" Professionalism and Humility " by Sensei Adam Sheldon

When Master Duncan asked me to write a piece about professionalism and humility, I thought of two brothers that I grew up with. The brothers were actually twins, not identical twins, but born the same day and of the same mother. These two individuals did not resemble each other at all, in fact, many people did not even know they were related. What always amazed me however, was how similar they really were. So much so, that they both played Lacrosse in college, were married one week apart (each serving as the others best man), and purchased their first homes on the same street. I relate all of this in an attempt to suggest that professionalism and humility are like the twins I grew up with. They do not appear to be alike on the surface, but deep down they are inseparable.

Professionalism can be described as one's ability to act in a proper manner when those around them are not. The big question is, "what is proper?" Simply stated, if you treat others the way you would like to be treated, then you are most likely behaving in a professional manner. Self-control plays a large role in professionalism, since we would often like to respond in kind to those who act inappropriately. This concept is even more important when an individual is in a supervisory and/or leadership role.

Humility is a characteristic that prevents people from thinking that they are more important than they really are. Students who have been around long enough have probably heard Master Duncan say, "You may or may not need karate, but karate definitely does NOT need you." This is an example of humble thought, realizing that things will go on with or without you. This is not to say that your contribution to karate (or other things) is not valued. However, everyone would do well to remember that the best way to learn much is to realize that there is much to learn. It is your humility that allows (or prevents) you to continue learning past the initial stages of study.

Together, professionalism and humility create an ideal combination for martial artists. Professionalism allows one to study an art which requires discipline and consistent effort. Humility allows one to continue learning after one reaches a moderate level of skill.

At Duncan's Martial Arts Academy, we look for the qualities of professionalism and humility in our students. As students progress past the early stages of study, we inevitably see a point at which they either realize the importance of these characteristics, or they stop training. You may notice how few advanced belts (brown and beyond) there are at our dojo. Advanced study of the martial arts cannot be accomplished without these qualities. Not everyone who leaves our dojo lacks professionalism or humility, many other factors exist. Professionalism and humility are however, the two biggest reasons why students stay at our dojo.

Comments or questions? Send an e-mail to Sensei Sheldon

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