In my article about politics, any group of human beings will inevitably have some form of politicking, whether we like it or not. It’s an unavoidable fact in society, and this is true even in martial arts organizations. As such, disagreements are bound to spring up, not just in interpretation of technique or applications, but also in testing requirements, class drills, as well as what should be taught and to whom. This disagreement can be especially difficult for junior belts to express towards senior belts; the tradition of respecting elders and those of higher rank can be a nearly unassailable task for those who are either too intimidated or too ignorant of the pitfalls that they face.
This tradition is necessary of course to maintain a chain of command; militaries have a clear command and rank structure so that the common rank and file know exactly whom to take orders from, and in a similar manner martial arts organizations have a grandmaster at the very top that sets the agenda. This agenda is communicated down to the masters and instructors, who then communicate it to their students. But how can these students communicate their thoughts and opinions up the chain to the grandmaster? This would have been unthinkable just a few decades ago; most would never get a chance to even see a grandmaster in person, let alone have a conversation with one. Their only conduit would have been their own instructor, who may or may not have had a relationship with the grandmaster depending on how they joined the organization. This is just the beginning of the obstacles that one faces when trying to make your voice known to those of higher rank.
In Asian cultures, it is often understood that juniors are not to speak unless spoken to, and to bow one’s head when in the presence of elders until it is reciprocated. This culture of subservience has been inculcated deeply in the martial art traditions, and thus speaking out of turn or casually approaching those of higher rank has been deeply frowned upon in the past. Here in the West this tradition has certainly softened quite a bit, but remnants do remain, and not necessarily for the worse. There should be a level of respect maintained for those in higher rank, and the social decorum that comes with that respect is what I think makes martial arts organizations special. However, this doesn’t mean those in leadership are beyond reproach or above changing the organization to improve and spread the martial arts. Here are some tips when addressing those with higher rank:
- Don’t make it (or take it) personal – This may be one of the hardest lessons that I’m still trying to learn myself. Oftentimes you may have a suggestion for one course of action, and it may be overlooked or ignored, even outright rejected, and you will feel that they are rejecting you as an individual. It can feel humiliating and isolating, so much so that you may feel discouraged to ever voice your opinion ever again. This can be a very difficult place to be in, and all I can say is that you shouldn’t take it personally. It will only weigh you down and give them more power over you than they actually wield. On the flip side, don’t retaliate or seek to blame them for all your setbacks. Which then brings me to my next tip…
- Be patient – No one conquers a mountain in a single bound, and similarly no one can expect to influence those above them with a single interaction. It will take time to build relationships and trust, and the larger the gap in rank the longer that process can take. If you face pushback or rejection, take your time, and reflect on what can make your opinion more palatable or effective. Perhaps the timing wasn’t right, and you simply needed to wait for a different circumstance to provide your opinion/suggestion where they would be more amenable to it.
- Do the groundwork – What is more persuasive than a compelling case? When multiple people make the same suggestion! If you feel you are not making any headway, then perhaps convincing your peers, and creating a popular wave of support may do more to sway those in leadership. This method can have its dangers; just because a course of action is popular doesn’t mean it is the correct one. Have peers that you can trust and can discern what is helpful versus what is harmful.
These are just a few suggestions that may help you in making a difference in your martial arts community. Let me know what has worked for you and if you agree or disagree with my methods!
