June 20^th and 21^st of 2008 marks the date for the 43^rd Annual AKA Grand Nationals tournament, one of the oldest tournaments still running in the United States today.  Adults and kids from all over North America and Europe will travel to Louisville, Kentucky, the site of the event, to participate in this annual martial arts competition and with it just around the corner I can't help but recall debates about competition in the martial arts.  Now there is always an ongoing debate somewhere on the internet about the pros and cons of having such events.  More than not, the biggest complaint I hear over and over from the con side of the debate is that these types of events actually degrade martial arts or causes the martial arts to become watered down.   I recently had the privilege to sit down with six young athletes who participate in sport martial art tournaments, just to see what drives them to do compete. (See upcoming September issue of Taekwondo Times for the article)

The more I spoke with them about competition, the more it reinforced my belief in how competition is very healthy and a much underrated part of the martial arts.   That is not to say that if your school doesn't do competitions, then your school is no good, far from it.  What I am saying is that there are many good things that can come out of competition in the martial arts.  What better way to practice the building blocks success such as perseverance, self confidence, self discipline and respect than to be put in a situation where you have to utilize those building blocks to help achieve victory? 

 

And remember, victory is not determined on if you win or lose, it is determined on how you yourself have progressed as a person.  When you see that you are able to better yourself in just one area in life, utilizing these building blocks, you begin to apply them in other areas of your life like your job or school or personal relationships.  If you are like me, you are one of the many, many people who hate to do public speaking.  To help overcome the nervousness and fear associated with it, I simply resort to looking at it like a competition.  I practice what I need to present prior to the event so that it becomes second nature to me.  If it is something that will be cause for discussion I think of all the points and counter points that will be brought up.  Then, when the time comes, I just step into the ring and do my best.  After all, if I can jump around and yell in front of strangers wearing those crazy pajamas we call uniforms, then stepping up in front of my peers in a business suit really isn't that hard. 

 

So if you have the opportunity, join in on a local event in your area, if nothing else just for the fun of it. Regardless if you win or lose, competition can always teach you something about yourself as a person, if you are willing to learn.  Sometimes, it is not always what you would like to learn, but, it will always be something that will allow you to grow. 

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What have you contributed by Jeremy M. Talbott

 

After a class is finish, it is not unusual for a parent, or student, to come and talk to me about how things are progressing.  I enjoy these talks because it gives me the time to give them positive feed back to what they are doing right as well as give them my views as what I feel they need to work on in terms of physical and mental applications.  I give them tips on what they can work on at home in order to help improve and more times than not, they go home and practice.  Now with every one parent or student like aforementioned, I have at least two that the only time I see them is when they come up and wonder why the student has not promoted yet.  My first, and sometimes only, answer to this is "What have you contributed to your studies outside of class?"

 

I also enjoy this time because the majority of the time they will tell me either nothing or they will start making up excuses to why they can not practice outside the school.  I just had an example like this happen.  We just had a promotion test where one student was promoted to his next rank.  When he received his belt, I had a mother of another student, who started the exact day as the promoted student, come up to me complaining as to why her child did not get to promote.  I told her that the child has not been to any of the review testing and that I have not seen him at class at least a week prior to the testing.  I then of course asked my favorite question; what has he contributed to his studies outside of class?  She explained the reason for the absences, but as expected, she really did not have any reason for him not practicing at home.  I could see she was upset so I asked her if she would be upset with his math teacher if he was not progressing because he did not do his homework which resulted in bad test scores.  She naturally said no.  So I asked her how she can be upset with us for the same reason.

 

Effort in the class is important, but it is the effort that you place outside of class which will be the key factor in progressing.  If you go to your job and just do the required work, you will get by and occasionally you may get a promotion or raise.  However if you make an extra effort to do more than the requirement you find that you are promoted a bit more often along with other praises and raises.  School is the same.  You can learn your assignment in class and do the basic homework and you will be ok.  It is when you do extra problems or study 10 minutes more after you finished your assignments, that you will find a better progression in your learning.  Martial arts are no different.  The more you put into it, the more you get out of it.  No one is asking you to be a workaholic or a study nerd whose life revolves around school, nor are we asking you to dedicate every waking moment of free time to your martial arts.  It just takes a small amount extra effort to go a long way.  Your teachers, bosses, co-workers and instructors can only contribute so much to your growth.  For you to reach that next level, you must be the one to make the extra contributions.  So the next time you are not progressing just ask yourself, what have you contributed? 

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About 4 years ago, I had two men walk into the school. The first man watches a class and decides that he is “too old” to be starting a martial art. The second man watches the class and decides “Might as well give it try”. Now let me describe the two gentlemen. The first man was in his early 30’s, in decent health and decent shape. The second man was in this mid 50’s, completely blinded in his right eye and missing his thumb and two fingers on his right hand. Folks, this is a true story. When I asked the second man why he wanted to start martial arts, he simply replied “I’ve always wanted to do it, but kept thinking I was too old. I finally got tired of being too old.” After talking with him I reflected on how many times I have used that same excuse to avoid doing something new in the martial arts or any other activity that may be deemed more for the younger generation. Now it is obvious that, more times than not, a 40 year old will not be as flexible as an 18 year old, a 50 year old may not move as quick as a 16 year old, and a 35 year old may not be as physically fit as a 25 year old. However, physical limitations can be overcome or worked around. A good example is July’s issue Taekwondo Times which featured Master Robert Ott, the creator of Kidokwan and a gentleman who is completely blind. Physical limitations were not a factor in his achievement of success, nor should it be in our own achievements. It is our mental limitations that cause the obstacles we just can’t seem to over come. So many times in the “real world” we prohibit ourselves from accomplishing new goals because of three simple words; “I can’t because…” Yet, when we are in the dojang, these words don’t exist. They are not allowed to because our teachers won’t hear of it. You are never too old to try something new in the dojang so why are you too old to try something new outside of the dojang be it a new job, new hobby or a new fashion style? The “Yes I can” attitude shouldn’t stop when you leave the dojang for the evening. In fact, you practice that attitude at the school, but like anything else you need to apply the lesson on the street. The bottom line is that you are never too old, perhaps too lazy, but never too old. To show you that I have been practicing what I preach here, at my current age of 37, I just tried a wushu class for the first time. I was thrown into the adult class where the oldest student, besides me, was only 23 years old. I struggled and pushed and was sore for 3 days and too be honest, I can’t wait to go back again. I was explaining this to a co-worker who is one of those Lazy Boy recliner people who watches his sports and enjoys telling me I’m too old to be some of things I do. He simply chuckled “Well you can’t teach old dog new tricks.” I just simply looked at him and told him “Yeah, well you can’t teach a dead dog anything.”

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Teaching the Pillars of Martial Arts by Jeremy M. Talbott

 

Honor (on-er) n. Honesty, fairness, or integrity in one\'s beliefs and actions

Integrity (in-teg-ri-tee) n. Adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty

These two words are the major pillars of martial arts.  Without them we are nothing more than a bunch of thugs with fighting skills.  However it is ironic that even though these two items are so important in the martial arts, we rarely see a class about them.  Sure they are talked about or mentioned in passing, but they are seldom taught as a specific lesson.  So after pondering this for a bit, I would like to try and communicate possible ways of teaching these two items. 

 Let\'s start with honor, and when we go through this exercise use the definition above in order to shape your answers and opinions.  Would you say an instructor, who has practiced martial arts for a long time, and now claims to be a 10^th dan in martial arts that he/she does not teach or have any real affiliation with, and then flaunts the title Hanshi or Grandmaster, is honorable?  What if an organization comes around and promotes an individual to a high rank in an art that they are not affiliated with, and do the promotion strictly for political reasons, is that an honorable organization? 

 Now take the exact opposite of that.  What do you think of an instructor, who was legitimately promoted to a master position within an art he was associated with, and only allows himself/herself to be referred to as Sensei or Sabunim and refuses to be called Master, Shihan or Grandmaster?  Is that person reflecting honor?  What if an organization promotes someone to a high rank based on a board of review from someone\'s peers or an outside examination board, is that organization honorable?

 There really isn\'t any right or wrong answer because we have to look at the last part of the definition \"one\'s beliefs and actions\".  You see there are plenty of people who would think the first example is fine while others may not. It is strictly based on your own moral system.  When teaching this lesson you must make sure that you leave it opened end so that the student can discover on their own sometimes that is the best lesson of all.  As Forest Gump might say; Honor is as honor does.

 So let\'s move on to Integrity.  Integrity is a bit simpler in nature since, for the majority, we all subscribe to common morals of not stealing, not lying not killing, etc. regardless of our upbringing.  So when you have someone spread rumors about another or speak ill of them behind their back how much integrity do you believe that person would have?  Would you say that person would have more integrity if they were brave enough to at least confront the person of who they are spreading the rumors about or talking ill about?  Some would say so while others would say it is best never to talk ill or spread rumors in the first place.

 You will find that most people who have no integrity or very little integrity are really cowards trying to supplement their short comings and one of the ways they do this is by perpetuating rumors.  It is sad that even in martial arts there are those who call themselves master, Ggrandmaster, Hanshi and Shihan, yet display no integrity at all by doing such things. 

 As instructors our first way of teaching this is definitely by example.  However, we should be mindful to directly address the topics of honor and integrity and not just in passing.  As students we should listen close to those lessons, even if they are in passing, but moreover we must implement them into our every day life.  It can be as simple as walking away from someone telling you a rumor to something more involved like helping with a charitable event.  As an instructor you should challenge your students, or if you are a student, challenge yourself, to try and find ways to exercise your honor and your integrity.  Sometimes one act of random kindness can felt all over the world.

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If you think you can't then you are right by Jeremy M. Talbott

During my younger years in training, I was instructed to perform a specific jump spinning technique that, at the time was a bit difficult for me to perform.  I then made told my instructor "I can't do it".  My instructor did two things upon hearing those words come from my mouth.  First he asked me how many letters are in the sentence "I can't do it."  When I told him he asked me to do 10 pushups for ever letter in that phrase, including the apostrophe. After that he told with no uncertainty "If you think you can't then you are right," and then walked away.

 

I finished with my pushups and got back up.  I stood there bewildered and started wondering why, instead of encouraging me to push harder; he just more or less encouraged my affirmation of not being able to do it.  Not only did he do that but, after that moment, he did not ask me to try the technique again.  Frustrated I began practicing the technique over and over, falling on my butt more times than not.  I would then get up and try again.  That technique became my obsession for the next week, whenever I had free time that was what I would practice.  Finally I got it down and was quite excited to impress him with it.  I remember going up and demonstrating the technique with a very proud look on my face.  Instead of jumping up and down with excitement of my accomplishment he just simply replied, "I already knew you could do it.  You just had to figure it out for yourself that you could." 

 

Right then and there I figured out his words "If you think you can't, then you are right."  The mind is a very powerful tool.  It can propel you to new heights or simply destroy you at your core by simply choosing one of two answers "I can" or "I can't".  He already saw that I could accomplish the technique if I tried, but I felt it was an impossible feat.  As much as he wanted to encourage me, he also knew that there are some lessons a student has to learn on their own. 

 

In any battle, be it combat, schoolwork or simple day to day business at the office, we pit ourselves against our worst adversary, ourselves.  We can make or break our accomplishments simply by the mindset we put ourselves in.  Saying "I can't" is a self fulfilled prophecy just waiting for you to fail.  For those who have read this column from the beginning of its conception will remember my view on failure; you only fail when you stop trying.  It is natural to feel self doubt, but the difference between those who succeed and those who fail is the determination of pushing past the self doubt.

 

The world is your oyster, which makes any goal you set your pearl.  In order for you to get that pearl you will be met with challenges.  When that happens just remember "If you think you can't, then you are right."

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