Cirdan
Senior Master
Use either adjective. It doesn't change the meaning. I would use effective because it is straight to the point and I have no such negative connotation personally.
As I said, I am an advocate for my karate. Advocacy means considerably more action than just adopting a laissez faire attitude towards promoting karate. If you are not an advocate, that is fine. However, there is nothing wrong with people who do want to project or publicize a high standard of karate, and I would argue that the whole Mr. Miyagi sense of 'humility' (for lack of a better word) is in fact a modern construction.
I`ll take humility over tough guy every time.