At age 22, finding myself in the Martial Art business, I quickly discovered that, in order to succeed, I would need to become a teacher of teachers.

   After many failed experiments, here is what I learned.

   There are two types of teachers (Actually, three, but I’m not here to talk about the really awful ones).

   The first type has superb Martial Art skills.  Makes everything look easy.  Weapons, forms, sparring, self-defense…they can do it all.  Super fit at all times…and an astonishing array of technical skills.

   In my early days, I gravitated toward this type of teacher (long on technique; usually short on personality).  I thought, “If she is a great performer, she will know how to teach other people how to be great performers.”

   Did you ever notice, though, that great baseball players seldom make great baseball managers?  Because they are so talented, it’s hard for them to understand why everybody else isn’t just as talented.  Makes it hard for them to teach and develop skills in average players.

   As my ideas about the types of skills that we were really trying to develop began to evolve, I began to look for another, much different, type of teacher.

   This other teacher is interesting and is a great story teller;  he knows how to brag on people and has a thousand ways to say, “Good job!”   He’s got a smile that lights up a room.  He brings joy and good cheer with him, wherever he goes.

   This teacher, who may or may not be a superb technical performer, sees the good in all people;  has a heart for the less than gifted;  is warm;  know parents and siblings by name;  always seems to know who got sick; who got an improved report card; whose dog died; who needs a special word of encouragement.

   In short, these teachers understand that our mission is not to teach Martial Arts.  Our mission is to teach people.

   This changed everything.