Fred wrote:
I would have booted them out of the Dojo.
Don't mess with my tradition!
You are entitled to that opinion, Fred.
The thing is, the students...
1) Were absolutely right. This is a RELIGIOUS-based tradition. Why in God's name are we throwing religion into a martial arts workout?
We absolutely should know what we are doing/saying in the dojo and why. The deeper you look, the more you learn.
2) The students involved were some of my most sincere and most dedicated. These were not troublemakers. Quite the contrary, their dedication to their religion demonstrated an ability to stick with "a tradition" through thick and thin.
True story... One instructor of mine, Steven King, was one of the more talented martial artists I've ever known. Dr. King started as a child in judo, then studied kyokushinkai ryu, then Gojo with the famous Yamaguchi Gosei, then Goju with Kimo Wall (who appeared at camp several years), and then a number of other traditions. Then he made a career out of it by going into special forces (green berets). Then he taught martial arts while becoming a chiropractor.
Dr. King was one of Kimo Wall's star students. He was so coveted by Wall Sensei that Kimo had the audacity to call Yamaguchi Sensei up and tell him King was no longer his student. (He "stole" him by burning bridges.) But Dr. King was also very serious about his Christianity. At some point, he got to a crossroads with this whole bowing to pictures thing. It doesn't really bug me, but some Christians think it's a big deal. You have to respect that. In any case, it eventually led to a very unfortunate and testy parting of ways between King Sensei and Wall Sensei. It was a terrible loss for the both of them. Dr. King ended up serving his country, and training quite a few martial artists with what he had learned.
Again, why the heck are we bowing to pictures? What does this have to do with martial arts practiced in the United States? Are there not other culturally appropriate ways to show respect without violating someone's personal religious beliefs - or lack thereof?
Whenever someone mentions "tradition", it reminds me of how students often invoked the word at U.Va. whenever someone wanted change. Invariably someone would call up the name of Thomas Jefferson, founder of the school, in a letter to the editor of The Cavalier Daily. "TJ would roll in his grave if he knew someone was breaking with tradition."
Meanwhile, who the heck was Thomas Jefferson? Among other things, he was author and signer of The Declaration of Independence.
Every generation needs a new revolution.
-
Thomas Jefferson
TJ by the way also was the author of a statute on religious freedom in Virginia.
That no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.
That was the basis of a similar piece in the Bill of Rights.
I respect the right of others to bow to pictures and clap to wake up the spirits of their ancestors. I'll go along with it in Rome if it keeps the Romans happy. But it somehow seems culturally inappropriate to be forcing it on those who find the practice offensive.
My opinion, of course.
- Bill
