Why MONEY can't "buy" Martial Arts

One of the biggest problems with the "survival" of true Martial Arts training in our modern society of money & "buying" what we want is, that the Martial Arts actually contradict and insult everything that our money is supposed to stand for and do. The idea of money is for us to get someone to do something for us that they normally would not do, or for us to acquire something that we don't have, through the trade of money. Money empowers us to "buy" our way into things that we haven't earned, and out of things that we deserve.

This has rolled over into the Martial arts community where masses of people want to "buy" the validation, credentials, and bragging rights of being a certified, reputed, announced "bad @$$". Even though many succeed in tis effort of "paying" their way to the top of a Martial Arts school that is patronizing them with miniscule challenges, awards, applause, and ceremonies, true Martial Arts skills and abilities CAN NOT be sold by an instructor and neither can it be purchased with a wad of cash from some person by another. That's because the combatant developing challenges, struggles, successes, and even failures that construct a TRUE Martial Artist CAN NOT be monitored, predicted, manipulated, weighed, measured, or calculated by a merchant. These life lesson moments happen spontaneously depending on who all are involved at that precise time.

The traditional MARTIAL ARTS WAY is HARSH, MONOTONOUS, FRUSTRATING, and physically PAINFUL! The Martial Arts student must be able to accept rejection, failure, bullying, exclusion, & even insult to reach the original, deep rooted "priority goal" of Martial Arts Training. The priority goal of preparing the student for a lethal encounter with a HEARTLESS ENEMY, in a DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT, at a HORRIBLE MOMENT where mistakes or hesitation won't carry a cost of embarrassment, push ups, or a hard kick in the stomach! It will cost his LIFE.

The true Martial Arts Way is becoming extinct within the industry of demanding customers who are conditioned to "buying" services, products, and even undeserved nice treatment. Sadly, this has pushed many great Martial Arts teachers to either stop teaching, or to totally eliminate the traditional, harsh, character constructing lessons from their curriculum to avoid offending any customers. The "traditional lessons" that condition the student to readily stand strong in a moment where all he has to count on is himself to save his life, or his loved ones lives. A moment that he can not buy his way out of with his money.

HERE IS A PAST CONVERSATION BETWEEN MYSELF & A PROSPECT.

ME: Martial Arts Training from me is priceless. Money doesn't buy Martial Arts Training from me.

HIM: Don't you charge people to learn Martial Arts from you? Then they're buying the Martial Arts from you.

ME: Yes I charge a cost to affiliate with me as a student of the Martial Arts because I have to live and pay others for the things that surround the Martial Arts training such as bricks, lights, heat, power, equipment, etc.... Additionally I have turned away large amounts of money from certain people because I did not want to teach them Martial Arts. Money has never had the power to make me teach someone Martial Arts that I did not want to teach. Also I have taught many people for absolutely no money.

HIM: But the Martial Arts are your product that you package and sell just like any other business. People pay you and leave with the Martial Arts that you give them right?

ME: No. I could never "sell" the Martial Arts because they do not and never have belonged to me. They were here way before me, and will still be here after I'm gone. How can I own that. I am just a dedicated disciple of the Martial Arts who has attained a level of accomplishment, that honors me as A part of the Martial Arts Legacy, to pass the knowledge & power on to those who deserve, and can earn it. The Martial Arts belong to all mankind, not one man who uses it. And unlike walking into QT and buying a loaf of bread, those who "think" their payment of money will make them magically "good" in the Martial Arts learn a hard lesson fast. The power of money dissipates when the true lessons of the Martial Arts begin to surface, especially the ones regarding ego, humbleness, fear, trust, patience and fatigue. Sadly MOST people who start in the Martial Arts don't adopt it as a lifestyle and many of them stop. But the true Martial Arts is a way of life. So their money didn't buy them the Martial Arts. It bought them a moment around the Martial Arts and possibly other Martial Artists.

HIM: Wow! That's complicated and far more serious than I imagined! People have no idea of what they're truly asking you when they come to learn from you.

ME: VERY true. And allow me to explain why I say that Martial Arts Training from me is priceless. For me to truly guide someone to master their self and then the Martial Arts afterwards, I have to get to know almost everything about that person. I have to understand their influences, desires, strengths, weaknesses, respects, fears, habits, vices, motivations and more! That's because it is my job to guide him or her in mastering all that surrounds him, not just a stupid punch and a kick in someone's face! The true power of the Martial Arts empowers the dedicated one to master himself and his life not just techniques. When I take on a student I take on their life. Monthly dues can't even cover the time spent figuring and assessing over how past issued training is affecting the student, and what changes need to be made, that will translate best to the unique characteristics, and life experiences of that particular student. An accepted Martial Arts student to me isn't an hourly client that I can replace with another client if they ever quit. Each student has a uniqueness that can aid everyone if they are compatible to my way of bringing the Martial Arts to them. Every second of training them is an invested piece of "hope", that they too will nourish to become a strong root of the Martial Arts Legacy.