Values
Martial Arts are one, if not, the most complete sports disciplines you can imagine. Besides the high physical, psycho- emotional and spiritual development of a human being, we emphasize some very human virtues that are very valuable as human being.
Of course you can practice your art as such, but your life is not just a mere summary of some techniques and fighting skills. You are a human being, having human interactions, friendships, relationships and contact with as many behaviors, the moment you step outside the club. The question is, what kind of human being do you want to be?
We do not only stand by these values, but want to carry them out. As we are convinced that a lot of individual and thus human conflict resides in oneself and it is only in becoming aware of yourself and the elements at the basis of them that makes the difference between someone who is all words, or actually represents what he achieved or has become.
CORE ELEMENTS
Recognition
Although the increasing speed and stress of society and its accompanying absence of a descent education (being a parent as such and taking full responsibility to guide your offspring in a functional, practical and respectful way throughout their development), combined with the distorting influences of social media, creating the freedom to text, say and reply whatever you want (becoming a keyboard activist), without having to take any responsibility for your own words, attitude and behavior because you are in the safety behind a screen, is creating a serious fall out in some very basic human behavior like greeting, listening and expressing oneself, but above all "being recognized" for who you are as an individual.
Motivation
Motivation is not a straight line. It is fluctuating between, "damn, what am I doing here" one day and "feeling like a God" the other day. That's the variable of life, of who you are, of your circumstances but most of all of the perception you give them. You are the one who chose whether they determine you, or you bend them over into a constructive and motivational asset for your training. The choice is yours!
Engagement
Engagement is the ability to compromise yourself, regardless of your inner and outer changes or circumstances. It is a disappearing value in today's society that will promote whatever explanation or excuse to skip, suspend or quite the activity you've chosen. It stems from the decision you made to start or to accomplish something.
It's like giving your word, but than to yourself. So if you quit, you break your word. And what is a man, or a woman, who breaks his word? Nothing! It makes them questionable. It creates a weak individual, unreliable, untrustworthy and superficial. In first instance to themselves, ... and thus to everyone around them.
Discipline
Discipline is nothing more than the conditionment through engagement. It's a mental decision to work in the direction of your goals, of your objectives. That can only be attained by consistency, doing the job, putting in the work, how hard it may be getting sometimes, and keep on going. It will only work, when you are.
All else are excuses!
Respect
They say "respect needs to be earned"! Why the hell should it be earned?
It doesn't! Respect needs to be learned. You have to be respectful. And that all starts with respecting the other in his entire being, with his physical appearance, his psycho- emotional and mental state, thoughts, convictions, faith and possessions.
We live in a society where instant gratification and entitlement seems to give the permission to disrespect all and everything of the other(s). As if there are no boundaries anymore to the other and everything is allowed. No it isn't! I don't have the right to determine the state and being of the other's house, belongings, attitude, interests or whatever. We seem have forgotten that and we became takers, parasites that feed of everything around us, regardless of who is coming after us, without considering what we can give back, or leave the situation better the we found it. Now for that you have to have become a conscientious being to get that far in your human evolution.
But most of the time we have already assumed, perceived and judged the other and the situation, even before we even have met them. Not a great way to approach reality.
Tell me, do you want to be respected for who you are, of for the perception I have of you?
Than, all of a sudden, things become bright clear!
Good luck!