“For me the martial arts is a search for something inside. It’s not just a physical discipline.” – Brandon Lee
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Loyalty is a very important aspect in any relationship, but especially so in the martial arts between a student, their instructor, and their dojo.
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Being a loyal person means that you keep your promises, and that’s something that has deep value. Loyalty is a two way road, not one way….. it’s about give and take. Loyalty is a respect and bond between two parties with equal benefit.
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Right now, true loyalty is being tested to the maximum. With the spread of the Covid-19 virus, many schools and dojo have had to close because of the restrictions placed upon them and for the safety of everyone.
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Some instructors pour their heart and soul into their dojo and martial arts schools, and some do so without profit. But many people don’t give this a second thought.
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“Some people aren’t loyal to you…. They are loyal to their NEED of you….Once their needs change, so does their loyalty.”
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True loyalty is when you get no personal gain, you base your decisions on your values, your standards, and not your own ambition.
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Loyalty is a two way street. A good instructor will do his utmost to help their students improve and gain knowledge, and good students should always trust their instructors judgement.
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Being loyal does not mean blindly following a teacher or organization. It is to follow your own passion, with respect to your teachers and mentors, but most importantly, being loyal to yourself.
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People quit their training for many reasons, they get bored, they quit because life is calling them elsewhere, it may be work or family related. But the martial arts takes an actual investment of time, and hard work.
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Every single student you ever get will eventually quit. I never liked that, but it’s true – all you can do is focus on the ones that want to learn right now. Unfortunately commitment to learning and training is sometimes only a veiled promise, and not a guarantee.
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The martial arts and the people who practice it are diverse. There are those who are not like us, and even though they may say they want to be part of your dojo, finding another person with a true martial arts spirit, with integrity, loyalty and a true heart, is like finding a diamond on a beach of pebbles.