Everyone wants to be involved in something in which they can feel profoundly proud. It is often difficult to know what makes you proud to be a martial artist. Learning to tolerate the actions of others can be stressful. It makes it difficult to take the time to think about other people or try to put yourself in their place.During the old days, fellow GIs made fun of someone in the martial arts. The attacks were numerous: “Oh, you lack confidence” or “You’re some kind of a wimp” or “Something is wrong with you because you don’t know how to defend yourself.” You were always being accused of something you “lacked.” Outside comments were never based on something positive like self-respect. During the years, this stigma has stuck. Let me be the first to admit my guilt at pointing the finger at others and perpetuating this myth.
In martial arts, earning rank has not set the bar at equally high standards. Some instructors award rank, based on character virtues or the grades their students earned in academic school. Should not the tenets of good character, such as honesty, respect and self-discipline, be part of a child’s upbringing without the presence of martial arts? It was where I grew up.
Anything less was never tolerated. I know students who never earned above a “C” average who are outstanding martial artists.
Some martial arts celebrities proclaim to be great fighters when they have absolutely no fight record. Some martial arts film stars claim to be world champions, but have never fought, or at least that level. I feel that the martial artists at the top, especially well-known celebrities, should set examples that all others refuse ever to breach.
Through the years, I feel we have continued to ask the wrong questions about the importance of martial arts. We are always looking for that beacon, which symbolizes an ego-type success. He who has the most students, makes the most money and has the largest organization, the highest rank or the richest equipment company.
During my early training on Okinawa, none of my six instructors had big names, large schools or financial success. Two of them were only 6th-Degree Black Belts or less. Kinjo Chinsaku, who gave me my first Black Belt, taught us for free and did not speak any English; and it was from him that I felt the most pride. He generated an awesome sense of inner courage. I have always believed that this courage is the only virtue really worth following as a martial artist. I think it is the absence of this pursuit of courage that has prevented us to feel proud to be martial artists.
When I attend events, such as the annual NAPMA conferences, my motive is not to learn more about how to beat somebody or to make more money. Rather, it is because I am a proud martial artist and I want to be with those who feel the same way.
Today, too many school owners are frustrated about martial arts, trying to excite more people and attract them to their schools. Why are we dying trying to draw more people to our schools? Should it not be, instead, that people are dying trying to enroll in our schools?
As an instructor and experienced fighter, it is my lone conviction that one’s willingness to engage any problem and one’s passion embedded in the spirit of something profoundly meaningful, such as self-pride, enable you to overcome any odds. Martial arts should be about doing something of which you will always be proud. I know that I am proud to be a martial artist.
