Go Your Own Way

When a new student commences training, all (s)he can do is copy the instructor and the sempai (senior students). While "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" holds true, imitation is all one can really do as a novice studying the martial arts. Seeing the moves of a kata for the first time makes little or no sense to the initiate. Through the alchemy of training, the practitioner matures and changes. And so then, the style is suited to fit the disposition and natural tendencies particular to the student. "Absorb what is useful, reject what is not" is the main tenet behind Bruce Lee's famous school of Jeet Kune Do. The artist is more important than the art.

Although the master-disciple relationship is pronounced in the East, the student's needs and talents are generally kept in abeyance. Carl Jung coined the term individuation to convey the idea that not only do we have a special purpose here, but a unique way of expressing it. The kohai (beginner) learns his art by rote. But to become unto oneself, all of our lessons and experiences have to be researched and adapted to our personal direction. The founders of every martial arts system were great innovators who questioned their received knowledge. The advent of a style, or any new way of doing something, is the flowering of an idea whose time has come.

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."

Old School

Corporate mentality quasi-martial arts schools are now flourishing. Gone are the days when a prospective student required an interview before acceptance into a dojo. More and more schools are pushing contracts and the hint of quick and easy rank promotion in an attempt to get people to sign up. Slick advertisements, and schools that claim knowledge to everything from submission wrestling to yoga has become the norm. It's ironic that the bushi - the classical warrior, had contempt for the merchant class, although recognized its necessity in society.

At one time, a student would literally spend years learning the nuances and applications of a single kata. Indeed, the original method of transmission of an art was almost exclusively through the teaching of kata. The master would scrutinize his charge, and with the exception of his stern instruction, rarely if ever, said anything. Donn Draeger, in his writings, recalls an instructor correcting his form with "terrifying coldness". Compliments and accolades in the traditional ryu had to be seriously earned, and over a period of time. The forging of kokoro (fighting spirit) and character took precedence over flashy technical skills in the classical dojo.

Friendly Fire

A budoka should regard her/his school and its attendants as a surrogate family. A special bond is formed after years of training among long time students in the spirit of camaraderie and friendship. In fact, quite often, a group soul or collective personality prevails in many well established schools. A successful school from my area I know of features black belts that all fight in a similar kiba dachi stance, utilizing multiple spot-side kicks, and rapid fire punching sequences. I admire that dojo, not so much because of the fighting prowess of its exponents, but because of the unity and passion these karate-ka bring to their art. Other schools work from a different script, however.

Instuctors should be cognizant of how their students behave amongst themselves. The sempai (senior students) are expected to act as role models, particularly during sparring sessions. If an over-zealous sparring match erupts into a brawl, both players leave the deck with residual animosity. In the name of toughness and machismo, some students are intent on simply beating the living daylights out of one another. Clean technique and precision of form goes by the wayside. I realize that heavy fighting has its place, but only with the understanding that it helps the trainee get an idea of how intense an actual streetfight really is. While combat effectiveness is imperative in any art, it should never undermine the integrity and inherent values that belong to any self respecting martial arts school.

This Is Only A Test

Goal settings, and actualizing them are one of the main attractions of the martial arts. The satisfaction and elation of receiving a new belt is something that must be experienced first hand. Belts can be acquired at intervals through formal testing, but as an instructor of mine once noted, students should be "tested" (i.e. inconspicuously observed) everytime they attend class.

It behooves the student to devote time in preparation for the test. Unfortunately, you're not only being tested on what you know, you're being tested on how well you test. Although this may seem unfair, it prepares the student to deal with stress in a positive manner. The ability to relax under any circumstances is a natural by-product of the experience, confidence, and well being that results from dedicated training. While some may regard acquiring rank as a source of ego-inflation, the student would do well to realize that true nobility is derived from forgoing any type of self-aggrandizement or narcissism.