Dear Reader,
“Do not make yourself vulnerable,” the martial-arts instructor began. “Scan your environment for threats. Find your exits.” His teenage students at the gym hung on his words. Each one looked vulnerable in that awkward, adolescent way — including my son, Khalil. When fights break out at his high school, students crowd around and record videos to circulate on social media. After seeing a grainy clip of a vicious hallway brawl, I’d signed him up for this class. The instructor had assured me that learning martial arts helps calm anxiety and deter aggression. The most dangerous men he knows, he said, are also the most peaceful. I was intrigued. But now, as I watched Khalil practice throwing punches to the face, I doubted whether I’d made the right decision.
