Martial Tucker
Black Belt
There is an ongoing poll regarding closing the Study, and there has been some concern expressed that when it comes to martial arts (as opposed to politics/religion, etc) that a less advanced member of MT may not feel as if they have as much to contribute when the discussion is limited to martial arts.
I would just like to encourage anyone who feels that way to re-think their position and consider posting more frequently when they do see a martial arts topic on which they have an opinion.
First of all, the beauty of this forum is that all opinions are welcome. This is certainily not the case at most schools.
I was told by a visiting GM several years ago that "if you are not at least 3rd dan, you are not entitled to an opinion". That's not the case here. You can question, or express an opinion to a more senior MA-ist here in a manner that would not be accepted at many, if not most schools.
Second, regardless of your level of experience, what is often more valuable than your opinion is your perspective. If you are a more senior practitioner, you are either a teacher, or a potential teacher. As a senior, you may know more about a technique, a concept, or a tidbit of history than a lower belt, but you can only grow as a teacher if you are willing to look at things from the perspective of the student now and then. What I'm saying is, if you are a lower belt, your perspective is valuable information to any senior belt who
is serious about teaching at some point, or taking their training to "the next level". If you are a senior belt, you are foolish to dismiss a well thought out
post from a lower belt.
Since we are all "artists" in many ways, I view this forum as a giant mural that all of us are always adding to, and the contribution of lower belts is just as important in its own way as that of the more senior members.
I would hope that none of us would skip a sparring session at school just because we might have to go a round or two against a more senior student.
You have to stick your neck out a bit now and then if you want to grow.
The important thing is, in sparring or here at MT, we all show each other respect, and show the same consideration verbally that we would show on the mat.
I would just like to encourage anyone who feels that way to re-think their position and consider posting more frequently when they do see a martial arts topic on which they have an opinion.
First of all, the beauty of this forum is that all opinions are welcome. This is certainily not the case at most schools.
I was told by a visiting GM several years ago that "if you are not at least 3rd dan, you are not entitled to an opinion". That's not the case here. You can question, or express an opinion to a more senior MA-ist here in a manner that would not be accepted at many, if not most schools.
Second, regardless of your level of experience, what is often more valuable than your opinion is your perspective. If you are a more senior practitioner, you are either a teacher, or a potential teacher. As a senior, you may know more about a technique, a concept, or a tidbit of history than a lower belt, but you can only grow as a teacher if you are willing to look at things from the perspective of the student now and then. What I'm saying is, if you are a lower belt, your perspective is valuable information to any senior belt who
is serious about teaching at some point, or taking their training to "the next level". If you are a senior belt, you are foolish to dismiss a well thought out
post from a lower belt.
Since we are all "artists" in many ways, I view this forum as a giant mural that all of us are always adding to, and the contribution of lower belts is just as important in its own way as that of the more senior members.
I would hope that none of us would skip a sparring session at school just because we might have to go a round or two against a more senior student.
You have to stick your neck out a bit now and then if you want to grow.
The important thing is, in sparring or here at MT, we all show each other respect, and show the same consideration verbally that we would show on the mat.