| Do you remember when you took up the art years | | | | It seems more and more of the new generation will |
| ago? Ido - it was back in January 1986. Our group did | | | | say “I am easy, call me by my first name”, but |
| not have a Master - in fact, in those days, Masters | | | | the negative side of adopting this practice is, in the long |
| were few and far beyond. A 4th Degree was seen | | | | term, things will get worse. Let’s be fair, there are |
| as special as, again, there was not many of these. | | | | only a few allowing this practice but, still, these |
| My first encounter of a Master was Master He Il Cho. | | | | coaches are allowing for the art and its values to be |
| To the hoards in attendance at that seminar, he was | | | | lost. |
| god -his skill was second to none, but his ability to | | | | I have faced many criticism over the years for the |
| share and discuss was something we were in awe of. | | | | way our group, the U.K.-L.T.S.I., dresses and our attitude |
| However, the time we all had with him was very short, | | | | when on official function - people feel we are too |
| as getting close to anyone in those days was near to | | | | formal. We endeavour to instil (and I use that word |
| impossible. | | | | freely) as our attitude is if you want to be in our group |
| My next Master I encountered was in 1991, so you can | | | | as a full member, you MUST follow the rules, dress by |
| tell it was rare to see Masters as, in those days, they | | | | our code and act accordingly, as we see all our |
| were elusive and seemed to serve different roles than | | | | members are ambassadors for our organisation and |
| they do now. | | | | the I.T.F. |
| We have seen many promotions and many are more | | | | I have always said to my members “Please call me |
| than worthy of their grades - some may not have the | | | | Chris when I meet you in public, but when you are at |
| real traits of a Master but, never the less, all students | | | | class or at tournaments etc., I am Mr .Snow”. |
| should respect this rank. It seems the Masters role has | | | | However, many use this term even if I see them in |
| changed dramatically - the conception of what a | | | | public(including the parents!), but I personally will call |
| Master is haschanged now. | | | | them Mr., Mrs. or Sir etc. |
| In years gone by, the respect for these individuals | | | | Masters should be humble. They should not use their |
| holding this rank was that close to seen when one met | | | | power or position to take what they want, I agree, but |
| royalty. Nowadays, students seem to be on first name | | | | they are the the ones sat on the pedestal which many |
| terms with Masters and the understanding of etiquette | | | | of us go to for guidance and look at for inspiration. I |
| seems to be on a downward slide. | | | | also understand the concept of ‘respect has to |
| Traditional methods of coaching seem to be sacrificed | | | | beearned, not given’ but the first flaw in this |
| as many Masters are still actively teaching at domestic | | | | statement is the Master will have done 30+ years in |
| classes. Many also feel now that Masters are in fear | | | | the art and has attained a grade many may never |
| that if they do enforce traditional rules, their students | | | | reach, so you should use the term of ‘Master’ |
| will go elsewhere. | | | | even if you do not like the person he / she is. |
| Masters are getting younger now, as more and more | | | | Respect is a two way street, I agree - the only point I |
| of the younger generation are staying in the art and | | | | make is, as Masters, you are in a position where your |
| attaining senior grades at the bare minimum age - this | | | | conduct has to be exemplary and you must make it |
| is not a problem, providing future generations continue | | | | natural in your own groups that all students understand |
| keeping traditional values alive. After all we arelearning | | | | seniors must have their titles used at all times. As |
| a Martial Art which, according to the Oxford Dictionary | | | | students, we MUST respect the system of rank (the |
| means ‘Martial Arts are the traditional skills of | | | | ‘pecking order’) - the fact is these individuals |
| fighting or defending yourself, such as judo and karate, | | | | have given their lives to the art, so using the term of |
| which originated in Asian countries’. | | | | Mr. or Master should always be used, regardless. |