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Post by kensei on Nov 1, 2012 1:51:21 GMT
Okay, so some of the latest things I have been accused of by an ex-member actually got me thinking. Why do people treat instructors like gods, competitors like heros and do you have an idol in Karate?
I dont! I mean I respect My instructor and I look up to a few older instructors who have done great things....but My hero...is my brother and daughter. My brother passed away and my daughter battles every day. I dont see any Karate personality as being half as strong!
Do you all see it...do you all have heros?
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Post by Rob S on Nov 1, 2012 8:01:54 GMT
Hero worship is a part of life, but as we know from recent events, it can also bring a huge negative result, as heroes often fall from grace.
Even some who have been publicly lauded world wide are not always the people we think.
Britain's most recent major celebrity exposure, has brought with it the fact that a man who was a hero to so many was also destructive ... to hundreds!
I was aligned with a karate person many worship as a hero. From afar perhaps they are heroes. Close up, all too often they are not. They live double lives.
I think that to have someone you wish to emulate in a sporting field is good. To have a role model is good. But worship ... not good.
Why do we treat instructors like gods? That is easy , we want something from them. , Their skills, rank, status, even glory by association. Historically in the UK, some senior instructors would demand things that today would make you run a mile. A car for the weekend, a 4 star hotel, a bottle, a woman, and mega bucks. They got it! How stupid were the karate-ka? We created these monsters by allowing it to happen. Once they had the 'goods' once, they demanded it all the time.
These heroes use our skill sets for their own purposes. They 'abide' us with lesser physical skills whilst it suits them, Once they find a new toy, they discard the old. Some heroes!
Why do we treat competitors like heroes? Because we wish we had their skills, status and respect.
Do I have an idol in karate? Yes ... me!
I still battle on despite being crippled with arthritis, several prolapsed discs, and a pacemaker, and tendons that have been re-attached after being severed in a demo. I was in the dojo the day it happened, and the day after, and days and days thereafter (ask Andre Bertel, he was in Japan with me, and we were both training, I just had a limp arm that would not move or work).
That injury/those injuries taught me that the heroes I had were frail and flawed. They were glossy heroes. Not necessarily those who worked through adversity.
So in karate, scrap the heroes. Look at two in the UK who were alleged karate senior grades and heroes! Where did listening to these men get us?
Forget the heroes, find a friend, a good friend who will tell you the truth. 'You karate stinks, but I respect your spirit and how hard you try', or 'actually that doesn't look too bad, but have you thought about?' These are the people we need. Not some glossy image that is bound to tarnish!
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Post by malk103 on Nov 1, 2012 9:42:37 GMT
Kensei - from what you said earlier about your hieght I thought you looked up to most people....... ;D ;D ;D
I think its a natural progression in learning Karate, first you want to point back in time and pick out the "Grand Master" who started it all and put them on the highest pedestal, then look for a modern day Master who can do no wrong and then elevate your Sensei a bit. You normally end up with Funakoshi/Kanazawa.
It doesn't help when you have films that show a little bloke take out several thugs all at once, it gives the impression that senior Karateka are indestructable.
When you look more into it there were several past masters - dare I say more traditional in their Karate.... There are also plenty of excellent Karateka/instructors out there, all with something good to give.
I normally give people that i meet the same amount of respect and they can elevate it or lose it on their actions. I'm old enough not to worship anyone, although I can have a lot of respect for some more than others. I dare say its the same in any walk of life with sports people and celebs, just bad when they fall from grace when lots of young people are looking up to them.
I would respect someone more who has lesser skills, knowledge or technique if they have the right spirit and attitude.
An old Navy saying for anyone that's being looked up at - like celebs/royalty etc - "they all burp and fart the same as us" ;D
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Post by Allan Shepherd on Nov 1, 2012 12:22:33 GMT
Hi Rob
I agree with your reasoning for your "idol" being yourself, if we are the type of person who has an empathy with our fellow human beings then who else can we look up to but ourselves?
I, like you are/have suffered with physical ailments (asthma, 2 hernia's, 3 prolapsed discs etc) particularly in the later part of my 65 years but then you realise that there are other people in the world in far worse situations.
I admire those who have inspired me to train for 46 years and enriched my life so far but I do not worship them. As human beings we ALL have failings, so more than others but I will always continue to admire the people who have inspired me and forget the ones that have not.
Best Regards Allan
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Post by kensei on Nov 1, 2012 13:01:37 GMT
Kensei - from what you said earlier about your hieght I thought you looked up to most people....... ;D ;D ;D Fair point...but drinking hot coffee and reading that...well I had to clean my computer screen!
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Post by kensei on Nov 1, 2012 14:05:33 GMT
I agree with Allan in a lot of ways. I admire my instructor but realize he is human and dont WORSHIP him...I am a bit confused by people who suffer from Hero worship, everyone is human and I realized the duel peronalities of some instructors early on!
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Post by makoto on Nov 1, 2012 15:34:00 GMT
I do not allow idol worship in my dojo. I like being respected has a human being and a teacher. If I thought for a second I was being seen as god like, I would stomp it out. To me, those dojo or sensei who allow this to happen are in the wrong. We are talking about clut karate, and not real karate.
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Post by Paul Bedard on Nov 2, 2012 0:32:55 GMT
We can look up to others but, but hero worship is just plain silly & anyone who promotes this is too egotistical to get much respect from me. However we can have hero`s or at least` hero of the day`. For example, after a recent seminar certain body parts had been complaining for days. I did grunt a few times & wished that I had treated myself better when I was young. A couple of days ago we visited an old friend who is fighting for his life with the big `C`. You know he looks so frail & pale & he is in obvious discomfort & won`t show it. He maintains his smile, when he tells you that some days are rougher than others, but he won`t let that get him down as he has such a strong support system of family & friends, that with that much love & support how can you feel sorry for yourself. At this present time `He is my hero`.. No worship needed!!!
Osu
Paul B
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