Anecdotes from great teachers

[OwlMatt]

Did a great MA instructor once tell you something that has stuck with you for a long time? Share it with us.

I was taking a class with Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan a few years ago and he told us in broken English, "Big dog: no bark. Little dog: bark, bark, bark, bark, bark." His point was that power is quiet, and that a powerful person feels no need to make a lot of noise.

[crappler]

This not like hot dog.

[The Cap]

From my father:

"The first rule of judo is: there's always someone stronger. The sooner you get over that, the sooner you can figure out how to throw them."



From my highschool chemistry teacher (paraphrased):

"You're lazy. Just because you were born smart or strong doesn't mean you'll be clever or powerful tomorrow. Working harder than the other guy means you'll be clever or powerful tomorrow."

[Permalost]

There are no anecdotes in this thread yet.

[Vieux Normand]

There are no anecdotes in this thread yet.

My teacher once told me: "A proverb doth not an anecdote make".

[Permalost]

One time, my teacher told me a story from when he was a kid:
Back in the Philippines, the gangster weapon of choice was a modified slingshot, with a wire instead of a leather pouch. The projectiles were nails modified into a spike with a hook on it, and the hook hooked onto the wire. These slingshots flung the flechetes point-first into whatever target.

One such gang told my teacher's family they'd be coming back later for some sort of throwdown, but the locals all got together with chopping blades and stout sticks and scared them off.

[Ignoscant]

When I was younger (and more arrogant) there was a pool hall where I used to frequent owned by an elderly Asian couple. One day after a particularly lucrative haul betting against a burly looking Samoan and rubbing it in arrogantly; the elderly Asian man came over and challenged me to a game for the stakes of what I had just won. Thinking I could double my money I accepted (of course) and he proceeded to wipe the floor with me.

When I left the pool hall I got attacked by the Samoan man I had beaten (and taunted) earlier. I got knocked to the ground and was about to get up and square up with my assailant when the elderly Asian man ran out of the pool hall and stood between us. He gave me a look, handed the man the money I had won (and then had confiscated) and told him to get lost. Then he turned to me and said:

'No matter how smart; or fast; or good. Always someone smarter; faster or better than you.'

Then he just walked inside. I won't forget that.

[The Cap]

Here's an amusing anecdote that's complete fiction:

I once read the title of a thread before posting in it.



And for those who prefer their stories bullshit free:

These two guys I knew each dropped some pretty good knowledge on me in their time, and I shared what they said in a thread about teacher anecdotes.

[jnp]

Shut the fuck up and train.

It's not an anecdote either.

[OwlMatt]

I confess to misuse of the word "anecdote". But I think the first post spells out what the thread is about pretty clearly.

[KendalGuro]

My teacher once told me "In any group of people you will always find either an asshole, or a Texan, most of the time its the same person"

[lukerawks]

When I started training karate as a kid, my sensei told us a lot of good stories about his rougher youth coming up in the 60s and 70s karate scene. Apparently, he got into a lot of fights and had his fare share of crazy throwdowns. After showing us a scar on his head that he got from a beer bottle, the biggest takeaway he gave us will stick with me to this day: (not an anecdote)

"Whenever you feel the tension in a bar growing, there are three things you should always do:

1.) Open the door
2.) Get on the floor
3.) Everybody walk the dinosaur

[W. Rabbit]

― Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh

[jnp]

My teacher once told me "In any group of people you will always find either an asshole, or a Texan, most of the time its the same person"

I resemble that remark.

[Arskanator]

My former teacher told me this when I was holding focus mitts too far apart:

"If you ever come close having to fight a guy who's head is that big, you should be running away."