Advice from Sensei— Courtesy

Courtesy is a core principle and value of the martial arts and sets it apart from other sports, activities, or hobbies. Students are taught from their first class, and through the rest of their training, that Martial Arts begins and ends with courtesy and respect.

Being Courteous and Respectful to others makes a positive impression on them and is the only way to maintain a great relationship with anyone. In our classes, we demonstrate our courtesy and appreciation every time we bow to one another. We also show courtesy and respect when we give a positive response to our instructors.

In martial arts, we show the utmost respect to those who are teaching us the craft. We also teach all students to show courtesy to the lower ranking students. We do this because without lower-ranking students, the higher ranked ones would have no one to teach. A Blackbelt must always be mindful of the fact that she or he started out with no belt.

While it might seem obvious that respect should be mutual, we don’t often see examples of respect and courtesy in other sports. As a Martial Artist, it’s important to extend your courtesy and respect to everyone in the Dojo—from the highest ranked teacher to the no-belt beginner. By doing so, you give the lower ranked students someone to look up to, and your teachers can see your progress as a Martial Artist.

Courtesy and respect do not end when you walk out of the Tristar’s doors. In fact, it never ends. Outside of the Dojo we show our courtesy to others by saying “Please,” “Thank you,” and “Excuse me.” Students also show respect by looking someone in the eyes during a conversation. Our students show respect to their teachers, parents, and elders just as they do their instructors in class. They also show respect to friends, classmates, coworkers, and siblings the way they do fellow Martial Artists.

Courtesy, as the saying goes, is contagious. In a world too often short on courtesy, it’s important that we strive to set the example. Imagine the influence we can make in our community if we all practice being extra courteous!

Let’s strive to make it a habit each and everyday. This week, try to do one new thing each day that you normally wouldn’t to show courtesy within the community. Maybe next week you’ll try two new things. The more courtesy you show throughout life, the more courtesy you will receive.

Advice from Sensei— Modesty

Modesty—the freedom from ego or self-importance—is one of the core values and principles of the Black Belt rank at Tristar. Often, when someone has achieved something significant or has reached a higher position, they will develop a big ego or believe they are better than others. This will never happen with a Black Belt.

It is important to never talk about or brag about how good you are at Martial Arts or any other aspect of your life. Because they practice modesty, Black Belts will never brag to their classmates or coworkers that they have a Black Belt.

As Martial Arts students at Tristar, we are constantly playing with a double-edged sword. We are always working to strengthen and build our self-esteem and confidence. We are also constantly expanding our skills and conditioning to become a high-caliber Black Belt Champion.

While determination, drive, and confidence are important in the Martial Arts, it is equally important to not have a big ego. Often, those with an ego will look down on others or be rude and brag to them. It is important to acknowledge your achievements and have self-confidence, but that never means belittling those around you.

The other side of the sword is maintaining our humility and controlling our ego. As Martial Artists, we must always avoid being overconfident and overly proud of our accomplishments and ourselves. It is important to recognize the difference between being confident and being cocky, arrogant, or egotistical.

If someone asks about your Martial Arts training, it is okay to tell them how long you have been practicing and the rank you currently hold. This shows pride in what you do. The wrong answer would be to go on a long tangent about everything you’ve achieved to reach your rank, how much more skilled you are compared to others, or how you could beat the person up. This is not only rude and egotistical, but it also shows a lack of maturity.

A Black Belt is mature and proud of what he or she does, and recognizes the line between self-confidence and self-importance. Black Belts can tell the difference between modestly celebrating their achievements and bragging about them.

Advice from Sensei— Black Belt Excellence

“What’s Our Goal...Black Belt Excellence!”

From the first day students put on their White Belt, through Blue and Brown belt, and long after the first time they tie a Black Belt, they must always keep in mind their goal to reach Black Belt Excellence.

Black Belt Excellence is a description of every student’s character as a Martial Artist at Tristar Martial Arts. All students, regardless of whether they have a Black Belt tied around their waist or not, personify Black Belt Excellence in their daily life, inside and outside of the Dojo. Having Black Belt Excellence means simply this: strive to be your best in any and all situations.

When you are in the Dojo, you can exemplify Black Belt Excellence by always training your hardest. Black Belt Excellence means working to have stronger punches than you did yesterday, kicking higher than you did last week, breaking your pushup record, or running faster than you ever have before. Of course, Black Belt Excellence isn’t limited to just physical activity in the Dojo. Students can practice Black Belt Excellence by always arriving on time to class, paying full attention in class, and showing courtesy and respect throughout each lesson.

Those who truly practice Black Belt Excellence carry it outside of the Dojo as well. If you play in Little League, Black Belt Excellence could be going to the batting cages once a week to improve your swing. In school, you pay attention during class, participate, and answer questions as you strive to be the best in your class. At work, maybe you take on an extra project to show your boss your full potential.

“We are motivated, we are dedicated, and we are on a quest...To be our best, Sir!”

Even if you are not the best at something, you must always strive to be your personal best. Maybe you’ll never come in first place in a 5K, but completing a 5K at your personal best time is a great achievement. You may not be as strong as the higher ranks in class, but if you keep working you’ll become stronger than you’ve ever been. You will achieve your personal best. You will truly display Black Belt Excellence.

Advice From Sensei— Happy But Never Satisfied

“Be Happy...But Never Satisfied!”

Happiness. It seems like a pretty easy thing to define, but it might surprise you to know that philosophers, psychologists, and scientists have been trying for years to figure out what, exactly, defines being happy. Of course, we all know happy when we find it. Spending time with someone you love makes you happy. Winning the big game makes you happy. Being happy is a great feeling and we all, of course, want to be happy in our lives. As Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh famously said, “happiness is available. Please help yourself to it.”

As important as happiness is, it is very important to never be satisfied. Often, people confuse happiness with satisfaction. It is great to be happy, but happiness should never lead to complacency. Just because you’re happy with things as they are, don’t ever be satisfied, Don’t stop working towards a goal because you are happy. Keep going until you reach that goal. By doing so, you create a virtuous cycle in your life of striving for excellence and realizing happiness.

Let’s think about this from a student’s perspective. Let’s say you wish to improve your grades in math. Maybe you get a tutor and study extra and you finally get your first B on an exam. You should definitely be happy! But, once the initial joy has passed, recognize the next step. Aim for an A on the next exam.

Or maybe you are trying to lose weight. Let’s say your goal is to lose 15 pounds. Celebrate each and every pound lost. Celebrate after every workout you’ve struggled through and completed. You have earned the right to be happy with your progress. Be happy with what you’ve achieved with each pound lost and workout completed, but always focus on what you have left to do to reach your goal.

When working to achieve a goal, it’s always important to recognize and celebrate the quick wins. Every step forward should bring you happiness, but always recognize you’re not done yet. Usually when we are satisfied with something we feel like we are finished with it and that should never be the case with our Martial Arts training.