Remembering a title of a comic strip of a Spanish publication that sound like “Women or goddess”, but, in Spanish is VERY similar to “Hatred women”, playing with double sense of the words. But, also in Spanish, the male sound of Master or God has not the same proximity, but hope this can be understood.
The intention of this article is to think about attitudes of presumable martial arts masters towards their students and life in general, forgetting what the should have learnt and what martial arts or Budo should be. In the martial arts world there are a lot of self named “Masters” (Sometimes with the entire word in capital letters, like making it more important) being simple practitioners, a lot of time full of mediocrity; the “mastery” title in the middle age with unions of artisans, was a title granted by the rest of the union masters, so one never could call himself “master”. Time changes, yes, but towards a better time or not? A lot of people thinks the for the mere act of form or instruct somebody, he must be called “master”, when the most adequate word should be “former” or “instructor” as is the most indicate word for the action they are doing; the title of master should be given in a very controlled way and under some special situations. Another important point is the high mercantilism of grades in martial arts, helping the spread of “instructors” in styles that they have merely practiced, providing an incorrect image of the art should be; sometimes, people with an X grade in a martial art receive the same grade in another different style not practiced seriously, just for participating in a course and paying (or not) the fees. Also, some “instructors” think that just for possessing a grade in a martial art, they have all the wisdom of every martial art, so they don’t have offers for obtaining a grade in a martial art, they claim they should have that grade, just because they supposed knowledge, presenting their grade always if possible (or not), not having humility or common sense. This kind of people, who is always searching more and more grades, sometimes creating their own style and granting themselves the maximum grade of this new style are known as “grade climbers”, usually they forgot the correct technique (waza) to center in obtain grade to put in their curriculum… sometimes already inflated.
Personally I have found myself with “instructors” who bears the class with shouts and insults, reducing the student’s personality trying to create clones of themselves. Of course, maintaining them the maximum time possible, avoiding teaching them as much as possible, to gain more money. For this kind of people, martial arts are a competitive path where everything to maintain themselves earning money is valid, the only important thing is the fame and, maybe, competitive trophies; the one who doesn’t gives name and/or fast money for them, is not good Point of view that I’ve been developing from my martial experience is that martial arts should be a complementary formation of the school and family, helping the student to find his place in the society and forming him a good, strong, independent and critic personality; task not so easy for whom martial arts are only punches and kicks.
In martial arts it is, or should be taught respect to every kind life; the student should be aware of the damage he can do so he also learns self-control and helps to protect other people that is not in his same situation of self-security and self-control; the problem is when a student becomes an instructor (not a master) and thinks that now, every student must respect him, just because he is teaching them; this situation will be a failure of his former as he hasn’t taught correctly the lesson of humility and that respect is gained with the actions done every day, you cannot demand respect while you are not granting it. Not for being an instructor with a grade X everyone must respect you, just for your belt; the respect is granted for what kind of person you are, for the people you have formed/helped and for the respect you grant to the others, nothing more.
Some MASTERS (yes, written in capital letters) I’ve had and trained with, some of whom I have a great friendship, they showed me that martial arts are based in four pillars; in respect towards the other people and everything that surrounds us, humility to be able to learn with the open mind, perseverance in front of the live and with any activity to finish it and patience to have always the mind clear and be able to avoid bad energies.
Let us avoid to forget this applicable lesson not only in the martial arts, also in the life.
Xavier V.