Portrait of a Master

Dave Lowry, a respected martial arts author and frequent contributor to Black Belt magazine, recently decried the use of the title master for senior instuctors. To call oneself a "master", Lowry asserts, implies false-pride and vanity. A meijin (master), by my definition, is one who has, in part, reached the pinnacle of skill in an art. The master has assimilated all the knowledge there is to be had; all that is left is a final act of altruism: to show the way through teaching. But who or what gives the master absolute authority? How can we tell a true meijin from a fraud? There is no ideal model for what a real master should appear as; some are aloof and stern, others are warm and hospitable, others still seem so ordinary you wouldn't look at them twice. Beyond the creative genius and technical prowess of the genuine master lies something even more profound.

In addition to warriorship, the true meijin expresses the qualities of wisdom, compassion, and the willingness to impart her/his knowledge to the compliant aspirant. The strengths and weaknesses of the student are carefully considered, and the appropriate lessons are rendered accordingly. Above all, self-reliance and self-expression are encouraged. Mysteriously, people seem to attract the guiding force that is best suited for them precisely when they need it most. Perhaps there is truth to the aphorism, "When the student is ready, the master will appear."