MARTIALFORCE.COM
PRESENTS
"RESPECT"
BY MASTER BEN OTAKE
It has been said that the martial arts begin with respect. In fact, martial arts should begin, end and be maintained throughout with respect. Respect is what differentiates martial arts from merely brawling.
But what is respect? It is more than just bowing or addressing someone as sempai or sensei. Respect is something much deeper than this. It actually begins with respecting yourself. If you do so, you will then respect others. You will respect the traditions and you will respect the art you practice.
Everywhere I look I see people proclaiming themselves “masters”….not only masters but grand masters and even ultimate grand masters. This is largely self-promotion and, unfortunately, self-deception. If you cannot throw a punch that no one can block or withstand, have you really mastered that punch? And that is just one technique. If you think you have mastered all your techniques, how small is your art?
Gichin Funakoshi, near the end of his life, was supposed to have said that he was finally beginning to understand “tsuki” – a straight punch.
Fumio Demura held the rank of Fifth Dan for twenty years before he was practically forced to be promoted to Seventh Dan. He then held that rank for over twenty years before he would accept another promotion to Ninth Dan. He always eschewed being called a master, and he would blanch if you called him a grand master.
Two karate-ka I know, Eddie Morales and Tom Serrano, are both highly skilled and have a deep understanding of their art. They certainly would be able to handle themselves in any self-defense situation. Yet these two men still practice diligently and have the curiosity to want to learn more. This is in contrast to other practitioners who proclaim themselves masters, effectively stopping themselves from learning or growing in their art.
If the martial arts are to grow, if the martial arts are to advance, it will depend upon individuals that have genuine respect….men such as Fumio Demura, Eddie Morales and Tom Serrano.
Ben Otake
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FOR INFORMATION ON DVD'S CONTAINING BEN OTAKE AND HIS METHOD, GO TO THE FOLLOWING LINK. http://shinshinmugendo.com/