"Why so....Serious?"

"Why so...serious?"

This is a quote from the new Batman movie from the Joker. One of my students who came from another school of martial arts asked me, "Why are so many other instructors are so serious?" So many martial arts instructors seem to think that you have to be so when teaching because of multiple reasons. They teach entirely with fear and intimidation. This breaks the students spirit. As instructors we act like military leaders, and rightly so to a limit. As a military leader myself at one time, I never screamed and yelled at my team. I taught them and talked to them like adults and the trained professionals which they are. People tend to act like you treat them. I have great respect of my students. I try NOT to be an instructor but a teacher and guide them to the truth rather than scaring them into respecting me. As martial arts teachers, our role is to inspire and encourage our students. To break their will but build their spirit. In turn, this builds their body because of the hard physical training which also sharpens the mind and creates discipline. THIS is what we must strive for. I deeply appreciate my students and wish them all to be at my level but without them thinking they are better than me. That negative mindset leads student into trouble and breeds ego. A student should strive to be like his/her teacher. Encourage that! Someday they will be better than you, you will die. They MUST carry the art on for you as a disciple. Make them worthy of it by training them correctly and right. Equip them for the future with the right tools for success and victory.

Lead them through victory by going first and going onward through the fog.

Remember, "The only easy day was yesterday." Easy because you did it and learned through experience. THAT is the best teacher.

See you in class!!!!