Indiana Martial Arts
Martial Arts Indiana
Martinsville Martial Arts
Martinsville Karate
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Taekwondo Tae kwon do

Black Belt Paper Excerpts - Shaun Watts

The second code is respecting your opponent. This means respecting their ability, respecting them as a human being, and respecting the situation. One must respect their opponent’s ability as a fighter. You must never underestimate your opponent. They may have the same training as you, no training, or even more training. If you do not respect their ability, then they have already won the fight. Because you think that you will have no problem beating them, your guard is let down a little and you are not concentrating as much as you should. If you would respect your opponent’s ability, then you are ready for anything that they might throw at you. Not to mention, you are completely involved in what is going on with the situation. The second part is respecting them as a human being. What this means is respecting them as another living human being and if you have knocked your opponent down then do not get on top of them and attack more. This is the time when you would away from the situation. Since you are now in control of the fight you would be held liable for anything that follows. So if you injure the person any further you could get in trouble. So respect your opponent as a human being and only attack if you are attacked upon. The third part is respecting the situation. This means do not take for granted your surroundings and that he or she is the only opponent. If you are in a dark alley there might be more people hiding behind something. Always scope out the area and what is surrounding you. Also, if the situation is taking place in a bar, you need to take in consideration the appropriate level of response. If someone comes up to you and grabs your shoulder and you turn around and punch them in the face, then you are completely reliable for what happens and it looks like you are the one starting the fight. This is a time where the situation calls for you to turn and face the individual and see what they want. Then reassess the situation and decide from there how you want to proceed. It may just call for some talking amongst you and the other individual. Whenever encountering a situation you must first evaluate it, then evaluate your surroundings, and finally decide what the appropriate response would be…..

The fifth code is being a scholar, which stands for being a student, pupil, or enlightened individual. As you go through the ranks of your respected Martial Art you are a scholar or pupil. You are learning the ways of the art and how to use it effectively. You are also learning when to use the art and when not to. When you are in the Dojang you are learning how to become a scholar and what techniques are best for you in order to learn. In addition, the instructor is also learning what techniques are the best to get the knowledge passed on to you. So in an instance you are a student throughout your life, whether it be learning the Martial Arts, learning a new skill to perform your job more efficiently, or learning how to read. Becoming a scholar is an ongoing process that you encounter everyday of your life and will continue to encounter for the rest of your life.

Learning a Martial Art is a lifelong process. As you learn a Martial Art, you also must learn when it is applicable to certain situations. You must learn what your limitations are during your training. This means that a lower rank should learn the basics before going on and trying to learn a more advanced technique. In anything that you do in life, whether it be sports, writing, reading, or whatever, you must first learn the basics of that trait before you can move on to more advanced skills. This also includes learning what Kunja stands for and what it takes to obtain Kunja status. Once you understand the basics of Kunja, you can then move forward and try to achieve the status of Kunja. If you do not understand what Kunja is about, then how can you try to obtain Kunja status? ....

Throughout my time as a Martial Artist, I have learned a great deal physically, mentally, and morally. I have personally grown and developed as an individual from the Martial Arts. The first thing that I have learned is respect within the Dojang, respect for my fellow classmates, upper ranks, and my instructor. I learned that you respect those that instruct you because they are the ones that have worked hard to acquire the knowledge of the Art and will not teach you if you do not respect their study through the Martial Arts and the Art itself. If you cannot respect it, then you are possibly an individual that could use the Art in a bad way and that is not what the Martial Arts are about. They are about respect for life in general, which includes other human beings, other forms of life, the Art itself, and where it came from.

A Martial Artist should also learn to respect his fellow classmates. They are here doing the same thing that you are doing and learning the same way that you are learning. So you have to respect them for the time that they put into the Art along with their devotion. Learning respect within the Dojang has also carried into my everyday life. That is respecting my wife for what she does and for her beliefs and feelings. It also means having more respect for my fellow employees. They come to work everyday and work just as hard as I do. Everyone is there for the benefit of the company and where the company wants to go. I have also gained more respect for my parents, their beliefs, and where they are coming from sometimes. I even look back at some of the things they have said to me in the past and I understand them more now than I did back when they were saying it………

But through the Martial Arts I have been able to better understand life and myself in general. This is probably what has benefited me the most. I have talked about a lot of things that have benefited me in my life and where I am at, but I want to continue to become a better person. I believe that through my continued study of the Martial Arts I will be able to continue my growth and development as an individual and as a model person in society. I want people to look at me for who I am and what I stand for, rather my social status in society. I know the Martial Arts will lead me there.

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Last modified: September 10, 2006