Even in the modern era of computers and jobs that are primarily office jobs, martial arts and the basics of martial discipline still has real value for students and kids. I certainly want to enroll my son in a traditional martial arts class as soon as he is old enough, because it has great value in character development for a young person.
Traditional Martial Art Study …
Studying a traditional martial art such as a karate, in well-run dojo, teaches a young person to interact with their peers and instructors in a good, structured environment that emphasizes discipline, honor, respect, and good sportsmanship. This character development is even more valuable than the physical discipline and acquiring fighting skills, although those are certainly important benefits as well. In fact, in the PBS documentary The Marines, the officer in charge of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) who was interviewed for this show, specifically states that his favorite part of the MCMAP is the character development. A code of honor is what separates a warrior from a violent thug, and we would all do well to instill such honor in our children.
… Or Not
Even if your child does not study martial arts, it is still a good idea to imbue them with certain character lessons from the martial disciplines. For example, martial arts teaches commitment – striking through the target, not at the target. This applies in other areas of life as well. For example, when I sold kitchen knives as a sales rep at Vector Marketing Corporation, during one office meeting the manager state our sales goal for the week, but then also set a target much higher than that goal, explaining that striving for that higher target would help ensure we would meet the sales goal. Strike through the target, not at the target. If a student’s goal is to pass a class, instead of aiming for a C, they would do well to aim to earn an A. Even if they fall short of an A, they will most likely earn a C or higher by spending the effort and focus to earn an A.
Never Quit
The martial spirit also embodies a never-quit attitude. In a YouTube video, a Marine drill instructor tells a group of new recruits “Most important of all, NEVER QUIT!” In the book Winning Fights by Dr. Phillip Stephens, he writes that a black belt will get back up each time after getting knocked down. A line on Facebook states that a black belt is simply a white belt who never quit. The movie Kung Fu Panda include the line “a warrior never quits.” No matter the time and place, the world will always present challenges of some sort. Shouldn’t we imbue our kids with a never-quit attitude to help them succeed in a harsh world?
Discipline
Martial arts also emphasizes disciplined practice of the basics. Endless numbers of the same strike or block are repeated over and over, until a high degree of proficiency is achieved. Life can be the same way some times, whether that is the discipline to memorize thousands of characters to learn Chinese or Japanese, or the discipline to memorize basic arithmetic facts. In the working world, we know that often work involves repetitive tasks that must be completed properly every time in order to achieve goals and earn profit. Why not instill this kind of discipline in kids from a young age, in a fun way through martial arts lessons?
Taking a Stand
A true warrior is ready to stand and fight for what is right, but also knows to pick the right battles. They know when NOT to fight just as much as when to fight. They are aggressive, but with the discipline to control their aggression as needed, never unleashing it unless it is justified.
My Story
To my great regret, I never served in the military. But I have told my wife that most (maybe all) of my best personal characteristics come from my attempt to emulate the best aspects of good and honorable soldiers and Marines, to walk a warrior’s path. No, I am not a police officer, a security officer, a bodyguard, or any such “warrior” profession. I’m just a math/science tutor and a self-defense instructor. Even so, I strongly feel there is value added by seeking to walk a true warrior’s path in life.
An Invitation to Comment
What are your thoughts? Do you think the warrior spirit has value for all students, regardless of whether they join the military? And how can we best encourage this? Please leave a comment below.