Respect

Chris from CT · Orange Belt

Humility is something black belt level students must always remember.

I got this from my 1st Shaolin Kempo Instructor. To keep that fresh in my memory, everytime I tie my belt on, I go down to one knee (out of respect for my teachers and the training I put into attaining the belt) and touch my folded belt to my forehead, my lips and my chest. What I am doing there is remembering that I need to have the mind of a Black Belt (touching my forehead), talk like a Black Belt (my lips) and have a "Black Belt Heart" (my chest). Respect and humility are things that a black belt should never forget in or out of the Dojo/Dojang. Lead by example because everyone is a role model to someone.

A gentleman on BudoSeek had a Korean saying about humility:

"Jar ja-ran byo-ga go-gae sukinda."

Translation:
Well grown (harvested) rice head bows.

Meaning:
When rice is well grown the tops of the rice are large and full, therefore are heavy and weighs them down (bowing). Poorly cultivated rice stands stright up.

"It means that the person who is humble bows lower and that the person who doesn't know as much walks around like they know it all." Alain Burrese

Take Care

_________________
Chris LaCava
"Man is born soft and supple,
in death he is hard and rigid..." LaoTzu

[ This Message was edited by: Chris from CT on 2001-11-27 07:34 ]

ZR440 · Black Belt

Great philosophy. In my class, bowing is not an act of subservience, rather it is a symbol of mutual respect. While our titles are important and used, mostly towards the high ranks, everyone uses a little humility because we all know we are just normal people. We know that just because we have the ability to knock someone to the floor doesn't mean we can stop a .40 S&W hollowpoint slug traveling at 1050 feet per second. That's the real world. And the strongest muscle is the brain.

[ This Message was edited by: zr440 on 2001-11-27 07:35 ]

SBN Doug · KF VIP

Well put. We are taught that instructors and students bow to one another as a sign of mutual respect.

Without the instructor, the student has no way to learn. Without the student, the instructor has no one to teach.

In either case, the circle is broken.

SaiFightsMS · KF VIP

What a thought Chriss.

Seriously I will remember that and I hope think about it every time I put my belt on.

jakmak52 · Green Belt

Respect is an essential component of these arts, just part of the whole. Respect is commanded, not demanded, by giving it freely even to those who are are still working on the concept

SaiFightsMS · KF VIP

When we rei in before class and pay respects to sensei and to the dojo I will never remember one room I trained in for a year. We were in a dark, very dirty basement. We all wound up with dingy gray gi's. Now everytime I pay respects to the facility I am training in and I can see across the room without having to quess who I am seeing in the dark I am greatful.

Respect is a complex and a simple thing.

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