Now that you’ve looked at the question again, where are you in your training?
The changes in the curriculum that I’ve had make it “significantly different” to achieve goals. I used that phrase intentionally. I can’t say that the changes have made it harder or easier to achieve ranks. Those just coming into the system won’t know a difference, but those who have been around for a while don’t like to see it that way.
When you looked at the question, did you include examining your motives behind training? it seems to be human nature to compare ourselves to others…especially when doing the same activity. That’s not a bad thing when used to help you develop more skill or understand more deeply learn strategy/tactics. Its useless though if you are only comparing capabilities.
When thoughts about what I know compared to what someone else know arise, then I’ve stopped learning. A recent example comes from a Taekwondo class. Several students were given adjustments to make in their form. While they performed the form on commands, they were able to nicely make the adjustments. The problem came when they practiced on their own. The effort wasn’t put into truly making the adjustments part of their form and all the old…easy…movements came back.
In the end, I’m seeing that if you don’t make the adjustments…and changes…for your own development, you are missing the point of training. In today’s world, many of us look to become warriors. If that’s the case, then the concept of “Samurai” should apply to you. Training “to serve” is what we should be working toward without regard to rank, award or title.
I think I may need to go back to wearing a white belt…
Author: Master Robert Frankovich
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3 thoughts to “Why do you train (part 2)”
Like I have said I do train for myself. I have and still do at times compare myself with those around me by belt. The change did throw me because I feel like a lot of the challenge to get to Black is now gone. Gone is the 5 forms (equivalent to 9 forms) and the matching fighting drills, replaced with 6 focus drills. The focus drills are good and will help to clean things up. The items that were moved are still there but everything else had to move. If they did not adjust the belt requirements at the upper levels then some knowledge is lost. The change in curriculum will make all the belts equal around the world so those going to Korea or in competitions around the globe the belts will be equal instead of different levels of knowledge – especially the colored belts. The black belts might be off for a while-depends on what the masters do.
There are as many personalities that train as there are people. I am always surprised when I hear different reasons for training. I will say this in relation to your story above; what young man doesn’t walk taller in the presence of a pretty girl, as opposed to their behavior with their buddies? My point is, we all act differently when alone, in a group, or at an event. It is human nature.
As for the curriculum changes, as a second Dan, knowing curriculum into the Bonguks, my only fear is the possibility of have to “stop learning” in order for my belt time to catch up. Whatever a martial artist’s motives for training, they should never stop learning and moving ahead. These changes will be a challenge for students and Masters alike.
When they changed the requirements/timeframe for obtaining the black belt, they did not take into consideration that there are many people out there now that have their black belts AND have 2+ years of additional training than the new BB’s coming through. My fear is that we will have very inexperienced people wearing a BB and thinking that they know everything. Does that make it “equal” for the worlds’ in Korea? With the variation of knowledge, it will be interesting to see. But now in class, due to the change in requirements, some of us technically know more than we “should” know. Now what?
I say “push on & move forward”! Empty your cup so that you can fill it again with more knowledge. My TKD instructor told me when I received my 1st dan “Now that you have your black belt, you will start to learn”. At this point, being advanced in Gumdo, it would be very easy to coast along, not care if I learned anything new or not. But to really understand something, you have to realize that you don’t know it all. Ask clarifying questions, use Google, let your master instructor GIVE you their knowledge – but you have to listen, you have to know that you are not the expert. Take responsibility for your own learning. Nothing is worse than having someone interupt the master instructor to answer a question that was not directed to that student in the first place. (not what I pay for and is just rude- didn’t you Mom help you with that one? give them respect, they earned it).
So, work hard, train hard. If I leave class and I have not learned something new, then the day is not complete – no matter what rank I am. Knowledge is key. Take it to the next level. But first empty you cup.
I’ll get off my soap box now.
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