2/23: A Little Etiquette

As you start to look at martial arts related videos on social media, you will inevitably come across plenty of articles that talk about etiquette and “old school” rules.  One common talking point that is widely discussed is titles of head instructors.  In most every martial art, there are specific titles given to black belt instructors.  I’m not sure where it started, but in Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu, black belt instructors are given the title “Professor”, and I personally extend that title to any black belt instructor when I visit other gyms unless they correct me based on their own policies.  It can be a fine line between simple policy and respect that a title represents, to an instructor developing a feeling of grandiosity.  While I’m comfortable with the Gracie Barra titles, I will say that I’m not a huge fan of some of the other traditional martial arts titles like, Sifu, Sensei, and especially Master, as well as facility names like dojo.  I suppose if I trained in those styles that use those titles, I would probably be more comfortable with them….except for Master.

So, where did the title “Professor” come from?  Quite simply, someone realized that it takes most people longer to get a BJJ black belt than it takes to get a PhD, and when people earn a PhD they are given the title of “Professor”.  Most every college professor I know with a PhD is still called Professor or Doctor.  It is simply an acknowledgement of the level of knowledge they have achieved.  When it comes to martial arts, one of the arguments that is always used is that you don’t call your football coach, or soccer coach, or wrestling coach, “Professor”.  No, but you DO call them coach.  I STILL call my HS wrestling coaches “Coach”.  So, there is still a demarcation there that is important.  There is also an inherent focus difference in martial arts that is not in many traditional sports.  Martial arts has a structure that is focused more on etiquette and respect than traditional sports.  Most every parent that has brought their child into the gym mentions respect and discipline as priorities they are looking for.  I don’t ever remember my parents signing me up for soccer citing respect and discipline as one of their primary goals for me.

For those aspects to exist in a gym, it is critical, in my opinion, to have those titles and a traditional formality.  If that is going to exist for one age group, it must exist for all age groups to maintain a consistent structure within the gym.  Outside of the gym, I personally have a different take.  Outside of the gym, I still think it is appropriate for kids to refer to head instrutors as Professor and other coaches as Coach.  But when it comes to adult only social events, I am quite comfortable being called Greg, and actually prefer that.  When Coach Graham was hired at Bosch into the same group I worked, it would have been very, very weird in that  business setting to call me Professor.

When I was in the Jaycees, every position had a title.  Often times, those titles really went to peoples heads.  It's very easy to see how that can happen in any setting.  Titles carry a certain weight, especially President, CEO, Minister, etc, and those titles are earned through hard work and dedication.  But those titles don't mean that those PEOPLE are better people than those with titles like employee,  parishoner or constituent.  Titles do not make you a better person. I believe more that they reveal who you already are.  If you have feelings of grandiosity, a title is going to reinforce those feelings.  If you are humble, those titles will be recieved with humility.  I think it is good to show respect to the titles that people have earned, but what is more important is the character of the person who has those titles.