All of us live in a world which is filled with conflict. The vast majority of us like to believe we’re open-minded toward individuals and other martial artists who may see the world differently to how we do.

In the martial arts dojo, teaching respect is one of the core tenets most students learn. Students learn to recognize that people in higher positions deserve courtesy and consideration for their work to reach that position. Just as one would respect an elder, martial arts students do the same to their teachers.

Traditional martial art precepts holds tight to the belief that all people should be treated with decency and respect. Showing respect in the dojo allows you to maintain a positive and healthy training environment. You allow yourself to be respected by others while developing an understanding between you and other practitioners.

When there is mutual respect, it eventually results in increased learning, understanding, and knowledge. With the increase in mutual understanding and respect, there is less personal competition between practitioners and groups, with an exchange of positivity and ideas which lead to an increase in innovation and knowledge.

Whereas there is a handful of highly skilled, highly ethical, and humble teachers around, a sadder development of the modern martial arts culture and sportification of martial arts, is that the instructor has, in many cases, become a person who ‘demands’ rather than ‘commands’ respect. Where students are ‘forced’ to show obligatory forms of respect to conform with the schools ‘rules’.

This type of instructor often demands respect solely due to their martial arts rank, or position within an organization, rather than their actual contribution or skill in the martial arts.

Outside of their martial arts school, that ‘respected’ instructor is often an egotistical and brash business man. Martial arts for him, is merely the vehicle to gain respect, worship and status and feed their ego, with adulation that they probably wouldn’t receive anywhere else in the community.

In a society which is morally decaying at a rapid rate, the value of respect is being less and less emphasized in the way we speak to each other and act towards each other.

Teaching a martial art is not only teaching techniques and movements; it should also be about passing down values and lessons.

A teacher needs to set a good example for their students and maintain respectability in their lifestyle beyond the school or dojo. As an example, teachers should not be seen by their students under the influence of drink or drugs, or spouting foul language, inappropriate sexual behavior, or offensive racial remarks.

Ultimately, respect must begin with yourself. If you want to be respected, you need to carry yourself in a respectful manner and be respectful to everyone. Even if you find yourself in a position of power, you still need to afford every single individual the respect they deserve.

Within the martial arts, being respectful is paramount. But it does not immediately result in discipline or respect. Those traits need to be cultivated and practiced in and out of the dojo.

📷 Photo Credit: Roman Boldyrev from 2016 IOGKF World Budosai Naha, Okinawa, shared from Wikipedia way.