| Have you ever noticed that most people focus on | | | | first day. Keep in mind that this student had been |
| the wrong things when it comes to their martial | | | | training with me for months and was already |
| arts and self defense training? Instead of | | | | familiar with my skill set and level of proficiency. |
| concentrating on skill-development, practicing for | | | | As we lined up for class, his eyes lit up and he |
| proficiency, or learning more about what it's like | | | | said in a very excited voice... |
| inside a real self-defense situation - what they'll be | | | | "Now you really look like you know something!" |
| up against should they find themselves being | | | | To this, I jokingly replied, "If that's what it took to |
| attacked - these students are paying attention to | | | | make people believe that I know what I'm doing, |
| things that just don't matter. | | | | I should have done this years ago and avoided all |
| Here's an example of what I mean. | | | | of the time, commitment, and expense of actual |
| A few years ago, I had a meeting with the | | | | training!" |
| instructors in my dojo and we decided that we | | | | The point here is that, these patches meant |
| would institute a patch system. The idea behind | | | | nothing about my abilities or skills. They only |
| this system was to recognize students for their | | | | represented where in the world I had trained and |
| progress, above and beyond learning what they | | | | with whom. As far as anyone knew, I could have |
| needed to know for their belt progression. | | | | just put them on my jacket and told a story |
| The patch system included a series of | | | | about how I got them. Of course, my honesty, |
| international training patches which the student | | | | morals, and ethics prevent me from doing such a |
| could wear on his or her uniform. These particular | | | | thing, but this story illustrates not only how easy |
| patches were set up to identify students who | | | | that would be for less than honest instructors, but |
| attended training events, both nationally and | | | | also the fact that... |
| internationally. | | | | ...we can get caught up in the decorations, |
| Anyway, long-story-short, we instructors put the | | | | trappings, and insignificant things in our training. |
| appropriate patches on our uniform jackets to | | | | Regardless of whether we're training in a martial |
| both provide an example and to kick off the new | | | | arts school or enrolled in a self defense program |
| system. | | | | we cannot forget why we are there - especially if |
| I'll never forget something that one of my | | | | that reason is to learn self protection. |
| students said to me as we lined up for class that | | | | |