As I sit here contemplating this last week, I keep playing back the events of my last class. My students were given an assignment 2 weeks ago to begin and maintain a daily journal, not just to chronicle their martial arts training but also to allow them to keep an account of their day to day goings on so they have some kind of reference as to emotions, feelings, etc, and how that affects their interaction with their parents and peers, as well as how it affects their training sessions.
Class began and I asked the students how their journals were coming along and not a single one of them had written anything...most hadn't even begun the journal. That really got me thinking about the integrity of the martial arts and the honor and discipline involved with being a martial artist. What has happened to these qualities?
Most people, when given an assignment, will either wait until the last minute to complete it, stressing themselves out trying to make the deadline, or they completely ignore it, formulating excuse after excuse as to why they weren't able to accomplish the task. Many reasons exist for this but the main reason I see is because they feel that something as simple as starting and maintaining a training journal, is an unnecessary part of martial arts training, or daily life training for that matter, not realizing that the task is designed to show integrity...keeping your word that you will do this...honor...making sure you follow through with the task and not lie about it...discipline...making sure that no matter what, because this is an assignment given by your Sensei or your parents or your school teacher, you will, to the best of your ability, accomplish the task with consistency.
Part of this lack of effort has to do with the "instant gratification" syndrome or the "sense of entitlement" that exists in our society, something that is so prevalent in the martial arts today where children and adults alike can't be bothered with seemingly unnecessary tasks and feel they should be rewarded first and only then acknowledge and follow through with what is required of them. Schools that promote without content or promote at all costs just so that "Little Johnny" doesn't have to face failure so mom and dad keep signing the checks to insure that the student base continues to grow are everywhere. 10 year old 3rd Degree Black Belts that have no idea what it means to be a Black Belt are the norm.
Have the Martial Arts become that compromised that the dollar is more important than the integrity of our art? People talk about tradition and growth within the martial arts and yes it still does exist, but I can guarantee you Gichin Funakoshi never had this in mind.
Let me hear from you. Tell me what you think and if you have experienced any of the same.
Until next time,
Sensei Tim
