“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
– John Wooden
Welcome to the April issue of Your Warrior’s Edge News. I really appreciate you being a part of this group, and I hope you find value in the things I provide. Please remember to let me know how I can help you better.
TEACHING CHARACTER
We often talk about how the martial arts help with character development, something I think is true when focused on, but how often do we discuss what character development actually is? Or how do we teach it?
If I ask you what you are doing to work on your character, or if you are a teacher and I ask what you are teaching that helps build character development, how will you answer? Some people have difficulty in defining just what character means. What individual virtues make up the desirable state we call character? Is it more than the visible absence of evil? Are there certain moral traits that we think people of character should possess? Is there any absolute standard?
I’m not sure the answers to these questions, but based on my military service and study of martial arts and warriorship throughout the years, there are some traits that I believe help constitute “character.” And I try to share them in my writings and teachings, but more importantly, I study them and try to live by them. Because I really believe we must purse character with the discipline, focus and intensity that we pursue other things in life. We should strive for being a person of moral character harder than we strive to perfect our martial art techniques. I really believe we must study and intentionally pursue character development. It won’t just happen.
So, again, what is character? I like former Marine Captain Donovan Campbell’s definition of character in his book “The Leader’s Code.” He defines character as, “an honorable individual condition gained through the intentional pursuit of virtue and maintained over the course of a lifetime.” The reasons I like that are because you must intentionally pursue character and it must be maintained over one’s lifetime. It’s a state of being for life, not just a sometimes thing.
There are various individual virtues that one must work on and develop within themselves to have “character.” I think some of the most important are honor, discipline, courage, excellence, wisdom, kindness and humility. These provide real measurable traits that we can work on and thus, become people of character.
As a martial art instructor, I think it is important that I work on these constantly in order to provide a role model for others, because isn’t that what a teacher is? But I must also share these concepts and ways students can develop them within themselves. This can be done through stories, encouragement, and so on. It is up to each of us to seek out ways to better ourselves and help others develop themselves too.
I’m reminded of what one of my martial art instructors, Shihan Dennis Dallas, told me years ago when I started teaching, “If you only teach the physical techniques without character development, you are missing what true martial arts are all about.”
“The best index to a person’s character is how he treats people who can’t do him any good, and how he treats people who can’t fight back.”
– Abigail Van Buren
YOUR WARRIOR’S EDGE BLOG
Recent Blog Posts You Might Have Missed Include:
The More and More You Are Aware – Bruce Lee
Book Review of “The Fence: The Art Of Protection” by Geoff Thompson
Korean Martial Art Festival on the cover of TaeKwonDo Times
Kelly McCann says Never Fight Empty-Handed Unless You Are Forced To
Warriors Know Politeness is Not a Sign of Weakness
If you aren’t afraid of dying, there is nothing you can’t achieve
New 5 Star Review for “Fighter’s Mindset”
Book Review of “The Way of the Modern Warrior” by Stephen F. Kaufman
Warriors Sail Out To Sea And Do New Things
The Warrior has a Focused Mind
Video Review of the IHA How To Hapkido Series with GM Geoff Booth
Interview with Alain Burrese in “Truwaza Martial Arts Times”
Book Review of “Mastery” by Robert Green
You Can Never Step In The Same Water Twice, My Friend
Be sure to check out the resources at the website too. Many DVDs, books, free safety videos and hapkido tip videos available.
“It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.”
– Mark Twain
INTERVIEW WITH ALAIN BURRESE
I was interviewed by “Truwaza Martial Arts Times.” You can read the interview here:
http://truwazama.weebly.com/grand-master-alain-burrese.html
I was very happy with the interview and honored to be asked.
2013 KOREAN MARTIAL ARTS FESTIVAL
This coming weekend of April 19-21 is coming up fast! If you have not registered and made your plans to attend this outstanding event, do so now.
I’m leaving for Florida this coming Thursday and am excited to see everyone at this fantastic event. I’ll be learning from others and then teaching as well. I’m honored to be one of the instructors at this event, and I encourage everyone who can make it to do so. There is an outstanding lineup of instructors and it will be a fantastic weekend.
I hope to see you there!
Learn more at:
BLACK BELT COMMUNICATOR TIP
Talk with your mind before you talk with your tongue.
Think about this and see how much better it could make your communications with others.
REMEMBERING KEIKI FUKUDA (1913 – 2013)
The martial arts community lost a legend on February 9, 2013. Keiko Fukuda died in her sleep just two months short of celebrating her 100th birthday.
Fukuda was the last living student of judo founder Jigoro Kano and a pioneer of both judo and women’s rights. She began training in 1934 and taught until her death, spending an amazing 79 years in the martial arts. That’s more than Bruce Lee, Ed Parker and Randy Couture combined. Her contribution to the community in general and judo in particular cannot be overstated. (Thanks to Jason Brick in Black Belt magazine.)
JUST FOR FUN
Please like the new Tough Guy Wisdom Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tough-Guy-Wisdom/190175647790200
50% off coupon for signed Tough Guy Wisdom books to anyone who hits reply and tells me who said this quote and what movie it is from:
“Now you get so you can do that with either hand, when you’re half- drunk, or half-awake, or inside of a dark room, off the back of a running horse, you might stand a chance. A small chance.”
PARTING THOUGHTS
“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
– Dr. Seuss
Remember, I appreciate you and enjoy hearing from you. I thank you for being a part of this group and for your support. Please share my websites with those you feel would also enjoy my free guide to Situational Awareness, my newsletter, the great self-defense DVD selections, safety tips, or my sniper thriller.
Wishing you all the best on your journey as you live with the Warrior’s Edge.
Take Care and Stay Safe.
Alain