One of my trips to New York City taught me a lot about being a martial artist and an instructor. There are so many people walking everywhere. Business people and travelers, young and old, walk in packs across the streets at a quick pace. From a distance, they are like shadows meshed together, moving in tandem.
I stopped to look at the faces more closely. I am glad I did. I saw eyes flirting in different directions, lips curved with subtle smiles and quirky nuances that defined the bodies behind the shadows. Even though they walk together like one big blur down the street, each is refreshingly unique and different. This was my reminder that we all have expressions of individuality.
Martial artist can initially be mistaken as a collective group in much the same way. They wear similar uniforms and learn the same skills and techniques. In a crowd of martial artists at a demonstration, they blend together effortlessly and from afar are not very distinguishable from each other. Just as I slowed down to view the fast-paced New Yorkers, you really need to look deeper to see who these martial artists are, especially if you are an instructor tasked with understanding what makes them tick and why they are in class to begin with.
These practitioners are not the same. Not even close. Their minds and hearts hold different desires, values and goals. Their lives are full of barriers and obstacles that their martial art mindset must overcome. When you look closely, you see more than dust settle as they practice. Their faces are fascinating.
Have you ever watched the intensity that erupts on the face of a martial artist when they focus on what they are learning? Only moments earlier they were casually laughing and enjoying their peers. The very next moment as they practice their martial art, their faces reflect personal expectations. You can clearly see that they want to make a difference in their own lives and maybe even the whole world.
I see it on my own face when I practice, the desire to achieve personal excellence and the quest for internal truth. These are slowly and methodically unveiled in my eyes, mouth, and glance. No one can truly see what I think on the inside; yet, if they stop long enough to look, my face tells all.
The moral of the story, or, the importance of the facing the faces is this: No person or martial artist is the same. They can test, earn belts, and follow the same exact steps, but they remain individually distinct. They allow martial art perseverance, accomplishment, trust and confidence flood their lives. Others see their intent, mastery and even what they believe. I know because I see the way they look at the world. I hear their breath when they exhale through a martial art moment. I taste the same passion that they do. Their face reveals it all.
I loved New York City. I enjoyed the tall buildings that are so eloquently situated, the parks, the lights on Broadway and Time Square. They all have a “face” of their own. I hailed my first cab there. My feet were blistered from walking so much. I ate a lot of good food. At the end of the day I rested.
Of all the sights and sounds, the biggest lesson I learned was from the dramatic and diverse faces of the people from all over world who weaved their way through the streets of New York. Nothing reminded me more about the kind of martial artist or the kind of person I truly want to be.
My wish is that every martial artist and every person is seen for who they are. None of us is the same as any other and all faces tell a story. Look in the mirror. What do you see? This is the moment you create your mark in the world. This is the moment the martial artist shines through. This is the moment your decisions make a difference.
This is the moment your face tells all.
xoxo
Andrea
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