Original Whole Heart Article by Ron Crew
Originally published Whole Heart News Vol. 1, No. 1 May-June 1989
Whether you know it or not, you lead by example on a daily basis. When the youngster sees you smoke a cigarette; when the 6 year old sees the 9 year old bully his friends; when Mom & Dad make excuses to not attend church regularly; these lead by example. A boy scout helps someone in distress; someone is seen praying before meals; a karate instructor shows his class that he learns from his students; these lead by example. Be it good or bad, we lead by example with every action of our daily lives. This is probably the most powerful tool or influences a teacher and a student possesses. Preached and professed throughout the military, its inherent benefits are tantamount to the growth of karate.
From day one, the students watch those in ranks above them for guidance. Whatever the students who’ve been there longer do seemingly is the behavioral norm for the beginner. If certain behavior is tolerated at a higher rank, yet, is abhorred at the lower, a student will tend to abuse this accepted behavior in a more extreme manner once he or she reaches “that” particular level. As the ranks progress, the examples of leadership should also increase. The primary reason we wear the same colored gi at all rank levels is to show that we are the same. From the master on down, we are all students of karate.
No one is better or worse than anyone else; just more or less experienced. This experience difference is displayed by knowledge of the system, attitude and actions inside and outside the dojo, the ability to DO what is taught and by belt designation. Actually, belts only serve to display one’s level of expertise in your own school or “organization”. Lower belt levels see the belts GIVE ability, because they don’t understand what karate-do is all about. Hence, feeding the pride and arrogance we seek to dispel.
Actions and behavior outside the dojo is contagious to students within the dojo. How the public views a school is a direct relation to the attitudes and actions of its teachers and students in the “real world”. For that matter, your community will judge the entire system by the social impact of your school.
Each individual within the dojo is responsible for learning and maintaining specific skill in order to progress through the ranking system, including the teacher. Merely being able to demonstrate the techniques in a learnable fashion isn’t enough. A teacher must be able to perform at combat speed, as well, for the students to have a proper technical and physical goal, and confidence in the instructor’s ability. The days of just having a black belt and having respect are gone. It must be earned. Whatever level you are, that is the level of your combat proficiency. Personally, I feel as though I must train harder to uphold the dignity of the rank I am promoted to. Living up to any level requires dedication and repetition. Complacency only breeds disaster, and will prolong the agony of those trying to foster a reputation of a rank to what they believe it should be.
Those who are inactive for a while and return at the same rank do a disservice to those who continually train. Now, once a black belt, always a black belt. However, that black belt should realize that upon entering a classroom environment, he has much catching up to do, and should train accordingly.
All karate-ka are “Knights if the Round Table”. We should be guardians of honor, protectors of the weak, enforcers of the peace – 100% of the time. All must be on their guard both inside and outside the dojo as to the image portrayed to the public and other students by our actions. If an instructor cannot influence a student to conform to the community’s ethics of behavior, the student, regardless of rank, should be expelled from the dojo. It only takes one bad apple to begin the fermentation process of the reputation of everyone associated. Think that’s drastic?
Why do you think karate has the reputation it does have today? People do their time, pay their dues, memorize their techniques, spar a little and attain their promotions with no mention on ethical behavior. When these types are promoted to black belt, they go out and begin a school. From there, the situation will only get worse with each new generation of black belts. How do we correct what has already been done, and prevent it from happening in the future?
There is nothing we can do about what has already been done except attempt to become more aware of what we are now doing. Good instructors and karate-ka should strive to be the best person they can be. Anyone can teach a technique. It takes a special individual to teach character, compassion, integrity, and self- discipline. These traits can only be taught by example.
Sensei Ron Crew began the original Whole Heart News in 1989. This story is from the first issue.