“True leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders.” ~ Tom Peters
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Trust is a wonderful thing. Real trust is something that is earned over time. In budo practice, trust is absolutely essential. Without trust there is no respect. Trust is really easy to break and very difficult to gain. Once trust is broken, either by deliberate or accidental action, it takes a huge effort by both people to regain it.
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Why is it important to be trustworthy as a martial artist? Well besides being one of the major principles of the martial arts, you have the ability to do harm, physically and mentally. As an instructor you are entrusted with the lives of children and young adults. You have to lead by example, teach by example, behave by example. If you do not, you should not teach.
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Trust exemplifies what it is to be considered a black belt or an instructor. If a black belt or an instructor is found to be untrustworthy, how could you possibly trust them to teach you, your family or your children?
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Trust is also the trait of believing in the honesty and reliability of others. Essentially, when we trust someone, we have confidence or faith that they’ll behave and act in a certain way. ??
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“Understand that the essence of martial arts is not the art itself, but what’s hidden deep within yourself.” – Gogen Yamaguchi
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? With thanks to Patrick McCarthy Hanshi 9th dan Koryu Uchinadi