Teaching is the act of sharing the knowledge we have been given by others – as Tomiyama Sensei reminds us – with the hope that someday, in some way, it again will be passed on and shared.
.
The journey from one generation to the next is not just about preserving movements, techniques, or tradition – I’ve written about this recently – but about nurturing an understanding that will evolve and grow.
.
A teacher’s purpose is not to create students in his or her own image, but to develop students who can create their own image. The teachings should not be static, carved in stone. They should be dynamic, allowing each generation to leave its mark while remaining rooted in tradition.
.
It’s this constant evolution – this willingness to learn, adapt, and pass on what we know – that ensures the art that you practice remains vibrant, relevant, and alive for the next generation.
.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of complacency. When you approach a ‘thing’ the exact same way for months or years on end and get the same unsatisfactory results, the most logical thing to do is to take a step back, assess, and try something new.
.
However, people can get trapped in their traditions, some of which can be fine and should be respected and honored (as appropriate), but they aren’t the be-all and end-all. Like it or not, not everyone has the same traditions.
.
Tradition does not have a right to exist for its own sake. It must continually pass tests of relevance and effect. If it’s deemed irrelevant or to have a negative effect, or simply be wrong, there is not much in the way of a valid reason to continue to practice it. As time passes and beliefs change, traditions will come and go, just as do habits.
.
At the end of the day, it’s not about holding onto the past for the sake of tradition itself. It’s about keeping the art alive, about ensuring that we are passing something forward that still matters.
.
What we practice today should still have value tomorrow. That’s the real responsibility – to leave the next generation with something that isn’t just a relic of the past, but a living, breathing part of the future.
.
.
Written by Adam Carter

Photo Credit: Keiji Tomiyama 9th dan Shito-Ryu Kofukan