Oct 24 Do Unto Others…

Sensei had always said that splits within groups and clubs should be unnecessary, but just like in families, they still tend to happen.

Sensei always had an “open door” policy so that anyone could go to him and discuss their problems and an amicable solution could be found.  Most students used the facility from time to time and had their problems resolved.

But there’s always one.  On the surface Graham was a Club Instructor and a good reliable Karateka, Sensei often praised his capabilities and his teaching abilities for 2^nd Dan standard.  The problem was that Graham was encountering great difficulty in getting to 3^rd Dan level, he was still far too “strength” oriented with all his power in his chest and arms and very little in his “hara” and legs.

He had been brought up in a very “macho” way, (all women should be kept barefoot and pregnant etc.)and therefore could not understand the concepts of “yielding and flowing”, “centering” and how “soft overcomes hard”.

Instead of using the “open door” to Sensei’s office, Graham decided to split away, but instead of doing this openly, he worked to subvert as many others as possible to go with him. Some fell for the “higher position” and easier grading syllabus in the new group and went with him.

I was approached with statements like: “Sensei introduces too many changes, we are returning to the old values, like good old “hard” Karate training” (joint damage, injurious training, mindless repetition, power from the chest and shoulders and other “macho stuff”). I reminded them that the principles don’t change, only the method of coaching improves and was called a “sycophant”.

Then I realised that in fact it was all about money.  The deceit, the subversion was only politics to conceal the true reason, Graham had set up his own “mythical” association where everything was a direct copy of Sensei’s structure with the exception being that all the money fell into his letterbox, even his own “breakaway friends” had been deceived by his scorpionic lust for a few extra bucks.

Sometime later two of Sensei’s most trusted Instructors, Prudence and Alan who had been with him for over 20 years also started to train with the new group.  Graham was “over the moon” immediately inviting them to teach on his courses and in his classes.

Over the next three months Prudence and Alan taught perfectly good Karate exactly as Sensei would have done, fulfilling their roles as Senior Instructors perfectly.  People flocked to their lessons because they understood the deeper concepts and could make sense of all of the subtle movements in the Kata and pairs work.

Then one day at a major course Prudence and Alan stood up and declared “There is only one source of knowledge for all that we taught over the last three months and we intend to return to the true source”. They stood up and left the course leaving a mass of dazed students, when they realised the importance of the statement, many students left with them.  Graham was furious and was unable to conceal his anger showing his true lack of understanding and frustration and then over the next few weeks as word spread most of the others returned to Sensei’s teaching.  Graham was left alone and desolate with only a couple of “die hard” students still looking for the easy grades.

On their return, Sensei pulled Prudence and Graham into his office and asked them what they thought they were doing.

“We did nothing wrong, said Prudence, you always said that we were welcome to train anywhere else and we had been invited by Graham.  We simply taught as we have always done, stressing your philosophy, we only taught and practised good Karate.”

“We never spoke out about you or against Graham, said Alan.  We simply taught Karate, when we decided it was time to return we simply stated the truth and returned.  We did not try to persuade anyone of anything.”

“You have never had barriers, your door has always been open, said Prudence.  You never speak about the others behind their back; you never plot against those that help.  Graham is only beginning to discover that the “true” way is not easy and that we only reap as we sow.” 

Sensei just sadly shook his head. 

Steve Rowe

Steve Rowe is a highly successful Martial Arts instructor - an International Neigong, Qigong and Tai Chi Teacher and an 8th Dan Karate with many other senior dan grades in other martial disciplines.

More Posts - Website

Follow Me: