A Suffolk karate instructor is charged with abuse of a child.

Susan Walston Bateman, 47, is charged "for kicking an 11-year-old child over 200 times to see how tough he was," police spokeswoman Cpl. Debbie George told WVEC.com.

Police say the incident took place Wednesday, November 7th while Bateman was teaching karate class. The instructor allegedly told to the student to get on his knees and knuckles in a push-up position while she repeatedly kicked him.

"There was every indication that this child didn't necessarily want to get this instructor in trouble, but he knew what went on was outside the norm of what they're typically taught," said George.

It appears that Bateman's husband runs the Suffolk business, as well as another location in Hampton. Police believe the Batemans pitted kids from the schools against each other to see who's "more tough."

"This was some type of competition," said George. "The instructor had said, 'The students in Hampton took x amount of kicks,' you know, 'How tough are you guys?'"

Police say the student in this case had internal injuries from all the repeated kicks, and they worry more students are hurt and haven't come forward.

"We know that there were more children kicked at the Suffolk location based on what was said during the interview," said George. "We got the impression that the students in Hampton were also kicked."

According to the police report, Bateman was arrested November 20.

Police don't have any idea of how long this had been going on, if it was a one-time incident or not, but they are asking that parents of any students at the Suffolk or Hampton location to talk to their children to see if they went through the situation. If so, police ask that parents contact them.