Thank Goodness for Passion & Responsibility

After 50 years of training, I am often asked how martial arts still holds my interest. The fact is the learning never needs to end. During my years of training in martial arts I have met many talented and interesting instructors. However, no matter how long a person trains, there is always something new that can be experienced.

Recently I received an email from an instructor that I have known since 1964. He was going to be in the area and suggested that I come to his near-by seminar. While I would have liked to train with him again, I was also committed to teaching a seminar of my own that same weekend.

I invited him to visit Pacific Rim, the night after his seminar ended, during our regular 1.5 hour Mon. night class. He wrote back with his teaching terms. He expected to be paid his full seminar fee for the 1.5 hour class. I was shocked, saddened and very disappointed.

We had been friends; I had traveled with him and gladly paid for the privilege. We did not expect him to teach for 1.5 hours for free and we would gladly have paid his expenses and a reasonable stipend. But, he felt that his popularity and importance had grown to the extent that he expected to be paid for every personal appearance.

Contrast his attitude with another recent event we experience. Three of my students and I have the same personal physician. Mrs. G. and I have the same acupuncturist and herbalist. Both professionals are martial arts experts in the traditional art of Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kobudo. During one of my acupuncture treatments I invited them to visit Pacific Rim.

Both instructors arrived early, on the scheduled date, and after much encouragement, they agreed to teach. They taught not only techniques, but also gave a fascinating history lesson of their art. These outstanding instructors were very generous with their time and even refused any compensation. They were surprised and appreciative of a token gift that we presented to them.

What can we learned from these two examples? I agree that a seminar fee is appropriate and that reasonable fees for services help keep a school operating and supports the organization. Both, of which, usually operate “on a shoe string”. Where does respect of the art, friendship and a responsibility for spreading martial art fit into this equation? As disappointing as it is, there are many instructors who view financial reward to be more important than friendship or spreading and sharing their martial art.

I believe that there is a reasonable balance. Having traveled throughout the U.S. providing seminars, my personal fee has been enough to support WOMAF and my traveling expenses. This is my responsibility, as an instructor, to help support my parent organization.

Thank goodness there are still instructors like my doctor and my acupuncturist who see teaching traditional martial art as their passion and also their responsibility.

 

James R. Garrison, 9th DAN
V.P. World Oriental Martial Arts Federation

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