accomplishment and responsibility

When most of us are promoted to a new belt, especially early in our martial arts journey, we focus on the accomplishment of it. It feels good to finally have your effort rewarded with a physical recognition of your growth.

But in our dojo, it is about so much more than that.

A new belt is a privilege and accomplishment, yes, but more importantly it is a responsibility. As an upper rank in your class, you are now what they call in Japan a “Senpai” or “Upperclassman.” Senpai are looked up to by lower ranks, “Kohai,” in their class. As senpai, you are expected to demonstrate model behavior to the lower ranks. You all know by now that at the beginning and end of class, we have our students line up by rank. What I should see every time is that the students at the top of the line, my highest ranking students, should be setting the example for the rest. They have a responsibility to stand still and prove they are worthy of the rank they’ve been given. More has been given to them, and thus more is expected.

Huh . . . it’s almost as if with great power comes great responsibility. Quick, somebody write that down!

Our strength as a dojo in the culture we work to cultivate. Both of those words are rooted in the Latin word colere, which means, “to tend, to till the ground.” It’s referring to agriculture–perhaps mankind’s first experience with long-term investment and reward. Now, at the start of your martial arts journey, you will be primarily a consumer. You will eat the fruits of the laborers who came before you.

But as you grow in wisdom and maturity, you will be expected to tend to the grounds yourself. You will learn the art of husbandry, not just so you can grow your own fruit, but so you can grow fruit for others as well. And then, the greatest privilege and responsibility of all, you can begin to teach others how to grow fruit for themselves.

It is only with your help that we can continue this process of cultivating a culture of honor, respect, gratitude, and pride. As we work together for the common good of our school with excellence and eagerness, we can continue to benefit not only ourselves, but our community as well.

We can leave a powerful legacy behind us. If only we are willing to reach out to those behind us, and give them a guiding hand.