Honor is defined as having virtue and a moral aptitude

Honor is defined as having virtue and a moral aptitude

We start the process off on day one of Martial Practice. The bow into the facility teaches us to be thankful for the place to train. The bow to the instructor teaches us to be thankful for the teacher standing before us as well as all of the teachers in the chain of discipline. When the teacher bows back to us it is for the respect of knowing without a student there could be no teacher. Once the relationship between the student and teacher is cemented, the student fills compelled to always bring honor to their teacher and school family.

When teaching students honor it must be present in every lesson taught. I can remember the lesson of humility taught during sparring. When hurting the other fighter, it is taught to go to the other side of the ring and kneel facing away from the injured party. My instructor nor the referee ever acknowledged my point, only the fact that I lost control and sometimes worse my temper. Both of which are disgraceful to my opponent, my teacher, my peers, and my school. There is no honor in such behavior. Therefore, the student is being turned away from the referee and other fighters to teach them humility.

Upon speaking with your student one question should be asked, what should you do now? The only correct answer is to apologize to the other fighter, teacher, and you. Once they can express humility and compassion for others, they will have learned Honor.

When teaching our students, we must not teach them the Cobra Kai way of thinking or make it simple for those who don’t understand the First Karate Kid reference, this is not the Macho Arts, it is the Martial Arts.

The Martial Way is to defend oneself and others from oppression, but also to show compassion by offering aid once it is used. This is the Bushido Way and must be honored.

Another way of teaching honor is to have them learn through failure and to try harder when failure occurs. (No Participation Trophies).

We must teach them that life is not fair and that we must learn to harness our anger and overcome our disappointments.

As a Police Officer I was passed over for promotion several times and could have just thrown my hands in the air and stopped caring. However, I took an Oath of Office and continued to give my best to those who mattered and trusted in me (the citizens of the city). This is the Code I lived by the Code of Honor.

Remember, never give up on your dreams or let your virtues be diminished because others do not have faith in you, value you, or see the potential in you. You are the only true compass in your life and let Honor guide you.

Respectfully Submitted Grand Master James Hogwood
The National Self-Defense Agency, Inc 501c3
Ooltewah, Tennessee
(423) 505-0525

Be sure to follow us on social media.
Like our page at https://www.facebook.com/usahapkidounion
Subscribe to our channel at https://www.youtube.com/worldhapkidonews
Join our group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/koreanmartialarts