| In an advice column, a 15-year-old boy wrote, "I am | | | | same thing outside of school until a friend said I was |
| 15, I have zits, my voice is still high, and no girl wants | | | | hypercritical. When Mr. Bone said it was an unwritten |
| anything to do with me. What should I do?" The | | | | rule that no one should open a school within five |
| answer was really good. It's not just you. Most | | | | miles, I took that as the law. |
| 15-year-old boys are gawky and awkward and have | | | | When Mr. Farrah explained that the purpose of the |
| zits. Girls your age are more interested in older boys. | | | | square block is to block one attacker in front of you |
| The question isn't what can you do now to improve | | | | with a modified side block and, at the same time, |
| your odds with girls, because there is really very little | | | | block another attacker from the side with a rising |
| you can do now. | | | | block, that is exactly what I believed. And, that's how |
| The real question to focus on is: what kind of 18 | | | | I taught the square block for almost two decades, |
| year-old do you want to be? What can you do over | | | | until the day I was on a StairMaster® in a gym at |
| the next three years to redefine yourself and create | | | | the Cooper Institute, watching a karate class in front |
| the person you think will have more success? Can | | | | of me on the basketball court. |
| you start lifting weights? Take martial arts and get a | | | | The instructor was very good, and the 10 or so |
| black belt? Get really good at some activity, other | | | | green belt adults were very attentive as he taught |
| than video games or web surfing, so you have | | | | them the square block exactly as I was taught it and |
| something going for you? | | | | as I still taught it. But as I watched, I couldn't help |
| Many of us have experienced or observed a | | | | but think: that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. I |
| metamorphosis from the classic 98-pound weakling | | | | wondered how any of us could keep a straight face |
| getting sand kicked in his face to a respected martial | | | | while explaining this fantasy block. |
| arts Master. Martial arts is truly a great way to | | | | Finding Your Own Voice is the process of questioning |
| redefine yourself. | | | | everything you teach, and all the systems within your |
| By embracing the martial arts to the degree you and | | | | school, to make sure they represent you and how |
| I did, we took major steps to redefine who we are | | | | you want to treat people. You want to make sure |
| and how we fit in the world. I thank the heavens for | | | | your program authentically reflects your beliefs... that |
| putting me in proximity to Walt Bone and Hank | | | | it doesn't simply regurgitate what your instructor |
| Farrah so that on February 12, 1974, I could take my | | | | perpetuated on you. Just as an abused boy tends to |
| first karate class. | | | | become an abusive adult, abusive teaching practices, |
| A career in the Martial arts provided me the | | | | insane rituals, faulty reasoning, and myths can be |
| opportunity to do both, and I am forever grateful. | | | | passed on generation to generation until someone |
| My goal now is to simply leave the martial arts in a | | | | breaks the cycle and "finds his voice." |
| better place than where I found it. That's a goal that | | | | Finding Your Own Voice simply means you work to |
| motivates and rewards me daily. When we learn | | | | have a deeper understanding of the system, so that |
| from a specific instructor, it's natural for us to mimic | | | | you don't keep explaining the square block as I did. |
| somewhat his or her teaching methods, processes of | | | | You make the style serve your students, rather than |
| control, and attitudes about teaching and the martial | | | | the other way around. Just because your beloved |
| arts. | | | | martial arts instructor said it doesn't mean it's true. |
| Walt Bone taught me to teach through negative | | | | Just because some guy said it in the 1920s doesn't |
| reinforcement. Never compliment a student. Always | | | | mean it's right for today. Don't strive to become a |
| tell them what they are doing wrong. That's what I | | | | clone of your instructor or the masters in your |
| did for years. I became such an expert at pointing | | | | system. Strive to be authentic as a person who uses |
| out things that could be improved upon that I did the | | | | martial arts as a way of expressing himself or herself. |