keira. He said he "doesn't like girls." When I asked him what he meant, he said he only listens to his dad or "other boys."
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 10
    "He won't listen to me at all! He needs some discipline!" The mother confirms to me, chuckling. As if raising a monster is something to laugh about.
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 11
    "When do I get a black belt like you have?" The boy asks me. Mind you, he's been punching the air the entire time. This boy is aggressively hyper.
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 12
    "Well, it takes quite a while. I've been training since I was five, and earned my black belt at 21, so it took me a while!" I say.
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 13
    "Nah, I don't wanna wait that long! I want mine now!" He says, his chubby face now red and sweaty from the shadow boxing. The mother motions me over and whispers in my ear...
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 14
    "Do you think you could give him one? Just to make him happy?" "No sorry he has to earn one. We aren't a belt factory."
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 15
    "Well he never gets told no..." "I'm sorry, but that's not how we do things here." "I have money, I can pay you extra!" "No, sorry, we only give belts when they're earned."
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 16
    After several minutes of arguing and conversation that leads no where, Karen snaps at me... "I PAID YOU GIVE MY SON A BLACK BELT!" She stands up and points a finger in my face. It was so sudden that I reflexively took a step back.
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 17
    "Hey, chill out lady!" Some of the other parents chime in. Before I can reply to Karen, I hear a loud commotion behind me. I hear more parents and students shouting. I turn, and see new boy smacking and h▲g a girl in the class.
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 18
    Keira is shouting "Hey, stop!" However, this girl that new boy is hg is a purple belt and a little badass of her own. She loads a front kick and hits brat boy center mass, right in his flappy stomach. He shouts and doubles over, crying tears of pain.
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 19
    I was so freaking proud of her! "HEY! THAT LITTLE BO HURT MY SON!" Karen runs past me onto the mat and gets in the face of the 14 YEAR OLD GIRL her son just attacked. This girl is already scared and starts to cry but Karen ups the ante and shoves this girl in the chest with her hand. Keira gets between them and is red faced enraged. I
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 20
    immediately rush over and try to diffuse the situation but neither of them are having it. Parents stand up and start shouting.
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 21
    "KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY DAUGHTER!" The girls father, who was with the other parents, yells at Karen. He starts approaching aggressively but backs off when he realizes me and Keira, both black belts, are by her.
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 22
    Now, you should know something about Keira. She's under 5 foot, less then 110 pounds soaking wet, but she can still kick my up and down the mat on any given day. She's fast, accurate, and insanely flexible. She can control her body and perform techniques that I just simply can't.
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 23
    So Keira and Karen get into a shouting match with each other. I tell Karen to "leave with your kid and don't come back. Don't you EVER lay a hand on any of my students! DO YOU UNDERSTAND!" I raised my voice, and was genuinely PO off.
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 24
    "FO you! My son needs a black belt and you won't give him one!" She screams at me. "Your son is crazy! He attacked our students!" Keira interjects, but this set Karen off, as she reaches and tries to b slap Keira in the face. На На На. Big mistake.
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 25
    Having had enough, Keira parries the smack and fires an absolutely vicious leg kick right into the meat of Karen's inner thigh with nothing held back. The slap sound of Keira's shin bone decimating Karen's thigh echoed off the ceiling like a slab of meat getting thrown on the floor. It was glorious.
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 26
    Karen gasped as she fell onto the mat in a heap. "Oh... oh my god!" She held her leg as brat boy got up and rushed at Keira. I got in front of her and grabbed the boys wildly swinging arms. He hit me a few times but I refuse to hit children whatsoever. I let him tire himself out.
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 27
    One of the parents called the police. After interviewing everyone involved, they determined that Keira and myself acted in self defense. Neither of us wanted to pursue assault charges against Karen, but the parents of the girl Karen shoved rightly felt differently about it, so Karen was hauled away in handcuffs. Karen said she'd sue me and Keira in civil court, but since we have legal waivers, here's hoping nothing comes of that.
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 28
    As for the boy, I honestly feel bad. His childhood has been robbed by ppoor parenting, and I wish we could've had more time to straighten him out. I have particular dislike for his views of women, and feel like I really could've helped turn him around. Maybe, maybe not.
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124
  • 29
    So yeah, that was my experience tonight. Hope you all enjoy reading it more then I did going through it!
    via u/Seaworthy_Zebra5124

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karens entitled parents Karate Kid karen-customer karate karens in the wild entitled reddit thread Reddit karen entitled people
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