Mean Isn't Funny. Nor is it Motivating.

I went to see my friend, a Sempai J, take his sandan test. It is this test that will graduate him to full-fledged Sensei rank, one for which he is eminently qualified.

He was magnificent. His kata was beautiful, his ippon kumite thoughtful and effective, and his bunkai amazing & inspiring.

The above sign was written by one of our Senseis - a former Sensei of mine and current one of his (in two styles, I think.) I am grateful for all I learned at that dojo, the years of training and knowledge, and the blood, sweat, and tears - all in buckets and only small amounts of it with love.

But that sign explains why I was a bad match for that dojo. I don't believe in mean. I have studied under Sempai (Sensei elect) J and found him to be thoughtful, rigorous and encouraging. I hope that as he teaches more he shifts the culture away from mean-spiritedness and towards the true foundation and essence of karate. Because, after all, there is no first strike in karate.