#121

[@lancecahill5486]

What Sensei Ando talks about in this video is applicable to many other relationships, not just between a student and his or her martial arts teacher.

[@AndoMierzwa]

That’s true! 👍🏼

[@stevebrindle1724]

As a 70-year-old English guy who has been training since my mid-teens In several styles, Wing Chun, TKD, and Judo mostly with a little boxing thrown in. I have had several teachers and although I respect them all, I could not agree more with your wise words here Sensei. I also spent some time as .at the time, I was a 2nd dan in TKD I ended up teaching the junior class, so I have a little experience here, and I got great joy seeing the kids improve their skill levels under me .but more importantly improved their characters by achieving more self-discipline and confidence, I am old school and believe that martial arts are about becoming a better person as well as being able to defend yourself! Sensei, I long ago came to the conclusion that being a great exponent of the art and being a good teacher are not the same things, they are separate things and I am sure you will agree here! As usual, your podcast is great, and full of common sense. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you sir!

[@AndoMierzwa]

Always a pleasure to hear from you, sir! I absolutely agree that teaching is a skill of its own, and should be taken seriously. I am certain that you are a solid role model for everyone around you. The happiest of holidays to you and yours, my friend!🙏🏻

[@stevebrindle1724]

@@AndoMierzwa Thank you Sensei

[@lancecahill5486]

The humility paradox is spot on. Thank you for sharing it. I really appreciate the straight talk.

[@AndoMierzwa]

Glad it made sense! Thanks for the feedback.

[@bobbader4789]

❤ 100% Agree

[@AndoMierzwa]

Hope all is well in your world, my friend! 🙏🏻

[@bobbader4789]

@@AndoMierzwa ♥️

[@BrandonBChambers]

When my Sensei and I had a (very ugly) falling out, it devastated me. I'd already been struggling with suicidal thoughts, but it got so much worse. After she told me not to come back to the dojo, the way she treated me was among the most hurtful memories I possess. I put her up on a pedestal and it caused me so much pain. I never want any of my students to view me the way I viewed her: as somebody who can do no wrong.

[@jackmakmorn]

Your words would convince me to start training under you; they eere honest, you did not blame your former sensei, you opened up and showed some vulnerability, you explained that you do not want to be seen as perfect. Sounds like a sensei everyone can possibly learn something valueable from 👍

[@AndoMierzwa]

I’m sure many will appreciate your sharing something so painful. I have no doubt you’ll do right by your students. Happy training and teaching, sir!🙏🏻

[@garycovington1439]

Awesome message....not just for training, but in all aspects of life. Just what I needed to hear right now

[@AndoMierzwa]

Then I’ll say it again - you have the power! Keep fighting!👊🏼

[@mjb7015]

I thought students becoming better than their teachers was one of the big goals of teaching. It's certainly the goal I aspire to when I teach, and my own teacher has said many times that he wants us to become better than him.

[@chavale2]

NOPE there are things not to teach; its your Unique Weapon to win/defeat the other guy BJCASHCOWS@22KPM AGOODLIFE

[@AndoMierzwa]

I’m definitely on the same page as you and your teacher. Keep up the great work! 👍🏼

[@ingridbashor9975]

Thank you, Sensei Ando, for this video. I like what you said. Another field to practice those ideas might be medical care. Indeed, I learned to find a way to let the medical staff know that I am willing AND ABLE to do my part to improve my health. Good staff have been welcoming my commitment, and lately, a doctor gave me two thumbs up although he has been the one to do the most important part of the surgery. That was unexpected. I gave him a thumbs up realizing we needed each other to beat my health problem. I am not a doctor but since the beginning, I took all my responsibilities very seriously and let the medical staff know about my expectations ... making sure they will listen to my opinions.

[@AndoMierzwa]

You’ve learned the hard way, my friend, but you have learned well! Good job being your own advocate everywhere you go! 👍🏼

[@pnp8849]

So happy to see you still alive.

[@AndoMierzwa]

HA! 😄 For the moment.

[@rico_cavalierie]

Wow, I never thought of it. As a life long learner I respect the teachers I have chosen to be taught by. When I have a teacher of poor standards I have a tendency to let my feet do the voting.

[@AndoMierzwa]

Your feet are very wise. Happy training!👍🏼

[@lancecahill5486]

Here is the brutal reality. Most (not all) teachers, sensei, wouldn’t teach you anything without any compensation. So it’s really a business relationship more than anything else. Yes, you can respect your teachers, but worshipping is taking it too far. Understanding the relationship as a business one helps to set up the correct expectations and to help avoid disappointment and misunderstanding.

[@chavale2]

That is their bread and butter; luckily I learnt my Judo from a Monk trained inJapan: he took me in like his son and showed me all little tricks in Judo; LIFE is Fate and Luck. Perid BJCASHCOW@22KPM AGOODLIFE

[@AndoMierzwa]

I don’t mind a fair exchange of guidance and compensation. I’m just careful about thinking I can buy confidence. 😁

[@lancecahill5486]

@@AndoMierzwaOf course, you must be fairly compensated just like any other profession. I have edited my comment to clarify myself a little bit more. Thank you for your reply.

[@pantsuslayer8631]

Hi sensei ando, this comment isn´t about this video, as i have yet to see it, but it´s about something that has been bothering me for some time, in what podcast did you talked about being loud and proud instead of quiet and private? i want to listen to it again

[@AndoMierzwa]

Yikes! I stopped typing up transcripts, so I don’t know how to search for that. Frankly, I repeat that message a lot, so it’s probably in several episodes! I’m honored that you remembered the message.🙏🏻

[@janeconners7000]

Wonderful video as always. Thank you Sensei Ando!

[@AndoMierzwa]

Thanks for being a true hero!🙏🏻💙

[@zeni9846]

i am vietnam i am truly grateful to you. If I were famous, I would want to let everyone know who the martial arts master is

[@AndoMierzwa]

Hello from the USA! Thank you for the kind words! 🙏🏻 Keep fighting!

[@jonr6680]

Very good psychology, listening on pod app but came here to comment. ...and scary to think it also relates to many relationships - including and perhaps especially your own father... And so does depend on how old you are, what stage of life you've in. That said, I don't have any excuses! It's a real problem.

[@AndoMierzwa]

Really good point! A male teacher can become a father figure, which isn’t necessarily fair to him or good for me. Thank you for the comment!

[@definitlynotbenlente7671]

One of the reasons i switched to another martial arts school was the way they acted they where above the students and always talked down on me they also scremed and got bery angry at me for minor things they also ex0ected you to respond with YES SIR wenever they said anything (non english speaking country) in the school i practice now they have a higher level of martial arts and they are way more humble

[@AndoMierzwa]

Good for you! Glad you found a better place to continue your journey. Happy training!👍🏼

[@quach8quach907]

27:47 I've already learned that from the first scene of Jeff Speakman's The Perfect Weapon.

[@makenjikarate]

Gone in a flash, I appreciate a great pun! I've had a teacher like that before, always had mystique and a level of bravado which boasted his skill level which was what I viewed him as when I was a teenager. But now as an adult, it wouldn't be a stretch to say I could take him when I knew him, but that's not the point, I know I've improved, I've had many people from different organisations and styles say I've improved, I've had the winning medals at tournaments say I've improved. And quite importantly now, the students I've taught who have made great strives tell me I've improved from their progress alone. Great podcast as always Sensei, OSU!

[@AndoMierzwa]

It’s a tough lesson to learn, but it sounds like you got through it with flying colors. Keep up the great work, my friend!👍🏼

[@TheDexp]

That mysterious Good Guy is very strange. When our sensei visits us with seminar, I learn something new at every class. I'm practicing aikido for 19 years, but there is still much more to learn from him. No two of his seminars were similiar during these years (except warming up exercises at start of class). There are many students on these seminars, and he always goes and corrects us, so 3-5 times during seminar he ensures that I got right technique that he has just shown. Also he is always cheerful and very charismatic, so it takes some effort to keep distance from him and not to answer him unceremoniously

[@AndoMierzwa]

Very glad you have a great teacher at the top of your system. Happy training!👍🏼

[@evantumminello3283]

Thank you so much for this video and this type of content, Sir. I have contemplated this kind of topic many times. Despite decades of training I too, question where my confidence comes from. Why do I have it? I have wondered what it means to both respect and question my own teacher. Thank you. More teachers of martial arts should provide content like this.

[@AndoMierzwa]

Glad we’re both thinking about these things! Have a great 2024!👍🏼

[@John-zz5gt]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Coach

[@AndoMierzwa]

Hope you have a great 2024, sir!👍🏼

[@PawelKaczmarekDanisz]

Hi Ando, in training when you bow, you are taught to keep your eyes forward including facing your sensei/s. Always be ready including when teacher test you out with a surprise semi contact attack,,

[@AndoMierzwa]

Well, some may teach to look down as a sign of trust in your partner. But I prefer looking, too! 👀 Thank you for the comment!

[@PawelKaczmarekDanisz]

@@AndoMierzwa thanks for replying,, more sense from Sensei Ando ❤️

[@AndoMierzwa]

@@PawelKaczmarekDanisz Happy training!

[@roloduarte3100]

Great video.

[@AndoMierzwa]

Thank you very much!

[@San_Dude]

The reason sensie , I'm young and comparison to my sifu I will always be young I better learn from him, I focus is to learn from him , he is ocean of knowledge and I have to accept my belly is not big Enough to drink all the knowledge so I will learn with him, Best thing about sifu Is not he is good martial artist but he is a good person and with his Guidence I can get better And improve in my life

[@AndoMierzwa]

Excellent! Soak up as much as you can while you can. 👍🏼

[@quach8quach907]

Sensei Ando, I’ve never been in a “dojo”, but I have already surpassed you; because I watched TV. The movie The Last Dragon explained it more eloquently than you do. “Bruce Leeroy” Leroy Green was sent on a mission to find “The Master” Sum Dum Goy. But there is no such thing as Sum Dum Goy. Then his teacher pointed to his head and said, “There is one last place that you did not look for The Master.” In the last battle, Sho’nuff, The Shogun of Harlem, was beating the tar out of Leroy and asks him, “Who is The Master?” Then Leory finally realizes that he is The Master. The theme of the whole movie is Leroy’s searching for “The Master”. There’s even a theme song, “Inside You”. Just have your students watch The Last Dragon. You see, I have The Glow, from the light emitted by the cathode-ray tube of the television.

[@AndoMierzwa]

Awesome! I haven’t seen that movie since I was a kid. Thanks for the reminder. 👍🏼 (I think Kung Fu Panda has the same message as well!)

[@anftrew3775]

I'm a martial tart. I'll train with anyone as long as there is mutual respect. I've never yet met an instructor that doesn't want their students to one day be better than they are. A good teacher knows two things. 1. They have skills to teach. 2. They don't know everything, and others might have skills they don't have.

[@AndoMierzwa]

An excellent summary, my friend. Happy 2024! 🙏🏻🎆

[@anftrew3775]

​@@AndoMierzwahappy new year to you too sir.

[@SteveJuszczak-dx3gz]

Always be better than yourself

[@AndoMierzwa]

A little more every day! 👍🏼

[@SINdaBlock411]

Gracie Jiu Jitsu in a nutshell, great video

[@AndoMierzwa]

Thank you for the comment!

[@SINdaBlock411]

@@AndoMierzwa you're welcome

[@lancecahill5486]

Another aspect of idolizing the teacher is that some students, especially the young ones, tend to overlook the signs of danger when boundaries are crossed. A martial arts teacher in the town next to mine was arrested for grooming and abusing his young female students. Of course, that could happen to all genders. Parents might need to look out for signs of excessive worshiping in their children.

[@AndoMierzwa]

So very sad, but so very true. Thank you for the comment!

[@lancecahill5486]

Dear Sensei Ando. It seems like your “Top Guy” had become a businessman who organized seminars for money, and farmed out the teaching business to his subcontractors. That’s why he never had time for anybody. Time was money for him, and he always had another business engagement to tend to. My “Top Guy” is an aging, overweight man who charges a lot of money for belt tests, seminars, and tournaments, so I completely understand.

[@AndoMierzwa]

Sorry that you understand so well! 😄 Hope you’re finding a way to keep learning anyway! 👍🏼

[@lancecahill5486]

@@AndoMierzwaOnce I understood the relationship as a business one, I began to view my “Top Guy” the same way I viewed the president of my university. I continued to train, but with a different mindset.

[@AndoMierzwa]

@@lancecahill5486 Makes sense!

[@gopimk3122]

waiting so many days . now latest tutorial thanks.recommendation nick dross guy handsome his tutorial beautiful thank u ando sensai

[@editworld864]

Hi sensei how to overcome fear of pain in fight

[@AndoMierzwa]

If your cause is righteous, there’s less reason for fear.

[@editworld864]

@@AndoMierzwa thanks

[@anftrew3775]

Fear of pain is rational. If you mean in training, then 'pain' should not exceed discomfort. My definition, pain warns that you are either injured or about to become injured. Discomfort, which most people call pain, is normal, expected and required in martial arts training. If you're talking about a real confrontation, outside of training, then fear of pain is very normal. You'd have to be insane to not be scared. Someone is trying to harm you and you must do all you can to ensure they don't succeed. Of course it's scary. You don't know the price of failure, ie you don't know if they'll stop as soon as you look like you're ego is dented, or if they'll keep going until you need emergency care, or worse. So fearing pain is normal. It focuses the mind.

[@editworld864]

@@anftrew3775 thanks man

[@San_Dude]

Currently I'm not advance than my sifu , he is better than me everything I guess even in physicality , he is better than me and he is person I look up to , I know what skill I wanna have and that is my sifu at some point better than him of course if I can

[@AndoMierzwa]

Having a teacher who inspires you is a gift. The rest is hard work and patience. Happy training!👍🏼

[@San_Dude]

@@AndoMierzwa Yeah sensie My will determination and deciplane is what I need to work and want to work

[@San_Dude]

Thank You Sensi 🙏 for understanding me

[@AndoMierzwa]

@@San_Dude Do it. That is all. :)

[@timmyboy2001]

Amazing video. Each of us must have confidence that we can defeat an enemy in an extreme situation. PS. I am sure I can give a better nugie than you.

[@AndoMierzwa]

HA! 😄 I live in fear of your Iron Knuckle technique! ✊🏼

[@John-zz5gt]

People are looking for someone to follow. Maybe most were neglected kids with parents who didnt give a crap.

[@AndoMierzwa]

I am sure that is true for many students. And I’m sure many authority figures take advantage of that. I hope all students learn to stand on their own.🙏🏻

[@yeout4386]

My teacher is more of a parent to me she really helped me a lot and continues to teach me so much she is very kind, caring and strong i respect her and am obedient beciuse i want to be and work hard to make her proud of me

[@chavale2]

You are smart and knew who does care; Congrat BJCASHCOW@22KPM AGOODLIFE

[@AndoMierzwa]

That sounds like a beautiful relationship for you both. 🙏🏻