I am a pancake man the way water flows through the empty vessel, unexpectedly and openly.

You see, you got the order all wrong.

Usually, children with sociopathic tendencies START by fighting or torturing the dog or other animals.

I would suggest using the blunted, wood blades they carry in women's self-defense classes.

Your comment reminded me of a certain scene in "Redbelt" when this young woman, who is a pill addict, comes to her first Jiu-jitsu class and her teacher tells her to "just sit, first."

She apologizes and explains she just doesn't feel as if there's anything that she can learn here.

He tells her that "... there is no situation you cannot turn to your advantage. There is no situation you cannot escape from."

She starts crying and explains that a man raped her. A man twice her size found her in an alley, held a knife to her neck and raped her.

She starts walking out.

The teacher says, "He held a knife to you?"

Still in tears, she says, "Yes." as she's walking out of the training center.

He goes... "Oh, like this?" And puts her in a rear naked choke and holds the traditional red, blunted, wooden knife against her throat.

She struggles at first, terrified.

He says, "Don't move - there's a knife there. Now go to your right and under me."

She does.

He says, "Stab me with the knife."

She jabs at him with it, still almost petrified with fear.

He starts screaming, "Stab me with the knife!"
She starts really digging this wood piece into his chest until he lets her go and she almost collapses out of the suffering she'd endured internally up to that point from having been raped, stripped, made impotent and powerless by a stranger.

He says, only, "Don't worry. It's okay. There's no one here but the fighters."

It is a good option. My son is 18 and took maybe 2 classes (got to meet Chuck Norris though)

It does teach discipline, but there are many ways to teach this as well. Try taking one of my dance classes

Teaching a child to try to fight their way out of situations is a dangerouse false sense of security because there is no martial art that is faster than a bullet and many of todays kids can put there hands on a gun at a moments notice. What is smarter is teaching a child to avoid dangerous situations and how to control their mouth and their situation before it gets out of control.

A little bit of skill or even a lot does not mean your child won't have to fight but if they are trained to dominate it can actually hurt them if they get into a bad situation and actually hurt another person.

I believe every child should be trained how to deal with difficult people and have conversations when an adult should be brought in. What to do in emergencies. How to spot trouble as it developes. How to defuse volital situations. Or back down, even when they know they are in the right, so that they can avoid serious consequences.

As a recent convert to Buddhism, I do not believe that fighting is the answer. I have two children and although I respect the discipline and teachings within martial arts I would and have chosen different methods for my children. It is also different for every child. Something that may work for one, might not work for the other. My daughter is very girlie and loves to dance, so she takes ballet. My son has ADHD. While he also likes to dance he needed something that let out a little bit more energy, so he does swimming and baseball. Martial arts would not work for either of them. My daughter doesn't like it and my son is already too aggressive. Your plea sounds very sincere, but you have to take into consideration that people like different things and you must respect that.