We had a KM convention this week, where all the instructors and students in our school get together and have a demo training session for family, friends and anyone else interested in watching (Pictures are here if you're interested, but everythings in Hebrew).
My instructor hosted this time, but another instructor, Head of the Professional Committee and 8th Dan, wanted to grant an award for "Practitioner of the Year" from his dojo. His choice was his highest ranking student, a 25 year-old 3rd dan who's been training since he was 12. He was either one of the best or "the" best instructor ever to teach Krav Maga in the military, actively instructs today and is a general all around bad-*** (pictures here, he's the Russian). He was once assaulted by seven adult men, and sent them all to the ER. He doesn't go much easier on you when sparring if you're a lower rank, so naturally, everyone's afraid of him. It's important to mention that this isn't the first time he's "deified" by his instructor.
My question is this: does he deserve it? Obviously he's the best student his instructor has, and he does contribute a lot to KM, but what about everyone else who do their best? You can keep praising the best, or award others who also sweat (and bleed) to max out their potential. Danny (that's his name) is one in a million. Few people reach these levels. But is it fair to constantly compare everyone to him?
When I was in bootcamp, we had treks, as is customary in every combat unit's bootcamp. I came out as the best on the first two treks, and was promoted to signalman, which means carrying the radio and never being more than a foot away from my commanding officer, a position that's considered an honor in bootcamp. This was to signify that my superiors recognized my abilities and promoted me, allowing for others to shine as well.
This analogy is meant to show that when someone consistently demonstrates he's the best, it's a better idea to promote him than to leave him in the same league and set him as an unreachable ideal.
After all that babbling, what do you think?
My instructor hosted this time, but another instructor, Head of the Professional Committee and 8th Dan, wanted to grant an award for "Practitioner of the Year" from his dojo. His choice was his highest ranking student, a 25 year-old 3rd dan who's been training since he was 12. He was either one of the best or "the" best instructor ever to teach Krav Maga in the military, actively instructs today and is a general all around bad-*** (pictures here, he's the Russian). He was once assaulted by seven adult men, and sent them all to the ER. He doesn't go much easier on you when sparring if you're a lower rank, so naturally, everyone's afraid of him. It's important to mention that this isn't the first time he's "deified" by his instructor.
My question is this: does he deserve it? Obviously he's the best student his instructor has, and he does contribute a lot to KM, but what about everyone else who do their best? You can keep praising the best, or award others who also sweat (and bleed) to max out their potential. Danny (that's his name) is one in a million. Few people reach these levels. But is it fair to constantly compare everyone to him?
When I was in bootcamp, we had treks, as is customary in every combat unit's bootcamp. I came out as the best on the first two treks, and was promoted to signalman, which means carrying the radio and never being more than a foot away from my commanding officer, a position that's considered an honor in bootcamp. This was to signify that my superiors recognized my abilities and promoted me, allowing for others to shine as well.
This analogy is meant to show that when someone consistently demonstrates he's the best, it's a better idea to promote him than to leave him in the same league and set him as an unreachable ideal.
After all that babbling, what do you think?
)
