The Ability to Listen

Robert Frost said “You are educated when you have the ability to listen to almost any thing without losing your temper or self-confidence.”

That can be deemed true in almost all things especially when one martial artist is talking to another. That is why one of our training hall rules is:

When talking about the school to students from other schools use care and caution so you will not cause ill feelings. Remember that each martial arts practitioner believes that their style is the best.

Being able to communicate with others about topics which could result in disagreement in martial arts and not loose your temper is not only the way of an educated person, but is the way of a true martial artist.

-Master John Dowdy, 2009