| There are three kinds of students: the | | | | or heroine used their martial skills to |
| superior student, the average student, and | | | | defeat an enemy that he ran right out the |
| the inferior student. The superior student | | | | next day and enrolled in a school, thinking |
| has admirable qualities. He trusts his | | | | he could achieve that same level of mastery |
| instructors implicitly and follows whatever | | | | within a few weeks of training. His |
| instructions are given him without complaint | | | | attendance in class is faltering, at best. |
| or debate. He understands that his | | | | When he does manage to show up for class, the |
| instructors were once students, too. He | | | | inferior student is only half there and his |
| understands that his instructors only have | | | | training is only half-hearted. He questions |
| his welfare in mind when they teach him. The | | | | both the instructor's manners and motives. |
| superior student is pliable, honest, sincere, | | | | For instance, if the instructor is teaching |
| respectful, and has a zest to learn. He | | | | him the precepts of the art, he cannot |
| understands that mastery in the martial arts, | | | | believe that the instructor himself actually |
| or in any endeavor, does not happen over | | | | practices those precepts. In fact he cannot |
| night. He knows that it often takes a long | | | | believe that anyone, anywhere, at any time, |
| time to achieve proficiency and, | | | | does actually practice such noble principles. |
| understanding that, he is more than willing | | | | Why does he believe this? Because he, |
| to make that noble commitment. The superior | | | | himself, believes only in the myriad things |
| student practices diligently at home and | | | | in life that bind him eternally to |
| looks forward with joy to each and every | | | | worldliness and misery. He understands |
| class. Further, he learns from the mistakes | | | | nothing of life, nothing of the world, and |
| committed by others and avoids perpetrating | | | | basis all of his opinions on the illusions he |
| those same mistakes himself. When he does | | | | has created in his mind. To him, his |
| make a mistake, he understands that it is a | | | | instructor is nothing more than someone he |
| natural part of the learning process and does | | | | hired to entertain him a few hours a night. |
| not become sullen or angry when receiving | | | | This self centered, egotistical attitude |
| correction. The superior student is worthy of | | | | leads him to believe, falsely, that the |
| both respect and admiration of his | | | | instructor he "hired" should be eternally |
| instructors. | | | | indebted to him for his patronage. |
| | | | |
| The average student is one who likes the idea | | | | The inferior student attends class only when |
| of learning but lacks the drive necessary to | | | | there is nothing worth his while watching on |
| carry him all the way through the rigorous | | | | television, such as an "important" football |
| process. At times, he grows angry and | | | | game or a favorite movie. In class, he is |
| questions both authority and motive. If it is | | | | unmotivated to learn, and is more interested |
| raining or snowing, he may not show up for | | | | in socializing with the other students than |
| class. He practices at home only when the | | | | he is applying himself to practice. Inferior |
| mood strikes him and that is not very often. | | | | students are to be avoided by serious |
| He sees the mistakes of others but, more | | | | instructors. These, then, are the three types |
| often than not, learns nothing from those | | | | of students. |
| mistakes. Only when he makes those mistakes | | | | |
| himself does he learn. | | | | A person should always endeavor to become a |
| | | | superior student, especially if he really |
| The inferior student, oddly enough does not | | | | wants to learn anything well. Regardless of |
| even know why he is studying a martial art in | | | | what course one is taking-whether it is a |
| the first place. Maybe it was choice between | | | | martial art, a college course, or a tennis |
| joining a bowling league or spending his | | | | lesson-one must always strive to be a |
| night "playing" at the martial arts. Maybe he | | | | superior student. It is the noble thing to |
| happened to see a martial arts movie one | | | | do. |
| night and was so taken by the ease the hero | | | | |