Respect for those who have gone before

[Dana Sheets]

One of the things that bothers me from time to time is the contemporary marketing language of many in the combative arts that frames historical training methods (aka "traditional") in such a pejorative way that it lumps in the people who trained. And I'm bothered by the postings I've read on a great variety of internet forums that somehow place greater worth on contemporary martial innovation over anything else.

The last time I checked, humans (in general) aspire to do things the best way they can. Now as new information is acquired and contemporary scientific approaches are applied it might be revealed that process improvements could be made.

However - many times I feel like folks forget that even if someone isn't doing the latest and best way of training what you need to hold considerable admiration and repsect for are the folks who get their feet on the floor to train every day.

You see to me it doesn't matter if you know a better way of doing something if you aren't out there training. In fact there are many people who will be better than I am at just about everything I do when I put on my little pyjamas and little belt and train who have never trained a day in their life - but that's not what earns my highest respect.

When I go to seminar, when I read on these forums, when I think about folks like Kanei Uechi, James Thompson, the Shinjos, George Mattson, Frank Grant in Shorin-Ryu, Taiko in Ryu-Kyu Kenpo, Funakoshi (insert an endless list of seniors here) I am totally humbled by the idea that for decades upon decades upon decades these individuals on a near daily basis faced their most awesome opponent --- themselves --- and got their feet on the floor and trained.

Baby those folks got my respect. Big time. See that's how someone gets to be a muckety-muck in my eyes. It's nice if they're a good fighter, it's nice if they have powerful technique but what really really makes them seniors, elders, sages, griots -- the elephant that I think is more powerful than any other you could face -- is that they didn't listen to the little voice that said "wouldn't it be easier to just sit and watch TV?", "wouldn't it be easier to just sit on the sidelines and watch?", "wouldn't it be easier to do anything other than to put your feet on the floor and start the painstaking, slow, aruduous task of once again seeking personal improvement?"

They set that little voice aside and put their feet, their sweat, their time, and their souls onto the floor.

Because the path of tenacity must be forged anew with each generation.

So to my elders, my seniors, my griots, my sages:
I see you standing so far down the path.
Each path unique, cleared one step at a time.
I see you so very far down the path.
And I am humbled, I am inspired, I am grateful, and I am amazed.

[chef]

I totally agree with you, Dana. I also believe that one of the missing components in many martial artists is humility. I was once given sage advice from my first instructor: "Don't ever compare yourself or your progress to that of others"....a rule I promote and try to leave by. If you do, you will either be dissappointed continually or get the 'big head' the size of Kansas, thinking you are a legend in your own mind.

Everyone comes to the table with a different ability and talent. So many incredible, physically gifted people come and go in the dojo, often not staying. Why? Did things come so easily to them that the 'hard work' and tenacity did not set in? Is it because they can't be the top dog always and their pride cannot live with that or do they just want to play 'rock em, sock em robots'?

One of the best things to ever happen to me was to fail a test. In my mind, I was a failure at that moment. My response to that test: I ate the proverbial humble pie, shook hands with my test board, smiled and thanked them and listened to their comments, and privately had my pity party and tears. It was at that point I did some soul searching, re-evaluating, and had to decide some things. Yep, I am always fighting terrible memory problems. Yep, I am not a 'natural' with great coordination and physical abilities. So what do I have to bring to that MA table? Where do I go from here. Do I accept failure or learn to correct my mistakes, set some specific goals, and train harder?

I wanted to quit but realized pride was a ridiculous things to impede a life dream. I sucked it up, went back, and learned a lesson. Go back to the basics, be humble, train hard. I believe that the true greats always had that foundation that so many miss.....humility, tenacity, blood, sweat, and tears.

Bill says that if he learns one really good thing he can incorporate into his karate, then it was worth the time. Everytime we train alone or with others, that should be a goal....improve on what we have in our arsenal of knowledge and ability.

I think Benjamin Franklin said "If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail" or something like that.

Very good points, Dana.

Thank you for your wise thoughts,
Vicki

PS May I always be humble....and I don't mind admitting "I will always be the tortoise and not the hare".

[Mills75]

Dana I always usually say wow but here is another one for this post also. I just have to have a wow stamp made up for your threads because I say it so much but then again i'm always wowed by them..Great stuff again...As always.

Jeff

[Dana Sheets]

Thanks ya'll. Little by little. I think it was Mr. Tomoyose who was once quoted as saying:

"The only way to fail in karate is to stop training."

[Guest]

You've primed the well for deep water, Dana. Great post, and I, too, hold in esteem the perserverance and dedicated persistance of the masters you reference

I am totally humbled by the idea that for decades upon decades upon decades these individuals on a near daily basis faced their most awesome opponent --- themselves --- and got their feet on the floor and trained.

In Okinawa moreso than in the US, I also feel for those younger Godans and above who are largely anonomous behind the scenes students of those still active masters who get little credit and recognition for their years of personal investment. The opportunity for leadership and growth seems restricted by the system, and that's a shame. Does the system deter promising younger men and women from pursuing the martial arts?

[chewy]

Very well said Dana!

Let me just add, for those of you out there who may find yourself, one day, being called sage/guru/master or even just teacher/sensei, to keep the following quote in mind from one of our greatest minds:

"If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."
- Sir Issac Newton -

None of these men/women we look up to in the martial arts could have become who they are without learning from those that came before.


cheers,

chewy