Humility in the Dojo

Student-to-student relationships are the framework that keeps a dojo together. The student-to-teacher relationship is the heart that keeps the dojo in order. As you work with each other in class there is a bond that forms as students with more experience practice with students who are still learning to hold their bokken. The senior student wants to give some resistance, but must help instill the confidence necessary for the junior student to continue in their training and feel successful. This is crucial and will keep the dojo’s wheels turning.
Often, we question why we practice slow standardized sparring techniques or have a series of preset movements to avoid our attackers. In real life, our opponents will use any means necessary to bring us down. We practice like this for many reasons that I will discuss at another time, but they benefit us much more than we see at present.
When practicing with fellow classmates, there needs to be a sense of humility. If the junior student overcomes the senior student in partner sparring, how should the senior student react? He or she must not try and protect a “shattered” ego, but accept that they were sloppy or lax and this is why they were overcome. Students with more seniority often feel the need to salvage their pride and explain to their junior classmate what went wrong or why they didn’t listen to the instruction received and it was indeed their fault that they were defeated. The junior student can see right through this and will lose confidence in that senior student’s ability.
These things are accepted by the teacher as students continue to work together and learn how to give proper resistance, yet allow each other to progress at a comfortable pace. However, this behavior is not acceptable from the teacher.
The word Sensei in Japanese often translates as, “teacher,” nothing more. The word has been mystified in western culture to describe a paradisiacal instructor who never makes any mistakes and knows all there is to know about the martial ways and life. Unfortunately, this is a false perception of sensei because he or she is really just there to pass down knowledge learned from their respected teachers. They accompany you on your path to becoming a skilled martial artist and hope that someday you will be more advanced and have acquired more skills than them. A sense of respect is required as they are a teacher and have more experience, but they are still a human and far from perfect.
As students are instructed by their teacher, they must be aware that should they overcome the sensei, how he reacts will let them know if they have a Mr. Miyagi or a Mr. Lawrence. Does he accept that you overcame him and esteem you or does he feel the need to defend his pride and make up a lousy excuse for becoming careless and inattentive? If it is the latter, run away as fast as you can and find a new teacher. Get out of there because this is not the type of person you want to learn from. This teacher is too busy defending their false sense of pride and does not care about their student’s progression or seeing them succeed. They shouldn’t be instructing and might be better off training for mixed martial arts competitions rather than wasting their time in a traditional dojo setting.
Whether you are a teacher, senior student, or a new budoka still learning your way around the dojo, please be humble and remember to leave any egos and pride at the door before you enter. These little things must be attended to and taken care of. We are all students striving to do our best and refine our skills. Being humble and constantly striving to maintain a beginner’s spirit will make your experience as a martial artist more enriching and allow you to reach your full potential.