The Art of Martial Mentoring

Character. n. personality; moral strength.

Anyone can wear a fancy colored belt or a black belt in the martial arts. I was “awarded” a red and white checkered belt several years ago. I have wondered, since then, what this actually meant. I was trying to run my own dojo, recruiting new students by performing at demonstrations and tournaments. I saw some of the various other styles and met many of the instructors. I also observed much of the behaviors of their students.

Then, in 1998, I got the opportunity of a lifetime. I was asked to “volunteer” at a local Police Activities League (PAL) program and to start a new martial arts dojo. I met with the director of the PAL chapter, a Red Bluff Police Detective, and together we began to build something that the community could be truly proud of: The Tehama County Police Activities League Martial Arts Center for Excellence! & Specialized Peace Officer Training.

Now that we’ve celebrated our fifth year I can see the difference between just running my own dojo and volunteering in a community based juvenile crime prevention program. The expression on a young face when that “light goes on” after the numerous repetitions of a technique is a rewarding way to end the day. And this happens almost every day of training.

Training is totally free and gi and obi are sold at cost to the students who want to own their own gear. Loaners are available for those who can’t afford them. All matters are handled discreetly. Martial arts, if taught properly, is an excellent way to reach today’s youth. But the operative phrase is, if taught properly. So many times Sensei forget what it was like when coming up through the ranks. They focus on getting students in the door or to join their parent organization, charging a lot of money not just to pay the bills, but to live a rich and comfortable life.

What about the kids who can not afford to pay these fees? Where do they go for good training? What about the virtues of volunteerism and mentoring? What ever happened to quality? Is everything about quantity (and money)? Many instructors and organizations seem to have forgotten something along the way – character. Only through the long and many years of training can one develop true character. It can’t be bought or worn in your belt, no matter what the color.

I paid a lot of money to wear that fancy colored belt. I thought that this was the way it was supposed to be. But as I continued to teach, just teach, and train with the students of our dojo, I began to realize that it wasn’t about this belt and the title that I was also “awarded.” It was about the student’s lives that I was supposed to be touching. But they, too, have touched my life. Now, I wear a simple black belt and no longer use a fancy title. It means more.

In our dojo, a building that was donated by a local church, the students arrive, bow (pay respect) when entering, remove their shoes (and ego), don their gi and tie their obi, step onto the tatami, stretch, and get warmed up, and put in more than two hours of character building. This includes learning the techniques of sportsmanship by learning how to work with others older, younger, shorter, taller, skinnier and fatter, of different culture or religion. A few breakfalls, throwing, twisting, punching, and kicking techniques later and they’re ready to go home and do some homework. Yes, passing grades in school is a requirement of character building.

But life isn’t supposed to be all work and no play! The last 30 minutes or so before we leave for the day, we hold kumite, randori and Pugil Stick matches. These kids are not too concerned in who “wins” the match either. They have been given the knowledge that just by being there, in the dojo, in the first place, already ensures them to be a winner. Even when a student “loses” a match, they always congratulate their opponent with handshake and a bow. Always.

Parents and observers are not allowed to yell obscenities or anything discouraging to any of the students. Some of our parents have even bowed when entering and departing the dojo.

Because the building is donated by a local Christian church and is used by other groups in town our students always clean up and put everything away in storage and out of the way for the next group. This church has never asked for a penny in over five years and we have a key to the building.

We’ve held seven tournaments, four Samurai Summer Camps, four New Year’s Eve sleep over parties, and numerous car washes and fund-raisers in five years. The kids do it all themselves. Character building. Responsibility and being civic minded. All for free.

We’ve made a number of mistakes over the years and will continue to make them. But each month we hold a birthday party for all those who have one during that month. We also have a black belt club. We call it the “Corps of Black Belts.”

In five years, we have promoted eight kids to black belt; the youngest is 11. Each one has trained for over three years with near perfect attendance and absolutely no “F” grades in school and no disciplinary problems. I personally purchase their belts and have their names embroidered on them with a yellow and red stripe, the colors of our dojo. Red and yellow are the colors one might see a lot of in the martial arts. It’s also close to the colors of the Marine Corps, of which I served in.

I learned about hard work and fair play in the Marines and from various instructors and coaches of my own over the years. While growing up I played various other sports; track and field, wrestling, soccer. Many of these coaches and mentors did and said the right things. Things I never forgot. Many were people of high character. A few were not. But that’s the way it was, is, and will always be.

Although I never took a first place in any tournament or sports event, I have received numerous awards from PAL, including the “2002 Male Volunteer of the Year” from the State of California Police Activities League. This was quite an honor. But I don’t attribute it too much to some of these coaches from the past (I do honor them) but mostly, I attribute that award to the students, parents, guardians, and community leaders who believe in a great program in Red Bluff, California. Programs like PAL build character and moral strength in the black belts (and leaders) of the future.