"Character is the cornerstone of martial arts training; it is more important than skill, more important than strength, and more important than technique." - Tadashi Nakamura

 

Posted by ADAM CARTER on MAY 07, 2024

"Character is the cornerstone of martial arts training; it is more important than skill, more important than strength, and more important than technique." - Tadashi Nakamura

 

(Approx 1 minute 40 second read)

Gichin Funakoshi and many other karate pioneers claim that practicing karate can enhance your character. But does karate truly improve your character?

The martial arts often conjure images of disciplined, respectful masters, practitioners, and students. However, does training automatically translate to good character? The answer is a bit more complex.

At their core, the martial arts emphasize cooperation and shared goals, fostering teamwork, communication, and respect – crucial for building strong character. Ideally, this sense of camaraderie should extend beyond the dojo, promoting positive interactions within the larger martial arts world.

Unfortunately, the reality can be quite different. Disagreements between instructors, schools, and practitioners are far from uncommon, contradicting the very values the martial arts aim to instill. There is politics everywhere. I started karate in the early 1970s; it was there then, and it is here now. Nothing seems to have changed.

It’s understandable to be disappointed by this gap between the ideal and the real world. The instructor plays a critical role in shaping character, and sadly there are far too many people with less than wonderful character teaching martial arts. On the other hand, a good teacher embodies the values they preach, leading by example and fostering a supportive environment. Students learn more from watching their instructor treat others with respect than from simply being told to do so.

Simply learning martial arts techniques doesn’t guarantee good character. The martial arts, at their best, can go beyond the physical, but how often does this happen? However, if these lessons aren’t actively taught and reinforced, they won’t magically appear.

Can martial arts improve character? Absolutely, but it’s not automatic. I have seen several instructors who at first seemed good people and good teachers, but when I saw how they actually lived their lives and treated others, I was no longer impressed by their martial knowledge or their character. They were not good instructors and not good people.

No one is going to learn a lesson that isn’t being taught. If a martial arts school advertises that they teach self-defense, self-respect, self-confidence, and self-discipline, we shouldn’t be afraid to ask, ‘How do you teach that?’

Unfortunately, despite the myths and advertising, good character is not an automatic byproduct of martial arts training. It requires conscious effort, effective instruction, and a supportive environment.

 Photo Credit: Tadashi Nakamura – Quote source: “Karate: Technique and Spirit”