We could address the question above by attempting to define what we consider a martial arts master, but that is a rabbit hole into which I am not prepared to climb.

Instead, let’s ask a simpler question. What do you call your head instructor or person leading the class?

In some cases, it might be an upper-level student who has several years of training under his belt (literally) and knows the basics well enough to teach them. In other cases, it might be someone with decades of experience in the art and many years of teaching it. There is a fundamental difference in training experience and teaching, but we will save that for another post.

Usually, these individuals are assigned a title. In Kung Fu, it might be Shifu or Sifu. In Karate and Judo, they are generally called Sensei. In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, we see the title of Professor bestowed on those who have reached black belt and teach regularly.

These labels typically represent a person’s knowledge of the art and his or her ability to share that knowledge with others. They denote a sense of separation from the student. That’s not a bad thing, but it can also create a weird dynamic in a gym or dojo.

Sometimes there is a real, almost tangible feeling in some martial arts studios that the head instructor, by any title, is un-reachable or elevated above anyone else in the room. That feeling may stem from the person’s accolades in the art and star appeal. Or it may arise from a more toxic place, such as egotism or narcissism.

The toxicity of dojo leadership is one reason why I prefer the simple designation of Coach. It doesn’t seem to carry any hyper-inflated pretenses. Plus, my first experience teaching on a mat was working with my high school wrestling team for several years as a community coach. There wasn’t any fluffed-up idea of who I was then because the young wrestlers could outpace me and sometimes get the better of me on any given day.

Even today, I have considerably more experience, but can have a hard time with the eager young blue belt or wily purple. It’s a reminder that I still need to practice and hone my craft. As to taking your lumps, I remember UFC fighter Cole Miller once saying, “Anyone can get it.” That’s true any time we step on the mat.

When we get a new title, whether it’s at work or in the gym, we should wear it with pride, but not let it warp our sense of self. We aren’t a title, and a title doesn’t make you invincible or infallible.

Good leadership begins with humility. Whatever your title, stay humble and stay hungry. Not for the next level, but to show your students and those just below you that there is always room for improvement.

Photo is of Joshua Clements and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Grandmaster, Relson Gracie, in 2014.

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