How to deal with other students?

Question

I have a challenge with some senior belts in my class. Some of them (not all) appear aloof most times not wanting to train with lower belts. I have years of training on and off and have never ran into a challenge such as this.

These individuals appear as if training with a student of lower rank is a waist of time. I have allways thaught that every student no matter size, age, s*x or rank has something to teach you as well as you teaching them something in return. An example would be my son, who also attends. A black belt told him to do something and he asked a question. This higher ranking belt told him, "What color is my belt? And what color is your belt?" This person did not even stop to consider the question but just made him feel stupid in front of his peers.

Should I point this out to my instructor or keep it to myself? I do not wish to cause a conflict with the other students. Anyone, please help!

Answer 1

Have this hung on the dojo wall maybe do it your self on wood or have it done professionally, but have it hung up in the dojo none the less man:

I have no parents; I make the Heavens and the Earth my parents.

I have no home; I make the Tan T'ien my home.

I have no divine power; I make honesty my Divine Power.

I have no means; I make Docility my means.

I have no magic power; I make personality my Magic Power.

I have neither life nor death; I make A Um my Life and Death.

I have no body; I make Stoicism my Body.

I have no eyes; I make The Flash of Lightening my eyes.

I have no ears; I make Sensibility my Ears.

I have no limbs; I make Promptitude my Limbs.

I have no laws; I make Self-Protection my Laws.  

I have no designs; I make Seizing the Opportunity by the Forelock my Designs.

I have no miracles; I make Righteous Laws my Miracle.

I have no principles; I make Adaptability to all circumstances my Principle.

I have no tactics; I make Emptiness and Fullness my Tactics.

I have no talent; I make Ready Wit my Talent.

I have no friends; I make my Mind my Friend.

I have no enemy; I make Incautiousness my Enemy.

I have no armour; I make Benevolence my Armour.

I have no castle; I make Immovable Mind my Castle.

I have no sword; I make No Mind my Sword.

Maybe that'll help.  This is the creed that my own students must resight at random request sometimes ( they resight the original ) and it seems to keep them well grounded.

Mine's the original, but I found one that doesn't have the word "kill" in it.  Everyone else changes tradition why not you? but resighting the school creed ( if you have one ) at random from time to time might be what your upper ranks need......it could be just that simple.  Just like in the military keep it repetitive and eventually it'll sink in ...... your school's creed that is.

Answer 2

No man, report that incidence to the instructor because while refusing to train with lower ranked belts is actually noble on their part, in that they are not cowardly taking advantage of the less experienced, they should not be such turds about it.  I mean come on, common courtesy comes into play here.

Also, you should tell your instructor to consider that just because you are a white belt in one martial art, that does not mean that you have lost any of your skill from having a black belt in another.  At my own Karate club there was this tall blonde guy who was a yellow belt in Goju Ryu, but prior to the fact, he was a 2nd degree black belt in I believe Tae Kwan Do.  Naturally the only people he sparred against, were all the brown and black belts.  One particular brown belt, who was bullying the kids, was his favorite sparring partner; he kicked him around some before reporting him to the instructor who at first didn't believe him.  Not exactly the most ethical thing to do and not exactly the best example to set for kids but still, its not like that dojo bully wasn't asking for it either.

The point of that story is, despite his belt rank in the current style he was studying, apparently the skill from the belt rank he held from the previous style he studied, had not deteriorated.  You should tell your instructor, to tell the students, to ask any white or yellow belts if they have a black belt in another style or something, before acting all condescending like, and to respect the level of skill form the previous style.  Also, to be polite and show common courtesy because those guys sound like sh*t heads to me.  Common courtesy is the order of the day anywhere.

Hope this helped.

Answer 3

Point it out nicely to the instructor, it's something my Master would not put up with. He demoted a student for this not too long ago. Nothing like having to retest for a belt you already earned to correct that little problem.

If they think they are too good to train someone else, then why should the Master teach them?

If the Master won't do anything then move to a different school.

Answer 4

in all seriousness, you should inform your instructor.

I have been taught and teach from a young age to maintain a "blackbelt attitude". that encompasses all the positive benifits to growing through martial arts and continues thoughout ones life. there is no reason these black belts should be lording their rank around or they don't deserve the knowledge they've been given. they aren't true blackbelts.

maybe this is an opportunity for you to take a leadership position in your class and help teach or guide your peers to a better understanding of how to work with your peers.

talk to your teacher about it. do not try to discipline those kids though. being their ego and rank, that could be a messy end.

~Jake

Answer 5

Tell the instructors, because (this may sound corny, or stupid), being at a school, the upper belt should be participating with the lower belts, helping them, and training with them. Granted, the upper belts can train on their own a couple of times. At a martial arts school, you are all supposed to be a family, not challenging eachother, and seperating eachother. Tell the instructor immediately, and work this out.

Answer 6

The attitude of these black belts is terrible. If the sensei seems the type that you can talk to and approach with such a problem, then I say "yes" and think you should definitely mention it in a respectful way.

They may just be going thru a stage of frustration in their own training and level...ie: here they are having to teach people who won't listen to them and it takes away from their training. Or so it appears to them now. It is a frustrating time for many black belts.

Maybe the sensei cannot see how they are treating the lower ranks. Or maybe the sensei isn't too worried about the lower ranks. Or maybe the sensei is similar to the black belts... hopefully not. I hope it is just a miss by the sensei and not oversight by intention...

Or perhaps, the sensei is also fairly new... I read a newsletter the other day where the guy was bragging that his teacher had been training for 13 years and had many black belts... I was dumbfounded... But maybe this is a similar situation? Maybe the sensei is still a little fresh himself.

Anyways, only you can say for sure if the teacher will be open to the "criticism"... but if he is open, go for it.

Answer 7

what a bunch of snobs, yes you should tell the instructor. you shouldn't put up with that c**p.

Answer 8

Three of the things that a person is supposed to learn in martial arts are courtesy, respect and humility.

The best thing that you can do is to teach them through silent example. If they do not learn through your example, your teacher will surely see it.

Worry about your own actions and attitudes. The attitudes of your seniors are none of your business.

You are there to learn, not to teach. Your seniors are an excellent example of your learning what you should not do. Whether they know it or not, they are still teaching you  -- even if it is by negative example.

In other words: KEEP IT TO YOURSELF.

Answer 9

There will always be people out there that will take more pride on their belt then their very own skill. U can address the situation but we really dont know if it will be handled as should.

What people dont realize is that a belt really doesnt matter, its just there to hold ur pants up and it doesnt even exisit outside in the real world, just continue training.. there are lower belts out there that can tear the floor w/ a few blackbelts.. If u know ur skill, just stick to it.. and if u feel like giving them a challenge go for it, As for the blackbelts making ur son feel stupid, they shouldnt have done that because a blackbelt is there to help people, at least next time ur son should say something back to shut the blackbelts mouth, im pretty sure ur son wouldnt mind lol

Answer 10

I would inform the instructor. Sometimes those types aren't observant enough to see your silent example, though that's the humblest way to do it.

Answer 11

Yes talk to the instructor. He is most likely not aware of it. You are paying for training. Don't let a few with the wrong attitude prevent you from being treated properly.  If the instructor is a good one he will put a stop to the attitude of superiority some of the students have.

Best of Luck!

Answer 12

It's been my experience that i personely gain more, and also learn more from working with lower ranks, because I have to make sure I am doing everything exact.

There is no excuse for what these Black belts are doing, and I would definetly in a respectful way point it out to the instructor.

Many times in our class we will take a half hour and each black belt will work with a certian belt level. I can tell you the greatest satisfaction I have evr had is seeing one of the students I have helped train to shine.