By Lisa DiCarlucci
Karate instructor, Teruyuki Higa was suspended from teaching at the University after a student filed an incident report with Public Safety, citing overly aggressive behavior during a class demonstration, according to an anonymous student. Higaís suspension is currently pending according to Nancy Halliday, chair person of the physical education and sports sciences department.
In regards to Higaís suspension Halliday said, ìWe are in process with that so there is nothing I can speak to.î The Provostís office offered no comment.
This is the second time that Higa has been brought up on charges of aggressive behavior. He was proven innocent of allegations against him in 1995.
According to the anonymous student, the incident on March 12th involved a fellow student being asked to help demonstrate a self-defense maneuver, and the student became upset when Sensei Higa physically corrected her technique and raised his voice.
Higaís student Charlie Rohlfs described the incident in more detail. “He [Higa] was showing a student how to block and she repeatedly refused to put any effort into her movements. He yelled at her, which may have not have been the most appropriate response, but I feel that there is a different style of teaching that Higa implemented which was very effective, although sometimes harsh. The student then ran out of the classroom without giving any reason and reported the incident as an excessive use of force.
As for his take on the incident Rohlfs said,” My understanding is that the student was embarrassed and ran off, which caused her to have a motive to want to get the instructor fired. It was completely over exaggerated. At no point did Sensei Higa place his hands on a student in a violent way.”
Higa was issued his suspension the next day on March 13th. “I cannot say in detail of this case,” Higa said, ìIím sure this allegation is totally false and completely fabricated.”
Higaís former student, University Law School graduate, Mike Deem said that he finds this situation, frankly appalling.”
“In a University setting where people are being taught tolerance and to expand their minds I think the Universityís actions are premature,” Deem said. As a long time student of martial arts, Deem said he found Higaís teaching methods demanding, but fair and that if he lived closer he would enroll his children in Higaís martial arts school. “Combat may be rough but that is foreseeable and to be expected,” Deem said, “Accidents happen, itís the nature of the course.”
Deem continued to cite an incident, which occurred in the late eighties where a student broke his arm during a martial arts demonstration at the University and nothing ever came of it.
While the details of the incident and the identity of the accuser remain unclear, what is apparent is Higaís passion and love for teaching karate at the University.
“I could sense that he had a lot of love for teaching, and really wanted to help us learn how to defend our selves in a life or death situation,” Rohlfs said.
While this case is still pending, Higa continues to instruct at his local dojo. He is confident in his innocence, but concerned about his reputation. “Hopefully the University will find the truth in this case and restore my reputation,” Higa said.