Karate Instructor
The title of karate instructor was once a highly honored, and the individual who had it bore a sacred responsibility. People looked to this individual to teach them how to protect themselves from thieves and killer and instill discipline and teach honor to their children. They were the warriors among civilians and they were the ones to look to as an example in a crisis. Soldiers and police officers learned from them so in their hour of need they would know what to do and survive a deadly hand to hand combat encounter. The training was practical and all about close combat survival and fighting off an enemy. It wasn’t about doing violence it was about protecting yourself, and if all in the community knew how to fight the community would be that much safer. Tragically the title today means the same as a personal trainer or aerobics instructor.
Now there is nothing wrong with teaching physical fitness and helping people improve their health, but it isn’t and shouldn’t be the same as a martial arts instructor. The importance of a teacher in the community has been reduced and many martial arts instructors have no one to blame but themselves for becoming a joke. You act like a form of entertainment, you only teach sport martial arts, and you humiliate yourself the loss of respect is almost a forgone conclusion.
Karate is a great example of what can really go wrong when those practicing a martial art don’t stick to their roots. Prior to World War II karate was for self defense and all about full contact and teaching students what they needed to know to survive. Even those teaching karate along with spiritual enlightenment knew that you had to keep your body safe while you were developing you mind. After the war it became all about the sport aspect of karate, judo, and other Japanese martial arts.
Sure competition had always been party of the martial arts, but they were meant to prepare a student for combat. Punches were pulled, but a karate instructor made it clear that when you faced off with an enemy you went all out and could do whatever worked. If you’re a karate instructor think long and hard about what you’re teaching your students. You say you’re preparing them for life, but are you really teaching them the right skill set? Don’t let money or fame get in the way of doing the right thing.
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