5/18: A STITCH IN TIME

I’m sure just about everyone reading this has heard the expression, “A stitch in time saves nine”.  If you are like me, you probably didn’t know what that meant for a long time after hearing it.  Most often when people hear that parable, the first comment is:  “Saves nine WHAT?”  The quote is attributed to a book of proverbs written in the 1700’s by Thomas Fuller.  He was an English physician who documented all the wise adages and sayings he heard over his lifetime and assembled them into one book.  The parable is referencing sewing, and means to say that if your garment is starting to tear, if you get a stitch in “in time”, before it tears any further, you will save yourself nine additional stitches to fix the issue.  The saying is clearly meant to remind people that the sooner you address your problems, typically the easier they are to solve.

This week there were a few issues in our Senior Champs class that were brought to my attention.  I appreciated the parents bringing these things to my attention so I could address them immediately.  To address the situation, I had individual conversations with those involved, then addressed the entire class in general terms to reinforce the behaviors and values that we expect from our students and parents.  The topic of conflict resolution is a constant topic in the martial arts gym owners’ forums I am a part of, and anyone who has been in this business (and really ANY business) knows if issues are left to fester, the negative impact grows quickly.  It is a good reminder for all our coaches to continue to remind students every month about the expectations we have for everyone in the gym.

For those that weren’t there to hear my class message (and will share again in classes this week), I wanted to share the expectations I have when situations arise.  There are basically 2 main points:

• Please bring any issues you have to the coaches or myself in a timely manner.
• Please let our team address and work on resolving the issues instead of addressing them on your own.

When issues arise in a martial arts gym, it is understandably almost exclusively from things that happen on the mat.  This could be from misunderstandings or from someone purposefully causing problems.  In my time in this business, I have seen both situations in every age group, including adults, and have actually had to revoke a few adult memberships in my previous gym for such behavior to avoid them from poisoning the well.  Part of what I addressed in class was a review of some of the main points of etiquette when we are on the mat, and I would like to review them again for everyone.

• Tapping means stop, immediately. More so in the kids’ class, occasionally we see a child perform a submission, their partner taps, the student releases the submission for a second then re-applies it.  I have never seen this be malicious, just a function of kids being kids, but this is when others can get hurt.
• You don’t have to be a partner with anyone you don’t want to. In the adult class, this is largely a function of size disparity, myself included.  In kids’ classes, it’s typically more a function of kids just liking or not liking someone.  If the person you ask to partner with says no, that means no.  Find someone else or ask the coaches for help.
• Say no disparaging comments. We are promoting strong, positive values in the gym, and even comments made in jest can be taken the wrong way.  I hurt a friend a couple years ago with a tasteless joke and immediately changed the tone of everything I say and write as I was reminded of a passage from the Bible, Phillipians 4:8 that says:  "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
• Be a good partner. Being a good partner is many things, but the main points are:  Let your partner drill the technique without resisting so much they can’t perform the technique.  Don’t try to counter the technique when your partner is drilling.  Apply just enough pressure to make your partner understand the real situation, but not so much that you hurt them.  If you are far superior in skill or size, don’t go 100%, let your partner work and you counter what they do instead of smashing them to the point where they simply can’t move.

Most people coming into a martial arts gym have no idea what the typical etiquette is.  Why would you?  It’s typically your first time in a gym.  Even as I travel around to other gyms, including other GB gyms, I don’t know what all their policies are, so it is best to act conservatively and ask if you have questions.

My goal has always been to develop in people a lifelong passion for martial arts in a positive environment where everyone builds each other up, and I know our coaches support that mission.  We will continue to do everything we can to maintain that culture, and look forward to your continued support in that endeavor as well!