Bad teachers can thrive on high turnaround. As old naive students grow in their awareness, they might lose them but can secure new naive students.

This is how bad teachers can maintain practice with slick marketing and clever talk.

Thanks for your visit Iron Rooster!

I agree that another aspect of the beginner’s mind is to remember what it is like to be the low man on the totem pole. And as we become more powerful in the aspect of arts, it is essential and critical to use that particular power wisely..

Well written article!! It wasn't nearly as bad to digest as you had made it out to be!!!

Rick: I can't agree more…. I find it ironic that I found my dojo, not out of my own decision (I was going to pick one that – although legit, is known to be a bit……illegit?) but a suggestion of a friend that was joining with me at the time, of which he's since dropped out…. Weird how that works out eh?

Now, training at my lovely little dojo… Even though we have other sister schools within the organization, still holds the character of the small family dojo. Aside from the head instructor I've got a hand full of Kyoshi, Renshi and serious other ranks that poor their hearts out for you on a daily basis and never ask for anything but your best try out of you (Matt-san included in those…which is good, because I fail at most things he asks of me!!!! ) . I couldn't even imagine joining a super huge organization… Which… (at least I think) keeps the mind set of the old Okinawans chatting it up and training in the back yard with no more than a half-dozen students…. Almost makes me a little emotional thinking about it!