The Wisdom of Many!

Friday Knight New

Some people say rank is not important for themselves, but they will raise a fuss over who else gets it. It has also been said, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another," from a proverb of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel. Another way to look at it is that through our mutual interchange we are able to recognize favorable traits. Traits that we see in others (good and bad), become more easily identified in ourselves. This aids us as we continue to prune out the less favorable traits on the never ending pursuit of mastery.

“Through others we become ourselves.” Lev S. Vygotsky

Often the most dangerous situation a sensei comes across when they are teaching martial arts is not from a street encounter. Instead, it is when they are grading a student without the use of a black belt board or panel. I have found that in the wisdom of many there is safety. Some of the problems that a martial art instructor will encounter without the use of a panel is to their pocket book. Often when you operate without a panel of advisers, students may feel your decision might be based on finances or favoritism. Again that is if the sensei ranking the students is on his own. It seems people find it easier to look for excuses than to look at their short comings. These types of people can more easily get their nose out of joint (thinking the teacher has a grudge against them), so if they fail, they take their business elsewhere.

Using a panel also helps keep the teachers sentimentality out of the picture as well. I have witnessed where students leave a school because they were ranked less than what they felt they deserved. I have also witnessed where students have left because they felt they were ranked higher than they deserved. They felt they didn't measure up, and they didn't in truth at the time. But what they failed to recognize was that they could change this with some effort. I tend to look at this practice as a concept from management theory (called the Peter Principle), only applied to martial arts. This idea states that a person's promotion is based on their performance in their current rank rather than on their abilities for their intended rank. I had promoted people with this in mind in the hopes that they would step up their practice only to be sorely disappointed in this method.

"Confidence comes from your technique." Joe Lewis

One of the best pieces of advice I had ever received was from Joe Lewis who reminded me of the importance of the value of our work. The people who will apply themselves can gain from the Peter Principle. I have many times seen where this Peter Principle type of promotion (ranking a student higher than their ability), has forced growth. Conversely I have seen this backfire too. I have gone through this type of promotion myself as a recipient and I have used it as a teacher. Still I do believe that there is a greater balance and consistency with using an examination panel. While teacher to students based testing often can achieve great highs, they can also precipitate greater lows. Sometimes it can be either the teacher's or the student's ego that is at fault for the failure, but not always. It can also be due to a lack of confidence. Again this is where the value of work comes into play.

                            (A few of my students that had a good work ethic.)

My sensei used both methods to evaluate promotions. He based his promotions on all his years of law enforcement instruction experience as well as his martial arts training. He felt he understood the qualities a person needed to survive a street encounter. When asked about his rank, he was modest and told people, "It is less than what I wanted but more than what I deserved."

Because of his answer, I usually only reply that I have been issued my teaching license, it is enough to imply I know something about what I'm doing without sounding grandiose. I truly believe that the best way to earn rank is to have a panel grant it. I feel that having an experienced panel supporting your promotion gives credence in this age where people just make up styles. It helps if the panel has nothing to gain from the promotion, this helps remove doubt to the legitimacy of the rank. Having other black belts even from other styles evaluate your students tends to bring an extra layer of legitimacy to the testing. My hope is not to repeat any of my old short coming as a teacher and a martial artist. On the other hand my goal is to place enough physical, emotional, and mental stress on an examine to make them feel they deserve their new rank and to also make them realize that they have so much more to learn.

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My stories are about martial arts adventures that are intertwined with paranormal or supernatural events. The following links are to the Kindle version books from the "Dream Walker” series. Our adventurers find themselves on a quest where they are confronted with both conspiracy and mystery. Their challenge is to unite their mind and body skills together utilizing what they have learned in the martial arts with the transcendental power of dream mediation. They attempt to do this while they are trying to make a life for themselves and elude those that seek to use and control them.

Conversations with a Sage (Book 1 of the Dream-Walker)

Conversations with a Sage: This explores Xander Davidson's early encounters with the mysterious fog like Dream Walking martial art sages. He ponders if they are real or if they are only remnants of his dreams. He mainly keeps this secret world to himself as he tries to copes with abuse, growing up without support or guidance and the mystery of his family's past. 

Xander and the Assassins Gift (Book 2 of the Dream-Walker)

The Assassins Gift: Xander Davidson struggles with the conspiracy of his family and the group that is actively trying to manipulate him to join them or die. The young Dream Walkers learns an early lesson to be careful about whom they let into their circle.


Warriors of Perception (Book 3 of the Dream-Walker)

Warriors of Perception: Xander Davidson and his band of friends embark on a mission to free themselves from their oppressors. They bravely face the challenge all the while vying for the right moment to turn the tables.

Jace Lee The Shift (Book 4 of the Dream-Walker)

Jace Lee The Shift: We find a new apprentice, Adam, that is fighting for his life. He is struggling to understand the amazing skills of his mentor, Jace Lee; a younger man that has trained under Xander Davidson. All the while his mentor attempts to reconcile the fact that his skills do not match up with the other Dream Walkers.


Jace Lee No Agenda (Dream Walker Book 5)

Jace Lee No Agenda: Jace Lee attempts to find himself on a self-imposed vision quest of sorts. Instead he finds himself being stalked by the same group that had previously sought after his teacher, (Xander Davidson). Instead of mastering his odd Dream Walking skills he finds love and the potential loss of his powers.

Jace Lee and the Tutelage of Ming Wu: Dream Walker 6 

Jace Lee The Tutelage of Ming Wu: Jace Lee rejoins his teacher Xander Davidson as they cope with a possible combined threat (the mysterious), Ming Wu and the Council that has continuously monitored the Dream Walkers.