(Approx 2 minute 12 second read)

Recently, I came across a post on social media that made me stop and think. It said people are only worth engaging with if they’ve met specific criteria: if they’re champions, if their students are successful, or if they’ve earned respect through verifiable accomplishments – whether in competition or in so-called “real-life” street fights. While I understand the appeal of measuring success by these standards, this mindset feels a bit narrow to me.
.
What makes someone worthy of respect isn’t just their medals or the students they’ve produced. Martial arts, at its core, is about personal development, not just public accolades. The true value of a teacher or practitioner can’t always be measured by how many champions they’ve coached or how many titles they’ve won.
.
Some of the most impactful teachers I know have never stood on a podium, but they’ve transformed lives through their quiet dedication to the art. They teach with patience, they lead by example, and they’re respected for their character, not just their ‘list of results’. These qualities don’t always show up outside of their own dojo or group, but they’re the essence of what the martial arts is about.
.
Too often, we place value only on visible, external success – who’s won the most, who’s trained the top fighters, who’s well-known in the community. But the martial arts should be about much more than that. It’s about shaping the kind of person you are when no one is watching. It’s about perseverance, humility, and the strength to keep learning, even when there’s no immediate reward.
.
What about the sensei who helps a child overcome their fear, who teaches them to be kind, self-disciplined, and resilient? What about the practitioner who practices every day in silence, knowing they may never win a trophy, but doing so for the love of the art and the personal growth it brings?
.
These people may not meet the criteria set out in that post, but they embody the heart of the martial arts.
.
There’s an important lesson here: the true measure of a martial artist is in who they’ve helped, how they’ve grown, and how they carry themselves.
.
Respect shouldn’t only be reserved for the well known. It should be earned by anyone who lives the values of martial arts with integrity, consistency, and humility.
.
At the end of the day, there will always be champions and competitors who gain recognition for their victories, and they deserve credit for their hard work. But the martial arts is vast and diverse, and success looks different for everyone. If we only focus on the most visible achievements, we miss the quiet, meaningful work happening behind the scenes – the kind of work that changes lives, even if it doesn’t make headlines.
.
So, when I hear that respect is only given to those who’ve reached the top, I have to disagree. The world of martial arts is full of people who carry the spirit of the art in everything they do. And in my view, they are just as worthy of respect as any champion or anyone in the ‘special’ group.
.
Written by AC.
.