Three Kinds Of Martial Art Students

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