DISCIPLINE, RESPECT AND THE DOJO

Discipline is a weighty part of the martial arts experience. That's because discipline figures into so many of the features and details the arts offer. While these can vary from one system to the next, there are key components that affect every training hall.

- FLOYD BURK

Early in my martial arts career, I looked at discipline as mostly a physical thing.

For example, it might mean not getting to test for your next belt or doing push-ups in class. In other words, if you weren't disciplined in doing what you were supposed to do, you got disciplined corrective discipline! Over the years, I learned that discipline is much more than that. In this column, I will focus on a mix of supportive and preventative discipline and explain how they can be a godsend for helping your students and your business succeed.

Discipline goes hand in hand with respect in our dojo. This is because respect promotes the ideal learning and teaching environment, which encourages people to choose to make discipline a pillar of their training. Also, discipline and respect are positive attitudinal characteristics for all people and form the bedrock of most training programs.

At our dojo, we define respect as "treating others with value, regard and worthiness." We also use the terms "selfrespect" and "respect for self and others." Therefore, the definition can be expanded to treating others - and yourself with value, regard and worthiness." We avoid using fear and intimidation to gain respect.