We Stand on the Shoulders of Those Who Came Before Us.

While this expression from Benjamin Mays has been utilized to represent many different areas of life, it is absolutely a truism that I don’t take for granted.  And, it’s a favorite expression of my long-time teacher, Professor Robert Austin, for very good reason.  Another friend of mine, who works in the financial industry, once expressed it in this fashion [he was referring to starting a business]. “The first generation does the work; the second reaps the benefits.”

Know Your Lineage

One of the things I like most about the way these two concepts intercept is that the area of hard work is absolutely acknowledged.  You cannot expect to get results, unless you are willing to put in the work.  And, in so doing, you don’t really know how to put in that work, to get the desired results, unless you have mentors in your life that you can trust to guide you in the proper way.  

Within the martial arts, it’s very important to find the right teacher.  Since this post is a bit “expression heavy” already, I’ll add another one of my favorites.  “It’s better to spend ten years looking for the right teacher, rather than one year studying with the wrong one.”  If we understand that we stand on the shoulders of those who have come before us, you absolutely want to be standing on the right shoulders!  

Whether you are looking to learn the martial arts, you are looking for a fitness trainer, or you are looking for an academic tutor, it’s important to know who you are studying with, their background, and who taught them.  Knowing from where they come will be very helpful in your understanding of where you are going [with them].  I have been blessed to study with some of the best martial artists in the world (in my opinion).  More importantly, they are some of the greatest people.  I’ve also had the experience of training with the wrong teachers.  (Those lessons are usually rather hard-learned.)

Basically, from a martial arts standpoint, ask your teachers… who are their teachers?  Ask them why they chose them, why they stuck with them, or why they did not.  Make sure your academy is appropriately certified.  Interestingly, martial arts schools don’t have to be accredited.  (If it were up to me; they would have to be.)  We have taken it upon ourselves to make sure we are appropriately certified to teach what we do.  With the traditional arts of Kung-Fu, Karate, and Tae Kwon Do, this certification is through the United Martial Arts Alliance (UMAA).  For Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, we are accredited through the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF), and for Muay Thai, we are certified through the Muay Lao Jang Wa Association.  Krav Maga is certified through the Krav Maga Association, and Silat is with Atienza.

On a sidenote, I would caution anybody training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to make sure they are training with an IBJJF approved academy.  This is a personal opinion, but it’s my professional opinion after decades in this field.  The IBJJF has the highest standards in the industry, and I typically compare this organization to the “Major Leagues.”  If an instructor isn’t certified through the IBJJF, it’s often because they are not currently eligible.  They may make excuses as to why this is the case, but if they were to want to “apply today,” they very often don’t have the pedigree, background, or current qualifications to be accepted.   Likewise, Muay Thai is very popular, and there are many people out there who claim to teach Muay Thai, and they have zero credentials to do so.  (For some reason, this is very common with Muay Thai, and many martial arts schools claim to teach it- and they really do have zero certification to teach the style.)

It’s very important to know the backgrounds of your teachers, so you know that you are being trained correctly and in a healthy fashion.  As well, if you desire to earn rank in the martial arts, you are typically only able to be certified if your instructor is appropriately certified.  This may not seem like it matters to you now, but it may matter in the future.   For example, we train many folks who work in the Criminal Justice System, or they are looking for a career in Criminal Justice.  Having the correct certifications can be very helpful in these positions.  And, on occasion, and employer may even reimburse you for your membership expenses.  

As a martial artist, I would encourage you to do some homework and learn about your lineage.  Learn about your teachers and from where they come.  Knowing their past will help give you insights into the future of where you training is headed.  And, as your travel down the road, I hope you truly enjoy the journey.