Glyn Jones Sensei wrote an article called the Karate of Chojun Miyagi, which I enjoyed. In the middle of the article he had a list that I am going to share because it goes along with a previous post that I made.
"Now if you are or were a Sensei of Karate and you practiced, refined and taught your Karate for say over 40 years. What would you actually leave behind as your legacy?
1. Students that trained with you during your initial early years of teaching.
2. Students that trained with you during the later years.
3.Students that were of varying levels of understanding and ability in different areas of Karate training.
4. Students that were of varying ages and maturity.
5. Students that trained with you regularly over many years.
6. Students that trained with you irregularly over many years.
7. Students that go on to teach your teachings to the book exactly.
8. Students that go on to develop and expand on your teaching methods.
9. Students that pass your teachings on at a much lower level of understanding.
10. Students that take your teachings off in to a totally different direction to your ideals and beliefs all together.
11. Students that only trained with you for a few months or years.
12. Students that stayed loyal and trained with you for many many years. In Chojun Miyagi’s case; Higa, Yagi, Miyazato & Toguchi come to mind here.
13. Students that go on to have a large following of Students.
14. Students that go on to have a small following of Students.
15. Students that knew your Karate training methods inside out, who you shared your advanced teachings with.
16. Students that in truth had very little understanding of your personal Karate at all."
2. Students that trained with you during the later years.
3.Students that were of varying levels of understanding and ability in different areas of Karate training.
4. Students that were of varying ages and maturity.
5. Students that trained with you regularly over many years.
6. Students that trained with you irregularly over many years.
7. Students that go on to teach your teachings to the book exactly.
8. Students that go on to develop and expand on your teaching methods.
9. Students that pass your teachings on at a much lower level of understanding.
10. Students that take your teachings off in to a totally different direction to your ideals and beliefs all together.
11. Students that only trained with you for a few months or years.
12. Students that stayed loyal and trained with you for many many years. In Chojun Miyagi’s case; Higa, Yagi, Miyazato & Toguchi come to mind here.
13. Students that go on to have a large following of Students.
14. Students that go on to have a small following of Students.
15. Students that knew your Karate training methods inside out, who you shared your advanced teachings with.
16. Students that in truth had very little understanding of your personal Karate at all."
I have always heard the saying that a student is only as good as the teacher, but I don't think that is accurate. I have students that have trained with me for years, I have students that come and go. I have students that half ass their training and students that work their butts off and are in the dojo everyday. I say that while it is important to have the right teacher, it is equally important to have the right attitude. It is important to own your karate and take responsibility for your own training. Yes it is important to have a good teacher to guide you, but if the teacher is excellent and the student is poor, despite the teachers efforts, then what to do.....
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