Karate teacher accused of kicking child

SUFFOLK, Va., Feb. 6 (UPI) -- A Virginia karate instructor has been charged with kicking an 11-year-old student in the abdomen more than 200 times.

Susan Bateman, a third-degree black-belt instructor in Suffolk has been charged with child endangerment, the (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot reported Wednesday.

Bateman, 47, is said to have challenged her students to take as many kicks as they could stand, according to a police report of the Nov. 7 incident.

Police Lt. D.J. George said the incident was reported to child protective services on Nov. 14, and Bateman was arrested Nov. 20.

At Bateman's preliminary hearing Tuesday in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, more than two dozen parents of karate school students and students themselves filled the anteroom.

Rhett Kolipano was one of those at the courthouse in support of the teacher. He said he's been a student at the school for more than 25 years, and said anything that happened was a misunderstanding.

"It's part of the training," said Joni Kolipano, his mother. "Karate builds character."