The stigma of invincibility associated with the practice, and worse yet, the teaching of Martial Arts, is a historical remnant that has no place in today’s society and prevents us from being ourselves. The vulnerable full of flaws ourselves that have so much to offer to others when we allow this.
The history of the development of the Martial Arts in the West is related to the spread of Oriental thought and philosophy in the Americas and Europe as the result of cultural exchange and immigration in different historical periods. This is a tremendously enriching experience in itself. It helps us broaden our horizons, become more open-minded. Where the issue becomes complicated is when the mystique of the East comes with an angle of invincibility. Since you know an Eastern Martial Art, it follows you MUST be untouchable, right? Therefore it follows that if one is sparring with someone and gets hit they CANNOT be a true Martial Arts expert, let alone a Teacher or, dare we use the term in the mouths of so many, a ‘Master.’
The implications of this go beyond the obvious. If someone wants to ‘play pretend’ and be the untouchable Martial Arts Master, and her or his students are ok with this or even enjoy this, that is perfectly ok. To each their own. The issue is that in the name of maintaining this status, the most ridiculous behaviors are exhibited. Trolling and insecurity. Lying. Unrealistic drills. All these and much more, probably most times not even consciously because we are terrified of losing the status of untouchable.
A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
What if we let this drop? If we were, without fear, to be the vulnerable person we were meant to be just because we were born human? What if my value as a Martial Arts Teacher was in my ability to put my experience at YOUR service, to make you better and more confident, and to point you in the right direction in the Journey of skill acquisition?
The amazing Ernie Barrios, one of today’s luminaries in the world of Martial Arts, said it better in an interview conducted already more than 12 years ago. This has become one of my favorite reminders in my Journey. A ‘Teacher’ cannot give the Truth, but a Teacher can help you get exposed to yourself. A Teacher is someone with enough experience to understand where you are in your development and how to help you improve. That’s it. It has nothing to do with being invincible because invincibility does not exist. And if it existed, I would run away the other way! It’s not something I can relate to, it’s not something I find inspiring. Why would I feel inspired by something I cannot replicate? We are bound to disappointment and bitterness if our role model is perfection.
If I sit in a Math class and the Teacher is explaining some advanced Math, the only reason that situation makes sense is that the Math is advanced enough to represent a challenge for me. Not so advanced that it may be a pure fantasy for me to think about getting to that level. Nobody sits in a Math class to drool over the Teacher and swoon and imagine they can never get to that level.
This is EXACTLY what I see in the Martial Arts world. We want superhuman models that we can never become because it feeds our need to worship someone and be told what to do. But it is way harder to take ownership of our own Journey and realize it is up to us to grow and acquire skills. Through training, reading, classes, seminars, exchanging with others, etc. We do all this for one thing only: to grow as Martial Artists, which in turn means to grow as people. As Bruce Lee said, “all types of knowledge ultimately means self-knowledge.”
In addition to the Math Teacher example, think of a Writer. A Writer sits and pours out herself or himself onto the page. The beauty of this is the emotional honestly it carries. The only thing a Writer can pour out is her or his emotional truth! All writers are human, and yet these are the writers that move us, inspire us, take us to other worlds where we feel our burdens lifted. They do this through the power of vulnerability! Embracing their human nature and projecting, for our delight, a portion of themselves onto the page! I submit that a Martial Arts Teacher follows this same pattern. All that a Teacher can let out is her or his emotional truth. And that is enough. It is, in fact, more than enough, it’s exactly what we need.
When I met my Teacher, George Lee, who changed my life and gave me so much, the FIRST thing he ever said to me was “Do not call me Sifu!” Now, there’s nothing wrong with the word Sifu. It is in fact so beautiful. It means ‘Father’ and it reflects a level of respect that’s often needed in life to learn and grow. We live in a time where titles are thrown around without reservation. The Words Sensei and Sifu are too often self-claimed, and don’t get me started with ‘Grandmaster.’.
Unfortunately, as a reaction to the times we live, I prefer to not use those words, because they reinforce the ego barrier that has been erected around some individuals who teach Martial Arts. But do you know why? It’s because of the pressures to sustain the aura of invincibility that this happens. If we all had a common-sense point of view of a Teacher as someone that can help me without them having to be untouchable this would not happen. And we would be free to use the word ‘Sifu’ as an organic call of the heart in respect and love, not because anyone demands it or claims the title for themselves.
An Example of healthy coaching
Why is it that in boxing we see such common sense? I love the word Coach and it’s the model I like to use with the friends I train with. A Coach is someone who can help you get better. There is no doubt, that a professional boxer at the top of the chain could punch their coach senseless. The fighter will still look at their coaches with respect because it’s a mutually beneficial relationship. Coaches who have a lot more experience, to continue advancing and developing themselves.
This is a pure and liberating model I like and enjoy so much. Own your journey, decide if I can help you get better or not. Don’t hang on me the expectation of being invincible. I was born human, and I enjoy and don’t try to hide my vulnerability. Only when you accept this vulnerability you can be happy and free. You can be yourself. You don’t do Martial Arts to become invincible, you practice Martial Arts to become happier.
Ernie Barrios also said something beautiful about the way we train. If an amateur boxer spars with a champion professional boxer, would you expect the amateur boxer to be able to score some hits? Absolutely, and in fact, it is what happens almost universally. Normally, but not always, the more experienced professional will eventually emerge victorious, but during the bout, there will be exchanges on both sides. Nobody is untouchable. And there is, as Ernie Barrios says, a ‘purity’ about training like this.
After training with my teacher for many years I realized something I never thought about, ever. When I touch hands with someone I can know them so well. I can tell where they are tense, what type of movement they favor, if they are relaxed or restless, if they are angry or calm and if they favor a system over another, if they are rooted, and, if their bones are aligned. All of this happens without words. You can still punch me. I may not be fast enough to stop a punch from you. You may knock me out, for all I know. Or maybe not 🙂 It’s irrelevant!
I realize through that ‘reading’ a lot of value can come if you apply this to your training. In other words, I can help you improve if you see my experience as something that will help your skillset. And through the mirror of you, I am making myself better, too! It’s only through a mirror (the training partner) that I can see myself and thus improve.
In other words, we need each other! In a training drill, there is no true winner or loser, we are acting as mirrors to each other. We can see ourselves and we have to accept our vulnerability, our flaws if we are to grow as Martial Artists and as human beings.
To know more about this and other Martial Arts and Life topics, you can view my Vlog and Podcast as well as these Martial Journal-related articles: Positivity in the Martial Arts-09/13/2017 by Scott Bolon and Ukemi What is it Good For? by Dan Manson!
Francis can be contacted at francis.cordon@gmail.com, he is also an active Martial Arts YouTube Vlogger as well as the co-host of the Martial Arts Podcast ‘A Thousand Exits.’
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I love this – such a great philosophy!