Reflections stemming from a conversation with a young student

     While on my nature walk with my 6-year-old nephew today he asks me, “Uncle what belt comes after white belt?”—so of course, we begin to discuss the multiple belt rankings in the American Kenpo System and that as well if he does not practice more, he will be a white belt until he is 25 and that it will be quite a while before he would be eligible for Black. After our laugh, and discussion as well of his most recent material, he shares with me that there is a kid in his class who is a Black-belt, and likes to pick fights with the kids in his class and the school.

     His words not mine—“I told the kid that he feels he needs to prove that he is tough just because he has a Black-belt, and that I wouldn’t fight him to prove I was tough just because I don’t have one. You always tell us we only fight when we have too, and that we better not ever use Kenpo to pick on people.”

     I shared  with my Nephew and student, what I hope to be where comforting words, that of course he can always talk with me about anything in addition to his parents and Grandma, and that he should not worry as the Kenpo he knows now, he can use to protect himself. I told him if you cannot get away to tell a teacher or adult, if you need to, you fight back. That, when unable to get to a teacher or adult for help, if this kid attempts to pick on, or hold him down and hit, and or kick him that it is o.k., to protect himself.

     No, I am not encouraging my Nephew to fight; I am encouraging my Nephew and student to hone his ability within, and confidence and belief in Kenpo and his using it to protect himself and stand for right. Through Kenpo, I as his Uncle and Instructor am helping him to become not only a better, confident, young man, but also a better Human being.  As I am also helping him to grow, and mature and come to realistic perspectives and terms with the world we, live in. For those that may disagree and argue that I am encouraging him to fight I pose this question—Is it not the foremost responsibility and duty of an Instructor to prepare their student(s) for that which they will encounter in the world, both outside of and inside of the Dojo? I answer with an emphatic, “Yes it is,” and thus conclude it is our responsibility to equip them with realistic, applicable, and practical “Self-Defense” theories, concepts, perspectives, and actions—whatever System we are teaching and thus, “training” them in. We should be as well endeavoring to encourage and nurture their growth, and striving for growth for ourselves in the areas of “Mind, Body, and Spirit,”—Mentally, Physically and Spiritually/Emotionally. If we are not doing this, we are not doing our utmost as Instructors and are truly ill preparing them, and discrediting ourselves.

     My Instructor, Mr. Todd Durgan, 7^th Degree Black, Senior Professor of the Arts, wrote, spoke, and has emphasized as long as I have known him for 19 years:

"Patience, Loyalty, and Honor should be maintained above all else, we should not allow our paths to a better understanding, to be corrupted by greed for money or rank."
- Mr. Todd Durgan, 7^th Degree Black, Senior Professor of the Arts

     My Nephew’s experiences, furthermore, I argue, validate this—under no circumstance should a 6-year-old be anywhere near having the rank of Black—they are not spiritually, mentally, and thus not emotionally mature enough to handle the responsibility and or comprehend the material required to hold said rank. I mean, if a 6-year-old can see the problem(s), and comprehend that it is not a wise mode/means of action, where does the disconnect in logic and reason and actions occur for some adults/instructors?

     Those Instructors in the Martial Arts who are, need to stop practicing hasty promotions, promoting students without testing them, and thus, disgracing the arts. For, not only does it make them as Instructors and Teachers look like immoral, corrupt, money grabbing degenerates seeking praise and acknowledgement through their students—it does our students and our Systems the greatest disservice.  As it gives them, their students and said Instructor(s), a false sense of accomplishment and security, as well as over inflated egos ascribing to arrogance and haughtiness, rather than integrity, humility, and compassion.

Salute