To me one of the biggest reasons I love training in the combat arts is camaraderie. When I got involved with teaching martial arts years ago I was amazed at the new circles of friends I was being introduced to. I was meeting other instructors, school owners and students from neighboring schools. It was an incredible feeling and still is to be able to “Talk shop” with a fellow martial artist. Sadly I have seen way too much separation in the arts instead of integration. I strongly believe this is due to fear and greed.
This will sound strange to non-martial artists (or what I would rather refer as Students-to-be) but I never felt closer to a group of guys and gals than when we were beating the heck out of each other. It’s true as anyone who has had this experience. There is a strong feeling of camaraderie between people who train at this level. Once you get rid of the ego element you really develop true compassion and care about the safety of the person you are fighting with. You also develop an incredible amount of trust. You are putting your safety in the hands of your class mates. These are feeling most people never really get to feel or develop. These are strong bonds and can last a lifetime. This camaraderie needs to be felt by all. This is why I created Tribal Combatives. I want to bring schools together to train, to fight, to learn and grow as martial artists and as people.
As a school owner I have been thinking that we should knock a night of classes off the schedule and take our school to visit another tribal school. Of course your whole school is not going to go but some students will. As instructors you need your time to train too. If your new to teaching or running a school do not spread yourself too thin. There is no need to be open 6 days a week. I’m open 2 nights a week and Saturday mornings and its great. Now I have time to meet with Tribe schools and start Kali Clubs. Better yet we should all meet at a local park somewhere and have a great night of training and fighting.
Camaraderie to me is the most important aspect to karate. Take it from me. Do not take the next decade or 2 trying to become a superschool with a staff of 15 to 20 teens multiple dojos under the same roof. Take your time and dont ever forget why you got involved in the martial arts. Forge new relationships and take pride in your fellow school owners as martial artists. Let’s stop right now trying to be better than the other guy. And simply be the best we can be as individuals.
Contact me and lets get started.
Tribal Combatives 