Talking to a few martial arts instructors over the years, I constantly hear the same thing: teaching good manners is the main thing we teach and martial arts is the vehicle used to deliver the message.
I disagree.
Martial arts have always been there as a way to defend yourself and others and if you get something like discipline or good character out of then that is icing on the cake. But it is basically about fighting, either for sport or for real.
I have seen a lot of schools lose their way. They focus only on character building (which they don't do well anyway) because it is a selling point for their children's programs. Realistic fighting skills in these places have been lost because they will teach adults the same as they teach kids. Others are so focused on winning in competitions, that they lose their humanity towards the students and only concentrate on their students and fighters winning (which feeds their business and ego). They are definitely teaching good character.
When character is taught, it is usually taught out of some book or lesson plan. The teachers really don't understand it. Real character development comes from mentorship. Actually, taking time with each student and guiding them through the minefield of moral and ethical choices they regularly make and have to live with. Helping them make the hard choices builds character. Giving them high goals and helping them attain them builds character. High standards of performance and behavior builds character. Putting others first builds character. Doing what needs to be done before doing what you want to do builds character.
Many old school dojo used to do this but it is not common now at all.
I have seen a lot of schools lose their way. They focus only on character building (which they don't do well anyway) because it is a selling point for their children's programs. Realistic fighting skills in these places have been lost because they will teach adults the same as they teach kids. Others are so focused on winning in competitions, that they lose their humanity towards the students and only concentrate on their students and fighters winning (which feeds their business and ego). They are definitely teaching good character.
When character is taught, it is usually taught out of some book or lesson plan. The teachers really don't understand it. Real character development comes from mentorship. Actually, taking time with each student and guiding them through the minefield of moral and ethical choices they regularly make and have to live with. Helping them make the hard choices builds character. Giving them high goals and helping them attain them builds character. High standards of performance and behavior builds character. Putting others first builds character. Doing what needs to be done before doing what you want to do builds character.
Many old school dojo used to do this but it is not common now at all.
3 comments:
There is no difference between what a karate or tae kwon do school do to develop character and what any athletic sport does to make good kids, its all the same. I think you are trying to make every one think that martial arts are the best medicine in town.
Agreed! Mentorship may be practiced almost anywhere young people are learning. A martial arts school should not be held accountable for developing "good character" in children- or adults. After all, we don't send kids to piano lessons to develop eye-hand coordination, or to ballet to learn self-discipline. Those are all fine attainments, just not the primary goals.
I think that my comment should be decorated with a gold star, as I actually bothered to read the article in its entirety.
Most martial arts "instructors" are the biggest ego-filled jackasses you will ever meet. Everything that they are not supposed to be but they "market" themselves to be God's gift to humanity. Most people don't even know any better.
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