Looking for Mr. Miyagi:
Published: 12/12/2014
By Spencer sensei
Every Friday night was black-belt training, but on this Friday my instructor stopped class and asked if we would like to go see a movie. The title was “The Karate Kid”(1984). I was in my early twenties, and a movie sounded a lot better than another killer workout, so I was in. Around eight of us climbed into my instructor’s SUV and headed to Flagstaff Arizona. Yes… it was unsafe, and that’s correct we did not wear seatbelts in those days. Did I mention the closest theater was a four-hour drive? A long sojourn, in close quarters, was still better than an hour of kicking drills followed by and hour of kata training coupled with the perfunctory lecture. What I did not anticipate were the lessons that I could come away with after watching a silly karate movie.
On the trip to Flag, we talked about what all black-belts talk about… KARATE. Discussions flowed about how to generate more power in your technique, and what the bunkai was for this or that move in kata. One conversation was about the last PKA (Professional Karate Association) full contact fight on ESPN, and the following compulsory discussion on did the PKA truly represent karate or was it just mindless violent entertainment. There was speculation on whether Joe Lewis or Chuck Norris was the best point-fighter ever, and of course there was always that one Super-Foot Wallace fan in the group. We speculated on who win in a modern tournament Chuck Norris or the latest champion Steve “Nasty” Anderson. Nasty Anderson was famous for pumping his fist in the air after clashing with his opponent, during kumite, in an attempt to sway the corner judges. It occasionally worked and soon everyone on the tournament circuit was doing it. He was truly a skilled fighter, but the older black-belts thought his antics bordered on disrespect, but I though it brought a little fun to the game. As we rambled towards our destination our conversation rambled as well.
Nobody really talked about the movie until one guy said, “This movie cannot be too good if it has the guy that played the part of Arnold, the fry cook, in Happy Days as one of the main characters.” For those of you that did not watch television in the seventies or was not old enough to remember, Happy Days was a nostalgic ideological lighthearted comedy set in the fifties about teenagers. The sitcom was about as close to reality as my being able to sprout wings and fly, but it did make you smile as it hearkened to a simpler time. In those days Chuck Norris was the king of karate movies, but his acting… was well… let’s just say we loved him, but he wasn’t going to win an Academy Award. Still, we didn’t care, after all a bad karate movie was better than no karate movie at all, so we rolled down the road dressed in our best Chuck Norris action jeans with little or no expectations about the movie.
Once the movie started, Pat Morita, aka Arnold, so embodied the character of Mr. Miyagi that I was hooked. The movie was infused with karate philosophy, and it would have made Funakoshi sensei proud. It was the same old plot with the good student verses the bad student, but the relationship between teacher and student elevated the movie beyond the good guys against the bad guys and made it unique. The emphasis was on the student’s journey, and not on using his fists to solve his problems. I was a second-degree black belt at the time and never thought that karate was relationship oriented. To me it was all about developing a side-kick that would crack ribs and launch my adversary into the air. This silly movie opened up yet another aspect of karate for me. In Funakoshi sensei’s books he wrote a great deal about his instructors and how his instructors thought and responded to different situations. His admiration for his instructor’s was evident, but I never made the mentoring connection. Karate is more about mentoring one generation to the next than fighting, but I was young and did not make that association.
After the movie had been out awhile, enrollment in our karate school greatly increased. The increase was mainly children and being a low ranking black-belt I was forced to teach these small people. The problem was that they had the attention span of a fly and the coordination of a drunken sailor, yet I was charged with teaching them the discipline needed to master karate. To say this endeavor was frustrating would most definitely be an understatement, yet the end they taught me more than I ever taught them. I became a better instructor for the experience, even though I never had a Mr. Miyagi connection with them. The size of the classes began to dwindle when the Karate Kid craze cooled, and the youngsters realized I was not the all-knowing sage that mentored Daniel. Through this experience I discovered that I was not Miyagi, and that I could never fully be Miyagi.
Men need mentors. They need someone outside Mom and Dad to help them to grow into a good citizen. Friends will not tell you when you’re doing something stupid because it’s usually their idea. It is the role of the life coach to tell you the truth. Miyagi was Daniel’s mentor and teacher. A good mentor tells you when you’re on the right track and calls you on the carpet when your actions disappoint. To be a mentor you must have a young man’s esteem, or he will not listen to you. To have a mentor you must understand that correction can build you up. Karate teacher’s, whether merited or not, normally garner an esteemed position in a karateka’s life, yet some karateka are not ready for a mentor. Yes… in my twenties I thought I knew everything, so I was prime example of someone that was not ready to be mentored. Students with low self-esteem cannot handle criticism, and they are not ready to be mentored. A good mentor nudges their student in the right direction. He/she does not use a bulldozer to force them to conform. Ultimately the student will do as they please. This can mean following their mentor’s advice or not. With all choices come consequences some good and some bad. The mentor can only suggest he/she cannot control.
Before we can examine the Karate Kid’s life lessons, we must first understand that Miyagi is a myth. He is what every karate instructor would like to be, but the standard is too high. Young black-belts should aspire to follow the tenets of Miyagi, but understand he is only a fictional character. He is an amalgam of the best of many different instructors. He is not real, but if you’re very lucky you may have those Miyagi moments in your career. No instructor can be surrogate father or mentor to a class filled with children, so you must carefully choose those you would mentor, and they must be willing to be mentored by you, or it is just an exercise in vanity on your part. Miyagi is simply basic karate philosophy personified in one fictional character, yet there are lessons to be learned from this iconic character.
In the movie Miyagi protected the boy, but he still allowed him to make decisions that created teaching moments. Adults know that high school is an aberration. It is not the real world, yet when you’re caught up in it no one can tell you’re not experiencing real life. Miyagi used Daniel’s trouble to teach him a few of the big lessons of life. The teaching by Daniel’s mentor transcended high school anxiety, and it gave him tools that he could use to solve future problems and an understanding on how to deal with personal relationships. The sole purpose of being a mentor is to give your student life skills.
Daniel also taught his mentor lessons. If you choose to mentor an individual, do not be surprised when you learn more about yourself. Miyagi, at first, was afraid to reach out to others. He chose not to get involved, but by stepping outside his comfort zone, to help Daniel, he received more than he could have ever expected. Mentoring can be a two-way street. Miyagi gained a surrogate son and healed old wounds. He began to trust others and let Daniel inside the beautiful home that he kept surrounded by high walls. Miyagi clung to the past, but with this new student he began to give up those things he held so tightly. He used the young man’s training to brighten his home. Daniel grew from Miyagi’s tutelage, but Miyagi’s world also changed.
Miyagi taught Daniel that karate lessons transcend the dojo. Strategy is a basic part of martial arts. Stealth and surprise should be part of all martial artists’ training. In the plot Daniel was infatuated with a girl that had caught his eye. She was also the impetus for his problems. His previous experiences, while associating with her, had led to his being surrounded by adversaries, and each time there was a pain filled conclusion to the episode. This angst is represented by Daniel’s fear of attending the senior dance. He understands that his attendance could lead to one more confrontation with Johnny his flames ex-boyfriend. Thus, going to the high school dance was not one of Daniel’s priorities. Daniel’s idea of self-preservation was to keep his distance. His mentor knew this isolation was not healthy, so he gently pointed out that Daniel spent too much time alone and implied that he should go see this young girl. Miyagi had to teach his student to think outside the box. He used stealth to secure Daniel’s identity in an attempt to keep his charge safe. Daniel understood the risk and did not let his fear rule him. Stealth and strategy are parts of karate training. Don’t leave your karate in the dojo.
As a mentor you do not always have the answers, and that is okay. Sometimes you just need a finger to plug the dike, until the leak can be stopped permanently. Daniel’s mentor took him to confront his adversaries at the Cobra Kai dojo. After a brief conversation with members of the school, Miyagi realized this was a fruitless exercise. He needed time to plan for a final solution, so Miyagi then talked the bad boy dojo into a showdown at the local karate tournament. This tactic bought them time, so Daniel could grow strong, confident, and prepare for the conflict. At first Daniel became angry with his mentor because he failed to see the larger picture. Sometimes solutions may only temporarily rectify a situation, but they can buy you time to plan, prepare, and solidify the actions needed for a final resolution. Not every problem is easily solved. All karateka must develop strategy whether in kumite or in life. Sometimes retreat can pave the path to victory.
A lesson we all must learn is that courage cannot be taught only supported. Daniel was afraid to go to the dance. He was afraid to compete in tournament. Miyagi could only give young Daniel advice. He could not give him courage. It was up to Daniel to walk into the lion’s den. His mentor merely supported and encouraged him. Miyagi did not fight his battles for him. Fighting Daniels battles would have created an unhealthy dependency that would impede his personal growth to manhood. To grow, the decision had to be Daniel’s. Problems do not go away simply by ignoring them, but as a mentor you can guide your student to alternate choices. Still, it would be up to Daniel to step onto the dance floor and eventually the mat for the final confrontation. Miyagi taught Daniel to face his problems and not to hide from them. It takes courage to confront your problems.
A mentor is on the sojourn with his/her student in good times as well as bad. In the movie the Cobra Kai purposely injured Daniel at the tournament. Miyagi was there when the wheels fell of the plan and again protected and advised his young friend in the midst of the conflict. Miyagi supported Daniel even in the face of loss. Miyagi saw that Daniel had achieved his goal even when the young man did not. He assured Daniel that he had proven his point, and that he was truly successful in this moment of failure. There was never any false praise given to the boy, so when praise came Daniel knew it was heart felt. Failure is our greatest teacher. Don’t be afraid to let your students fail but be there to support them when they fall.
It is difficult for an instructor to mentor more than one karateka at a time, but there are lessons that can be handed down in mass. Miyagi taught Daniel not to settle his problems with his fists but with his wits. This is a basic tenet of karate and should be taught from day one of the karateka’s training. Daniel had to trust his instructor. Students must trust their instructor, or no learning will occur. Respect is another basic karate tenet. An instructor should practice respect for people in and out of the dojo. Miyagi, through his actions, demonstrated how an honorable man acted towards others. Through this process Daniel learned to respect others. The sensei character epitomized humility. Even in Daniel’s victory, Miyagi stressed humility, he implied that karate trophies should be not the focus of the martial artist. I often see black-belts strutting around like peacocks. I had the good fortune to meet Master Harold Mitchum awhile back. What impressed me most was not his kata, but his humility. This made a greater impression on me than anything he did at the seminar. Miyagi also taught Daniel that performing your best is all that is required. These are simple lessons that a karate instructor can pass on to his/her entire class.
Like all fairy tales Daniel would come back from his injury and win the tournament. This victory was shared by student and mentor. Daniel experienced victory and was awarded a large trophy as the credits began to roll. Miyagi momentarily reflected his pride in Daniel, and each experienced a moment of success. Victory is fleeting, so enjoy the moment. Still if look deep enough there are lessons here too. You cannot give everyone a trophy in victory and have it mean anything. In the real world you must work hard for success. It doesn’t simply come to you for showing up. Daniel’s hard work paid dividends. If everyone had been rewarded equally, on that occasion, the victory would have been hollow. We fail in life more than we succeed. Allowing your students to fail is part of mentoring them. Victory can only be savored for a moment, so as mentors we need to support and educate more than patting our students on the back. As a mentor you cannot always be your student’s friend. You must be able to tell him/her the truth, and sometimes like life it hurts. Being a mentor can be greatly rewarding and it can be greatly disappointing. Not all students make good choices, so whether to mentor or not is up to you. You can build walls around your home, or you can take a risk?