[bloniac]

You are precisely correct.

In most cases parents are happy with “self defence theatre” in which the parent feels they’ve done the right thing, in which the child feels confidence because they falsely believe they can defend themselves.

Most parents I think would be reluctant to have their children really learn to fight/defend themselves.

When parents tell me their kids are doing karate, and if they are interested in my thoughts, then I ask them, “exactly why are they doing karate? Do you know? What’s your true goal?”

And if their real, true goal is self defence then I gently explain there’s better options than karate.