A TEACHER'S ANCHOR

 by Phillip Starr

When one begins teaching, does one's own personal progress in, and understanding of, his chosen martial art come to a complete stop? Some think that it should; they seem to feel that the teacher should progress no further and teach only what he has been taught. So, the instructor has an anchor hanging from his neck... he feels that he should not continue on the martial path and make further progress and if he does, he dares not mention or show it to his pupils.

The legendary founder of modern aikido, O-Sensei Morihei Uyeshiba, would often walk into his morning class and announce that he had discovered a new technique (or a new approach to an already existing one); the new revelations would, according to him, often come to him in his dreams (I feel sorry for his poor wife)!

His students eagerly learned what their teacher taught them and never questioned it. This is typical throughout Asia; according to ancient Confucian precepts, it is disrespectful to question the teacher. In the West, we encourage the asking of questions and so we have the feeling that the teacher should halt his/her personal progress lest he/she further burden us with more new knowledge.

Those who teach haven't completed their travels along the martial path. After all, they're still students themselves! They've just traveled further along the path than their pupils. Master Uyeshiba and many others, continued to train, improve themselves, and continue to learn throughout their lives and careers as martial arts teachers/students. And, being responsible and caring teachers, they taught others what they had learned. This is, I feel, as it should be.