…..I am tired…….  No not me personally but I have heard this phrase a couple of times over the last few months from people whom I have known a long time.  In one instance it came from someone and they meant that they were tired of the constant and intense balancing act from their work, teaching martial arts and family life.  Now they were not going to teach but it was difficult to make it all work out as their work life had become more difficult.  Then again I heard it more recently from someone who commented that they are tied of training people up only to see them eventually leave.  In both cases and in many more one needs to know that when teaching eventually almost everyone leaves.  We as teachers are showing a way, a path, a system of the martial sciences to other practitioner’s with the hope that they will explore and grow.  Eventually like children they will come to a certain level where for their own development they need to go out and teach and grow on their own.  Now this does not mean that they should not continue training with you but instead that they need to also experiment and play with the skills you have helped them develop.  In IRT I am teaching so that there are other practitioner’s to work out with and grow with.  These practitioner’s will as it is my hope develop serious personal protection skills that they will have if they ever need them.  These life saving skills could be the saving grace for either them or their loved ones.  I am also teaching them so that they will grow and be able to explore on their own.  This is essential as I want them to learn new things and hopefully show them to me.  One of the best experiences I have had lately was when a long time practitioner who lives far away came over and we trained and he showed me some thing new that he had picked up on his journey.  That was really cool!   For all my brother’s and sister’s on the martial path out there when you are teaching and you get tired remember to rekindle that passion and enjoy the moment.  Every moment on this path can be precious and every practitioner new and old alike is special!  When you get tired remember you can make a difference and possible change some ones life forever!

See You On The Mats!

copyright Instinctive Response Training LLC 2008

Brian R. VanCise

Note: This Blog is opinion only and Instinctive Response Training LLC nor Brian R. VanCise is responsible for any third party actions taken.

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