Even after just a few months of martial arts training, you will be amazed at how much you have learned. However, the longer you train the more you realize the vast sea of knowledge that still awaits you. Regardless of whether you are a beginner or an advanced student, the powers of learning self-defense can be very exciting. As you become a skilled martial artist, it is important to understand with knowledge comes responsibility.
1. Be respectful. It is tradition in the arts to show respect to those of higher rank than yourself. The basis for this relationship is respecting the knowledge that this person has acquired. Those who have achieved higher knowledge appreciate that they need to exercise greater responsibility for the knowledge they have obtained.
2. Be humble. It is equally important to maintain humility with those of lower rank than yourself. Your knowledge of the martial arts is a personal achievement. It is not to be used to show off to others or to make others feel inferior.
3. Be defensive. Unless you are under supervision at your training school, performing a demonstration, or practicing at home, your skill is to be used only to defend yourself or another person from physical harm. It should never be used to offensively threaten or harm others in any way.
4. Be resourceful. The martial arts teaches you many ways to resolve conflict without physical force. You can use patience to resolve issues peacefully. You can use confidence to prevent altercations from ever beginning. There are better solutions available than fighting.
5. Be representative. You always carry with you the image of the martial arts. People you know will view the martial arts based on how you behave as a person outside of the school. You have a responsibility to represent the martial arts in a positive manner.
In the movie Spiderman, Peter Parker’s uncle told him that with great power comes great responsibility. There is no greater power than knowledge, and how you use it ultimately determines the person you are today and the person you will be tomorrow.