Empty Your Cup & Check Your Ego at the Door
An instructor of mine shared a story of a young martial artist who asked a master in his village for the secrets to his knowledge of the Arts. The Master was pouring tea into a cup as the young man began boasting of his awesome skills as a martial artist in an attempt to impress the Master with his already vast knowledge. The old Master continued to pour the tea into his teacup. As the young man went on and on he noticed that the Master’s teacup had overflowed and tea was spilling onto the floor. The young man exclaimed to the master, “What are you doing? You’re cup is full!” The Master replied with wisdom telling the student “Ah yes, you cannot fill a cup that is already full!” The wise Master could not teach a student who already felt he knew everything. From the moment my instructor shared that popular story with us he could continually refer back to it…telling us to “empty your cup.” I’ve had the opportunity to witness several things since I began training. I’m so impressed with the willingness to share. Having school owners/instructors from other schools and disciplines as guests in school is an awesome example of emptying your cup. A Martial Arts melting pot if you will. To be able to train in TaeKwonDo and get a taste of Silat one day, a bite of Brazilian Jujitsu the next. Not to mention an occasional visit by a Ninja. Seriously though, we’ve come a long way baby. From the usual practice where your art is secretive and only you have the knowledge…to sharing your Art with the world. What a great time to be a student of Martial Arts. Do you know the best part? It is the willingness of the instructors to share. There is no ego, no attitude that they are the keepers of ultimate knowledge. The instructors I’ve had the opportunity to witness literally check their egos at the door. Sometimes the student or the guest instructor has predetermined ideas of your school or your art. I’ve seen the apprehension turn to excitement as the assumptions fade away and the student’s willingness to learn breaks down that wall. By actively promoting and networking you and the guest instructor are adding to the wonderful foundation to all Martial Arts. As long as there is a student willing to train; an instructor is there; to pour their tea into the student’s empty cups.
Tawnya Bennett mmavillage.com
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