Guilt by association?
As I continue to reconcile and get used to the notion of being ronin, I continue to understand and explore the reasons that made me want to leave the organization. They are also the reasons that I find make me skittish when I consider what to do next and whether joining an organization is worth effort and agony.
Now, not all associations are created equal, and I have been schooled in the difference between what is and what is not an association. But, it would seem to me that associations can actually end up taking members in a direction that does not align with the goals and values of karate. At least the values of karate of old.
Today, every sensei and his dog can create their own association. Some have a better reputation that others. But, still, the possibility of dilution or corruption lurk at every corner.
I do not question my decision, but I question how and why those in charge allow things to happen as they do. More and more, I question the why. And as I spoke this week with a couple of gentlemen whose values on martial arts I pay more attention than others, my anxiety increased considerably. I am not naive by any stretch, but I had to consider that there is more potential corruption in Okinawan karate than that which is orchestrated by greedy gaijin. I know that some dojo in Okinawa will sell you a belt without the blink of an eye.
I just did not realize exactly how many eyes were blinking.
A passage from a book I am reading spoke of groups having rules - and how rules can lead to erosion of the very values that those rules set in place. It can also happen when you do not enforce those rules.I question why a master would allow people to use the style to propagate their power or wealth?
Further, why would a master promote yudansha that did not meet time-in-grade requirements? Or who did not seem to possess the requisite knowledge? Worse still, why promote someone who would lose their cool during a grading and openly display their anger and frustration at their lack of mental and physical skill?
Is the race to create a large organization so strong that it must be accomplished at any cost? It would seem so. Does quantity now outweigh quality in the martial arts?
Dumb question.
As a friend noted, the koryu ways were likely the best ways. Small dojo - one teacher. But even then, when the teacher died, the students moved on to do their own thing. At some point (and it would seem to be after the introduction of western values into the landscape), the level of animosity and enmity between former classmate increases. Then we go from one goju school to more than one. And the distance continues. One big happy family now becomes a community of strangers linked by a strand of techniques and kata.
Somewhere along the way, it became about power and prestige. It became about ego. It lost something that was vital to its survival.
And today, it becomes about making money. It becomes about supporting the popular and ostracizing the other. And it becomes about supporting the status quo. All just extensions of the same, original problems.
Of those who remain complicit with these things, I offer this warning: you will either get smart and get out. Or you will run the risk of being swallowed up by the wave of dysfunction and corruption that you have ignored for whatever reason.
I discovered as an unwitting participant in the politics of world tae kwon do that if you stand still while the steamroller moves towards you, you get run over. Even if you pretend not to see the steamroller, it will still run over you. If you pretend that the steamroller's movement will not affect you, you may be greatly mistaken.
You have two choices: get out of the way of the steamroller.
OR
You can climb aboard as it comes closer and join those who are driving it.
But whether you are the driver or just a passenger, you are just as responsible for any damage that it causes.
So, must one sell one's soul to the associational devil? Potentially, yes.
And while it may seem to be a good idea to stay with the devil you do know versus the devil you do not, you may have to do a little soul-searching to understand just how much of your soul you are willing to sell to support the devil.
And perhaps, by doing a bit of homework, you may find a devil whose values a much closer in alignment to your own.
And while some may feel that associations can outlast their usefulness or eventually co-opt their purpose, that is perhaps why less affiliation should be made to an association and more of an application or adherence to one's karate and one's learning and studying should take precedence.
But, if selling martial indulgences and the business of karate are worth more than the art and the lifestyle of karate, then don't worry - it's quite likely the devil will find you.
Now, not all associations are created equal, and I have been schooled in the difference between what is and what is not an association. But, it would seem to me that associations can actually end up taking members in a direction that does not align with the goals and values of karate. At least the values of karate of old.
Today, every sensei and his dog can create their own association. Some have a better reputation that others. But, still, the possibility of dilution or corruption lurk at every corner.
I do not question my decision, but I question how and why those in charge allow things to happen as they do. More and more, I question the why. And as I spoke this week with a couple of gentlemen whose values on martial arts I pay more attention than others, my anxiety increased considerably. I am not naive by any stretch, but I had to consider that there is more potential corruption in Okinawan karate than that which is orchestrated by greedy gaijin. I know that some dojo in Okinawa will sell you a belt without the blink of an eye.
I just did not realize exactly how many eyes were blinking.
A passage from a book I am reading spoke of groups having rules - and how rules can lead to erosion of the very values that those rules set in place. It can also happen when you do not enforce those rules.I question why a master would allow people to use the style to propagate their power or wealth?
Further, why would a master promote yudansha that did not meet time-in-grade requirements? Or who did not seem to possess the requisite knowledge? Worse still, why promote someone who would lose their cool during a grading and openly display their anger and frustration at their lack of mental and physical skill?
Is the race to create a large organization so strong that it must be accomplished at any cost? It would seem so. Does quantity now outweigh quality in the martial arts?
Dumb question.
As a friend noted, the koryu ways were likely the best ways. Small dojo - one teacher. But even then, when the teacher died, the students moved on to do their own thing. At some point (and it would seem to be after the introduction of western values into the landscape), the level of animosity and enmity between former classmate increases. Then we go from one goju school to more than one. And the distance continues. One big happy family now becomes a community of strangers linked by a strand of techniques and kata.
Somewhere along the way, it became about power and prestige. It became about ego. It lost something that was vital to its survival.
And today, it becomes about making money. It becomes about supporting the popular and ostracizing the other. And it becomes about supporting the status quo. All just extensions of the same, original problems.
Of those who remain complicit with these things, I offer this warning: you will either get smart and get out. Or you will run the risk of being swallowed up by the wave of dysfunction and corruption that you have ignored for whatever reason.
I discovered as an unwitting participant in the politics of world tae kwon do that if you stand still while the steamroller moves towards you, you get run over. Even if you pretend not to see the steamroller, it will still run over you. If you pretend that the steamroller's movement will not affect you, you may be greatly mistaken.
You have two choices: get out of the way of the steamroller.
OR
You can climb aboard as it comes closer and join those who are driving it.
But whether you are the driver or just a passenger, you are just as responsible for any damage that it causes.
So, must one sell one's soul to the associational devil? Potentially, yes.
And while it may seem to be a good idea to stay with the devil you do know versus the devil you do not, you may have to do a little soul-searching to understand just how much of your soul you are willing to sell to support the devil.
And perhaps, by doing a bit of homework, you may find a devil whose values a much closer in alignment to your own.
And while some may feel that associations can outlast their usefulness or eventually co-opt their purpose, that is perhaps why less affiliation should be made to an association and more of an application or adherence to one's karate and one's learning and studying should take precedence.
But, if selling martial indulgences and the business of karate are worth more than the art and the lifestyle of karate, then don't worry - it's quite likely the devil will find you.
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