Build Respect and Courtesy with Martial Arts
Build Respect and Courtesy with Martial Arts
Not All Martial Artists Are Created Equal
I wish that I could say that all martial artists and martial arts schools are good. In my experience, I’ve seen some places that should never be teaching people anything let alone martial skills. What some may not realize is that martial arts training goes much deeper than fighting.
At Martial Arts Gilbert we want to help people become the best they can and use martial arts as a vehicle to do that. We want our students to be ambassadors of the community and lead by example. Strong leadership is our goal, whether you are a child or an adult.
Two Important Values in the Martial Arts
Today I’d like to discuss two important values that make up a quality black belt at the Budo Shingikan Dojo, Respect and Courtesy.
Respect and courtesy are fundamental values in Martial Arts and fundamental when living in the world outside of the dojo. These are two core values that are taught to young children and yet there are so many young adults, even grown adults, who simply do not have a grasp of these values.
The idea of respect goes beyond respecting others. The first pillar of respect is self-respect. Self-respect is about building a strong relationship with yourself first. The starts with treating your body with the respect it deserves but also treating your mind with respect as well.
Treating your body with respect means – eating right, exercising, getting quality sleep. It also means keeping your word to the things that you say you are going to do…you have to be your own best friend.
What is Mental Respect?
What do I mean by mental respect? Basically, this means surrounding yourself with people, ideas, thoughts, and things that will positively impact you. Creating habits that will yield a positive upside for you. For example, reading quality books that interest you, creating a morning routine to start your day, watching a short personal development video once a week, etc.
I think you get the idea. This also means editing your circle of influence. Notice I said, “people” earlier. By choosing the right people to be in your personal circle is a big way to show yourself mental respect. Choose people who will uplift you, who will push you to be your best, and remember to do the same for them.
Showing Respect to Others
After you’ve developed self-respect you can now show respect and courtesy to others. Showing courtesy and respect to others, whether they are your peers, elders, or youngsters, is a sign of emotional maturity. By respecting yourself and others you will build a strong bond of mutual respect and friendship that can grow into something rewarding and fulfilling.
If you create an environment of respect and courtesy, you’ll find that the byproducts are great personal and professional relationships. The first thing people say when they visit the Budo Shingikan Dojo, is how respectful and nice everyone is. Every time I hear this it brings a smile to my face.
The Black Belt Mentality
Demonstrating respect and courtesy to yourself and others is a true sign of a black belt mentality. How does a person develop the habit of respect and courtesy? It’s done the same way anything else is done at our dojo, deliberately. If you make an intentional and conscious effort to be respectful to others you will be surprised by what happens next. If you do this consistently for the next 21 days then you will find yourself making a habit of it and before you know you will no longer need to make this a conscious thing. It will just happen.
The Budo Shingikan Way
If you ever find yourself at Martial Arts Gilbert, which we hope you do, and you’re not sure if you should bow, just bow. It’s better to demonstrate an effort to show respect. If you wonder if you should give a polite greeting, give one. If you wonder if you should say “Yes Sir,” say “Yes Sir”. Think about the circumstances where you can immediately start being more courteous and respectful.
This is how we do things at our dojo. Budo Shingikan Dojo is everyone’s sanctuary and we want it to be a place everyone feels comfortable be at. We want you to feel respected because you ARE respected.
Come join our community where you can thrive with others who are on a similar path as you.
In Oneness,
Kaiso
