The Internet is unbelievable. One quick Google search and we can pretty much find out whatever we would like about a specific instructor in the martial arts. Now with things like Myspace and Facebook, people are giving out a truckload of their personal information including home address, telephone number, email address, cell number and so forth.
As a school owner for the past 12 years, I am very much aware of the responsibility that I hold with regard to others. More important than the skills that I possess, is the moral conduct of my behavior and speech. I am astonished at the number of black belts representing this great art of American Kenpo that are constantly using vulgar and obscene language via the Internet. My question is this: what do the children that you have taught think of all of this? Surely, if they have not read any of its content, at least some of their parents have. Where is the joy in life by constantly spitting out every four-letter word to get your point across?
Here is another example. I am astonished at the number of high-ranking black belts out there that verbally let everyone know via the Internet how “smashed” they want to get on the weekend. Just a thought: Do you ever wonder why your not getting many phone calls from prospective students? Look, I am not saying that there is anything wrong with having a glass of wine or a beer (I actually hate beer, LOL). But when the aim is to constantly get “hammered”, there is a serious problem. What does that say about your acquired discipline? It says that you try to find satisfaction and peace in life via alcohol because you can't find it without it. And by letting everyone know via forums, Facebook, or what have you, people are not taking you as top martial artist seriously. Put simply, they don't think you are the real deal.
As black belts, we have a reputation to uphold. Let's not put on a mask and try to pretend we are something that we are not. Let's actually live it by treating everyone with respect.
