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Danger of Honesty and Dishonesty in MARTIAL ARTS
BY MOSHE KATZ
CEO
ISRAELI KRAV INTERNATIONAL
October 28, 2024, Kjeller, Lillestrøm, Norway
The danger of honesty in martial arts
The danger of dishonesty
Honesty is a virtue, no doubt. However, there are times when it is wiser to exercise caution and restraint. "Discretion is the better part of valor". This statement, attributed to William Shakespeare, advises that sometimes it is wiser to avoid direct confrontation. If someone express an opinion such as Yoko Ono is the greatest singer ever, it might be best to just let it go rather than get involved in a pointless argument. No harm is done by letting that comment slide without a reaction. Let everyone be happy.
On the other hand, if you are a marketing meeting, and someone suggests, Let's invest all our assets in purple play dog poo, you might want to argue against that. If that marketing idea fails you will all lose your jobs, investors will lose their money and the company may collapse. In such cases too much is at stake to "let it slide".
In many situations it is considered polite to "agree to disagree", you don't always have to be right, you don't always have to make your point. I learned that over the years. We all have our opinions, we all have thoughts on who would make a better president, but we don't always have to press our point. Most of the time it is better to say, I respect your opinion, and you make a valid point, and leave it at that.
When it comes to martial arts the debate is very heated. Many films have been on the rivalries between Chinese and Japanese styles of martial arts. Tournaments have been established to try and determine which fighting style is best. The debate can become very heated, usually I find it is best to avoid this altogether or do dismiss the topic by saying, everything martial art has something of value to offer, which I do believe to be true.
But where does truth and honesty come into the picture? This can be a tricky and delicate matter. This topic came up here in Norway. There are more "traditional" forms of Krav Maga being taught. There are members of those schools who have attended our seminars in the past, but now cannot do so. They have been blocked from participating in our training. Their organization does not allow it anymore. The problem was that students who participated in our seminars came back with revolutionary ideas and questions, and no leader wants a revolution. So rather than be open to new ideas and techniques, rather than perhaps try and incorporate some of our revolutionary ideas in their training, our seminars became verboten, illegal. Attending our seminar can get one blocked from advancement in their local organization. When a teacher presents a technique, the students must simply agree, honesty is dangerous, honesty will get you banned.
Prof. Arthur Cohen had a different approach. Despite being an accomplished martial artist of many years, he and his top students would attend seminars and conferences. Adam Gordon said to me, Mr. Cohen would always say, perhaps we can pick something up. I recall Prof. Cohen saying to me, If I attended a three day seminar, paid $260, and improved one technique, I consider that money well spent.
But sadly, not everyone thinks this way. Honesty can be dangerous, at work, in the dojo, in life. Honesty can get you blocked from social advancement, or advancement at work or in the dojo. Expressing doubt, questioning a technique, can put you out of favor with the leaders. There is a danger in expressing your opinion. When I worked at a bank in New York City there was a program encouraging suggestions on how to improve the bank. I submitted many suggestions and hoped for a promotion. I was told by a senior employee that I would be fortunate not to get fired. No bank manager wants to hear about "improvements" from an entry level employee. Such employees are seen as a threat. There is a danger in honesty, better toe the line and move up the ranks.
But there is a greater danger in dishonesty.
If you feel that Joe Smith is the greatest guitarist in the world, so be it, no harm done by letting that go. But if you ask my opinion about a certain style of self-defense, or Krav Maga, and I honestly feel that the style is ineffective, and that it would put you in great danger to rely upon this system, I must be honest. Being polite and dishonest can be very dangerous. "Agreeing to disagree" is no longer relevant, being polite is no longer a factor. My only concern is your survival. So if after more than 40 years in martial arts, training and teaching all over the world, engaging the top experts in the world, working with police, military, special forces, special operations, combat soldiers, I feel that a style is dangerous for you, I will say so. I will say so and I will back it up.
I will back up my point of view not by displaying a bunch of diplomas with Chinese writing and pictures of dragons, but by showing you the difference, by explaining the difference. I stand by what I say and I will prove it, no matter how unpopular that might make me at a party. Sometimes we must be the Party Pooper and tell the truth.
The danger of honesty in martial arts
The danger of dishonesty
Moshe Katz, 7th dan Black Belt, Israeli Krav Maga. Certified by Wingate Institute. Member Black Belt hall of fame, USA and Europe.
Understand the Israeli Fighting Mentality - Israel a Nation of Warriors by Moshe Katz
What is the cultural background of Krav Maga? What makes it unique? What makes the Israeli military so effective? Why are Israeli security systems used all over the world?
What are the Biblical origins of Krav Maga and who was the first Krav Maga instructor?
What weapons and military strategies did our Biblical ancestors use?
How has Krav Maga developed in Israel and what are its goals?
All that and more in this unique book.
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