A few days ago, my school competed in a Taekwondo tournament. These are always a little stressful for students, but a lot of fun. The stress comes from the pressure to compete and do your best. The fun comes from seeing so many other talented martial artists and cheering for the other students. For those of us that have gone to a few of these, it's a good excuse to see friends that we haven't seen in awhile and to have an opportunity to meet new ones. While watching some of the people compete, it is common to see school names and wonder where they are from - some are small clubs that are close-by, while others are from very far away. Someone always gets out their phone and looks the other dojangs up to see where they are from and what they study specifically.
On the websites, we see the full range of marketing. Everything from the humble and simple to the boisterous and braggadocious. Some put up pricing and a direct matter-of-fact listing on what they do. Others say how they are the best and have flashy sites. There are some common things claimed by all of them, however. Most schools will claim to help kids and adults have better discipline, more confidence, and to be more attentive. While it is true that many people do have these things after martial arts study, it seems worthwhile to explore how someone teaches another to have better discipline, increased self-confidence, and better attention. Is that possible? What is the method for doing this? Are martial arts classes uniquely suited to addressing these issues?
People that have studied martial arts or music with me for a long time know that I have developed an interest in word definition. I picked it up from my old teacher, Todd Strandberg. Long explorations about words like "should", "confidence", "attention", and "discipline" are often tolerated by close friends and colleagues because I'm convinced there is something to pull from doing it. While I've never gotten the hang of cutting to the heart of such a thing quickly like Todd does, I think I can do the topic some justice. If you have the patience for it, I encourage anyone to take time and consider the words we use every day. It may surprise you what you're actually saying.
People often come to my school and tell me they want to take classes to help them with their self-discipline. It is something I have always found interesting; what does someone mean by that? As a martial arts and music student, I never once thought about having to have discipline. If my teachers taught me something, I just seemed to work on it - in the car, at the dinner table, as I was falling asleep. I love these things and I do them the same way someone plays a video game or watches an interesting movie. What is self-discipline?
The same was true of confidence. As a small child, I was painfully shy with new people. The moment I got to know someone, I would open up very quickly. As I got older, I realized that I had some talent and that some people would find that interesting. I learned that I could trust myself to get things done most of the time if I just worked and did it. No one set out to give me self-confidence and, in some cases, people were concerned that I was too sure of myself as a teenager. Still, I always think that success is possible and I'm willing to give it a go if the possible failure isn't too costly.
Along these same lines was attention. I have a solid nerd streak and I find most anything interesting on some level. No one had to tell me to pay attention in classes. I just did it because it was interesting. Unfortunately, some school teachers had to see what a young Matt Thompson did if the lessons weren't interesting, but I wasn't malicious and could easily be brought around if the teacher showed their own care for the topic. Still, I never had a problem being attentive in music or martial arts studies. Since I don't think myself a terribly unique person - why was my childhood so different that I didn't need to be taught these things?
In reflecting on it, I think these words are being used incorrectly. When someone says they want to develop self-discipline, I often think what they really mean is "please teach me how to force myself to do the things I don't want to do." This is an incorrect approach, to my way of thinking. It is fragmentary in its nature, because the person is in conflict with themselves and they want you to help them listen to one half over the other. The problem is the fragmentation. When someone says they want to have more confidence, I think they are really saying "I want to assume I can do things that I don't know for sure I can do." This is also fragmentary because the fear of not being able to do something reflects the ignorance the person has about the task at hand. The fragmentation, again, is the issue. When someone says they want to have better attention, I often think what they really mean is "I want you to teach me to pay attention to things I actually don't care about." If something is important to you, then you will listen. There is fragmentation because there is conflict between what the person wants to do versus what the person feels guilty ignoring. Again, the problem is the person being divided inwardly.
So then, how can martial arts study help in these issues?
If a martial arts school's instructors understand these issues thoroughly, then they actually don't try to teach these things. Instead, they will teach their students that their attention, time, and hard work will change things around them. When someone feels like what they do, think about, and pay attention to influences the way that things unfold around them, then that person is empowered. It's like finding out you have an arm that you never realized you could use before. Naturally, the person having this experience will wonder how far they can take it. From being empowered, they become curious and playful. When someone is curious, they listen because they want to understand what is happening. From that curiosity comes the disciplined mind - a mind that studies and is attentive. From that attention, empowerment, and study comes the recognition that they can have an influence on the way things around them unfold and that success is possible. That is the healthy kind of confidence over the false illusion of being better than other people. From this cycle, the person begins to see their own talents and interests and begins to own their own life - all the outcomes, possibilities, and responsibilities. This is the constant conversation between the individual and the environment we call attention or awareness.
If a school doesn't understand this, then they will falsely inflate the student. This person will walk around with an incorrect understanding of their own abilities. This student will get occasional hints that their skill is shoddy and their insecurity will make them over-protective, fearful, and insular. They may have confidence, but they will crash the moment they are tested. They will fear the greatest teacher I've ever had: failure. They will not be whole people; they will be hollow in my way of thinking and will have to learn these skills in spite of their martial arts study rather than from it.
Is martial arts study uniquely suited for this? Not at all - I found the exact same things true for my music students or students of anything else. The trick is to find something you enjoy and to pour yourself completely into it. Find out how far it goes. Learn how to overcome the difficulties in its study. Apply yourself to the topic over time. Take smart risks and learn from failure. If someone studies in this way, they'll be more than attentive, confident, or disciplined. They will be engaged human beings that will accomplish whatever it is that is important in their lives.
... and they may win a few trophies along the way, too.
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Thursday, March 19, 2015
A music and martial intersection
While I haven't spoken too much about it on this blog, I am also a fairly experienced musician. Prior to opening Han Mi Martial Arts, I taught music full time as a private instructor in Frederick, MD. I still do it today, but only part time. Often, people are surprised that I teach music when they know me as a martial arts teacher. The same goes for music students when they hear about Han Mi. In my mind, there are many parallels. I wanted to take a moment and explore a few.
As a musician, I tend to look at things on three levels when playing. I have to be aware of what my hands (or hands and feet if we're talking drum set) are doing technically. At the same time, there has to be a mental awareness - key signature, time signature, chord structure for improvisation, and all the other math that goes into it. Along with those two, I need to be aware of what is happening artistically - what the emotional texture is at the moment. All three of these things need to exist in order for anything to be played sincerely or correctly. Without both levels of awareness along with execution, we'll either have silence, disorganization, or overly dry playing.
For technique, a player has to cultivate the conditioned responses that go into being a capable musician. Guitarists, Bassists, and percussionists need to practice scales, arpeggios, and general dexterity that is required to play the instrument and a purely physical level. Drummers learn all their rudiments and sticking techniques along with proper bass drum technique for their feet. You can understand the technique, but a conditioned response is needed in order to make that technique as common as picking up a cup. Martial artists are precisely the same way; if I want to defend myself intelligently, I cannot fumble around trying to think my way through a side kick, sword strike, or a block. The body requires repetition in order to make that technique as easy to execute as it is to say the word "hello" in language. If the intellect is bogged down trying to think through execution, then you aren't able to engage the situation fully. In music, it means studdering; in martial arts, it means executing slowly and imprecisely - possibly giving the other person an advantage. Neither is acceptable.
Intellectually, musicians have to be aware of the non-tangible parts of the music. If we are talking about pitched instruments, awareness of key signature, chord structure, and melody are vital to be able to improvise or to play a passage intelligently. Having this understanding allows for written music to be read quickly without hesitation and allows for intelligent improvisation to even be possible. Drummers need to know which sticking and rudimentary techniques to employ to convey the phrase and keep the rhythmic flow uninterrupted. Martial arts has the same kinds of considerations; one must be aware of the reach of oneself as well as the opponent. In grappling, understanding of the weight distribution and the center of gravity make it possible to control the other person's body independent of their will. In Kendo, being aware of small movements in the body and sword can cue an opponent's intention on the timing and location of an attack - similarly in Taekwondo. The awareness of angle, leverage, and the patterns in an opponent's movements give a clue as to how to build a tactic for dealing with that person's size, skill, and intention.
The artistic aspects are where I tend to lose people. In music, the artistic elements are the reason why people play. Music makes us feel a certain way and we are drawn to it even as beginners. The beauty, the sadness, and the intensity of music reaches across culture and is obvious for anyone with ears that is open to such an experience. Martial artists have to be a bit more subtle in their awareness for this to be understood. Obviously, martial arts exists to enrich and protect the practitioner. Martial arts are our way to adapt to the world - by helping us to exercise and stay healthy as well as giving us tools to deal with someone that wants to hurt us. A martial artist considers the attack and the attacker - the intention is paramount. While we want to succeed, we express that in context. In competition, we use the appropriate amount of force to win while staying within the rules. In self-defense, we use the appropriate amount of force without being abusive. The skill of the attacker or the presence of a weapon influences to harshness of the response. While some think it appropriate to be as lethal as possible in all situations, they tend to be less aware of the greater forces at work in the world. A drunk person bar hopping and being obnoxious need not be met with the same force as someone that is sober behaving aggressively with a weapon in a premeditated attack. While we each have the right to go home at night, we need to balance that with not being hateful. Martial art is the expression of love we each have for our own lives and of the well-being of our communities. When a martial artist understands this, then that person treats everyone with kindness - even the people that might not deserve it. Peace is best, but we have tools to deal with people that don't respect this value and act violently towards others.
So, music and martial arts do have many parallels within them. While the outward manifestations may be different, the inward processes are surprisingly similar. Both are expressions of the joy of living. While one revels in tension, the other seeks to resolve it - but the differences are only in that expression. It is worth mentioning tangentially that while martial arts strives for peace and balance, it is important to at least mention the need for the mind of a martial artist to be peaceful in order for them to have any hope of rendering peace outwardly. That, however, can be blogged about another day.
As a musician, I tend to look at things on three levels when playing. I have to be aware of what my hands (or hands and feet if we're talking drum set) are doing technically. At the same time, there has to be a mental awareness - key signature, time signature, chord structure for improvisation, and all the other math that goes into it. Along with those two, I need to be aware of what is happening artistically - what the emotional texture is at the moment. All three of these things need to exist in order for anything to be played sincerely or correctly. Without both levels of awareness along with execution, we'll either have silence, disorganization, or overly dry playing.
For technique, a player has to cultivate the conditioned responses that go into being a capable musician. Guitarists, Bassists, and percussionists need to practice scales, arpeggios, and general dexterity that is required to play the instrument and a purely physical level. Drummers learn all their rudiments and sticking techniques along with proper bass drum technique for their feet. You can understand the technique, but a conditioned response is needed in order to make that technique as common as picking up a cup. Martial artists are precisely the same way; if I want to defend myself intelligently, I cannot fumble around trying to think my way through a side kick, sword strike, or a block. The body requires repetition in order to make that technique as easy to execute as it is to say the word "hello" in language. If the intellect is bogged down trying to think through execution, then you aren't able to engage the situation fully. In music, it means studdering; in martial arts, it means executing slowly and imprecisely - possibly giving the other person an advantage. Neither is acceptable.
Intellectually, musicians have to be aware of the non-tangible parts of the music. If we are talking about pitched instruments, awareness of key signature, chord structure, and melody are vital to be able to improvise or to play a passage intelligently. Having this understanding allows for written music to be read quickly without hesitation and allows for intelligent improvisation to even be possible. Drummers need to know which sticking and rudimentary techniques to employ to convey the phrase and keep the rhythmic flow uninterrupted. Martial arts has the same kinds of considerations; one must be aware of the reach of oneself as well as the opponent. In grappling, understanding of the weight distribution and the center of gravity make it possible to control the other person's body independent of their will. In Kendo, being aware of small movements in the body and sword can cue an opponent's intention on the timing and location of an attack - similarly in Taekwondo. The awareness of angle, leverage, and the patterns in an opponent's movements give a clue as to how to build a tactic for dealing with that person's size, skill, and intention.
The artistic aspects are where I tend to lose people. In music, the artistic elements are the reason why people play. Music makes us feel a certain way and we are drawn to it even as beginners. The beauty, the sadness, and the intensity of music reaches across culture and is obvious for anyone with ears that is open to such an experience. Martial artists have to be a bit more subtle in their awareness for this to be understood. Obviously, martial arts exists to enrich and protect the practitioner. Martial arts are our way to adapt to the world - by helping us to exercise and stay healthy as well as giving us tools to deal with someone that wants to hurt us. A martial artist considers the attack and the attacker - the intention is paramount. While we want to succeed, we express that in context. In competition, we use the appropriate amount of force to win while staying within the rules. In self-defense, we use the appropriate amount of force without being abusive. The skill of the attacker or the presence of a weapon influences to harshness of the response. While some think it appropriate to be as lethal as possible in all situations, they tend to be less aware of the greater forces at work in the world. A drunk person bar hopping and being obnoxious need not be met with the same force as someone that is sober behaving aggressively with a weapon in a premeditated attack. While we each have the right to go home at night, we need to balance that with not being hateful. Martial art is the expression of love we each have for our own lives and of the well-being of our communities. When a martial artist understands this, then that person treats everyone with kindness - even the people that might not deserve it. Peace is best, but we have tools to deal with people that don't respect this value and act violently towards others.
So, music and martial arts do have many parallels within them. While the outward manifestations may be different, the inward processes are surprisingly similar. Both are expressions of the joy of living. While one revels in tension, the other seeks to resolve it - but the differences are only in that expression. It is worth mentioning tangentially that while martial arts strives for peace and balance, it is important to at least mention the need for the mind of a martial artist to be peaceful in order for them to have any hope of rendering peace outwardly. That, however, can be blogged about another day.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
The Nervous Newbie
When someone new comes into our school, he or she tends to be pretty intimidated. It never matters how old or young or which style is being studied; people tend to be intimidated when they come in the first time. This is common and something we are very comfortable handling. I wanted to take a minute and just share some of the things new students could keep in mind when they first come in to learn martial arts.
First, it's important to relax. So often, people get so nervous and preoccupied that it is tough for them to hear what is going on or to see some of the details of what is being covered in class. Just relax. There's no need to try to impress anyone your first day. In fact, it's usually more impressive when someone can relax and just observe what is going on around them. If you have previous experience, it's good to let us know. However, give yourself the opportunity to just come in and learn how we do things. You don't have to forget what you've done before, but do set it aside so that we can just work without too much interruption. If things look good, we'll be eager to move into the next idea.
Second, realize that you'll have to trust someone whenever or wherever you decide to do martial arts. Of course, no one wants to be ripped off or wants to waste their time or money. However, give someone the benefit of the doubt. If you come in and do our 2 week intro for $50, you're going to know what we're about and if we're a good fit for you or your family. Actually, most people know within 3 classes. As much as you're checking out the school, the staff here are making sure that the person coming in has a sense of community, is considerate of the others in class, and listens well. We never know what someone's past training or life experience is when they come in. We want to make sure that we maintain a safe yet challenging training environment for everyone here. If we have someone that comes in secretly thinking they are the star of their own reality kung fu television show, we will encourage them to either change their behavior or go elsewhere. It doesn't do anyone any good to have people on the mat who are inconsiderate or cruel, after all.
Lastly, remember that training is hard and challenging, but also has a lot of joy in it. We will always do our best to keep the training challenging, but also positive and engaging. Don't be afraid to smile! While we want to be serious in the training area, everyone here genuinely likes each other and looks forward to working together. Many of the friendships forged here become life long and for good reason. We train and grow together like a family. All of us are eager to bring new people in and to have new people to train with, new ideas to explore, and new minds to offer up ideas when they have experience and understanding.
So don't let the natural nervousness of coming into a martial arts school keep you from doing it. If it is a good training environment, the people will be supportive and welcoming as they get to know you. Let yourself relax, give the staff the benefit of the doubt, and allow yourself to be challenged while enjoying the journey. After a few classes, you'll know if the training is right for you without any ambiguity.
First, it's important to relax. So often, people get so nervous and preoccupied that it is tough for them to hear what is going on or to see some of the details of what is being covered in class. Just relax. There's no need to try to impress anyone your first day. In fact, it's usually more impressive when someone can relax and just observe what is going on around them. If you have previous experience, it's good to let us know. However, give yourself the opportunity to just come in and learn how we do things. You don't have to forget what you've done before, but do set it aside so that we can just work without too much interruption. If things look good, we'll be eager to move into the next idea.
Second, realize that you'll have to trust someone whenever or wherever you decide to do martial arts. Of course, no one wants to be ripped off or wants to waste their time or money. However, give someone the benefit of the doubt. If you come in and do our 2 week intro for $50, you're going to know what we're about and if we're a good fit for you or your family. Actually, most people know within 3 classes. As much as you're checking out the school, the staff here are making sure that the person coming in has a sense of community, is considerate of the others in class, and listens well. We never know what someone's past training or life experience is when they come in. We want to make sure that we maintain a safe yet challenging training environment for everyone here. If we have someone that comes in secretly thinking they are the star of their own reality kung fu television show, we will encourage them to either change their behavior or go elsewhere. It doesn't do anyone any good to have people on the mat who are inconsiderate or cruel, after all.
Lastly, remember that training is hard and challenging, but also has a lot of joy in it. We will always do our best to keep the training challenging, but also positive and engaging. Don't be afraid to smile! While we want to be serious in the training area, everyone here genuinely likes each other and looks forward to working together. Many of the friendships forged here become life long and for good reason. We train and grow together like a family. All of us are eager to bring new people in and to have new people to train with, new ideas to explore, and new minds to offer up ideas when they have experience and understanding.
So don't let the natural nervousness of coming into a martial arts school keep you from doing it. If it is a good training environment, the people will be supportive and welcoming as they get to know you. Let yourself relax, give the staff the benefit of the doubt, and allow yourself to be challenged while enjoying the journey. After a few classes, you'll know if the training is right for you without any ambiguity.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
What’s with the stripes on the belt?
One question that I get asked by people both in and out of the martial arts school is if I’m a black belt and, if I am, what degree I am. Before opening Han Mi, I typically avoided the question or down played the answer as much as possible. People have all sorts of opinions on what a black belt should be or really is - few of those opinions are very advantageous to the person having that rank. Besides, my belt never won a sparring match for me. If I won or lost, it was by my own ability or lack thereof. Now that I own a school, I have to answer the question sincerely because every person could be or lead to a potential student. Luckily, I've found some of my earlier paranoia on the subject to be misplaced. Most people tend to be receptive and interested without barraging me with tasteless questions about abusing others or how to kill someone. Still, it’s worth exploring some of the common exchanges in that conversation - specifically, about having ranks above 4th degree.
The first thing that often gets misunderstood is the concept of “master” in martial arts. In Korean schools, this is referred to as Sahbum and the Japanese call this role Sensei. I remember when I got my 4th degree (or dan) and I got a uniform that said Master Thompson on the back. While I worked hard for many years and had dedicated a lot of time, energy, and care into martial arts, I never thought myself a master. For all my seriousness in study of martial arts, I never have been good at taking myself seriously. Between being a musician and being from a pretty blue collar family, anything that remotely smelled of egotism was derided immediately. While others may disagree, I have since looked at this title in the same way that you have a Master Carpenter or a Master Electrician. This person has passed tests and has demonstrated capability in the field. That doesn't mean I have some inflated sense of self, but that I have shown dedication, sincerity, and capability in that area of study. Others think of it differently and that’s fine. It’s my rank, I earned it, and it strikes me as the healthiest way to interpret it. It speaks little of my quality as a person, although one hopes it would.
Similar to this is the concept of “grand master.” This is along the same lines in a way; this person typically certifies and manages the master graded people in that system. This person has done their tests, made martial arts study a huge part of life, and has made some significant steps in promoting or developing the course that the area of study is taking. For some, it sounds insanely lofty and conceited. However, it is a title that describes a role. Typically, it is left for 7th or 8th dan practitioners of a style.
Upon writing this, I've got 4th, 5th, and 6th dan grades in different styles from different groups. Some are larger international groups and some are from much smaller groups that I did some work for in the past. It’s good to get accolades, but I try not to think about it too much. I try to show up, do the work, and take the opportunities that are given to me. Still, I find myself getting compared to others a lot. Someone knows someone that is a fill-in-my-rank-in-a-style-and-add-1. I tend to say that it is rare for people to go that far and that it is good that they know this person. I get asked more probing questions about what that means about that practitioner's quality personally. Typically, it means that he or she has devoted themselves to that study and has worked within a community that will promote the person to this higher rank after seeing this demonstrated hard work. While communities try to be objectively good, we are all human and there are people that aren't so nice that get high ranks. Still, you can’t say someone with a recognized high rank lacks in drive or devotion - it's hard to do if you're in a large established federation. In the end, people are people.
That said, it becomes easy to see that some aren't part of a larger community. My opinions about rank aren't universally accepted. Some highly ranked people are self-promoted. In and of itself, it isn't much of a concern of mine. If someone starts a style or federation and gives that role a title, then it isn't much business of mine. However, my business gets compared to these other individuals all the time and so the questions come up regularly. Why study with someone with a 5th dan when this other person has a 9th?
If someone else has a 9th through a reputable federation and a student has a chance to study with him or her (with them on the mat and not in an office), then you definitely should do so. These people are extremely rare and often have great insights into what they do. For that matter, I’d happily tag along! I haven’t forgotten the joys of learning something new and I always reach out to others that are community-minded and driven by the same passions that I have.
However, not all ranks are the same. When someone claims any rank, you have to ask where they got it from. If someone has it through a small local federation, then that doesn't necessarily mean that he or she doesn't know what they are talking about. However, a lifetime of dedication should mean a certain seriousness in study. If someone is going to dedicate their lives to studying a style, why not be part of a large community in order to really explore the subject? This is very true of people with high ranks.
For most styles, the acquisition of a very high rank (7th or above) takes decades to get. A 9th degree for example, takes a minimum of 38 years in Taekwondo. It is similar in some styles of Hapkido. For Japanese styles like Kendo, it takes almost decade more than that to receive an 8th alone. If someone says that he or she is a 9th dan and is under 45 years old, then either there is a movie about this person or they have given themselves this rank. They have made a very extraordinary claim and that doesn't mean it isn't true, but that extraordinary claim needs extraordinary evidence to back it up. More often than not, this person is trying to inflate rank as a business proposition rather than as a humble expression of dedication. That seems a breach of integrity to me.
So, what’s with all the stripes on my belt? It just means how much I enjoy what I do. For me, it means how much of my life and dedication have been recognized by others in the greater community of martial artists. It doesn't mean I’m infallible and it doesn't mean I think I’m better than anyone else. Does it mean that I’m any good? No, but it ought to. In the end, it doesn't really matter. We have to work in this life. Having opinions on rank and sitting on the sidelines being a critic is easy. So, find someone that works to be as good as he or she can and then follow suit yourself!
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