02/09/2026
It’s a wonderful thing balance.
There are so many poor examples of human beings and their behaviour in martial arts but also in every sector of life.
In martial arts, especially in this modern era it’s rife with passive aggressive NLP manipulators, schoolyard bullies who never grew up, conmen and women who highjack martial arts values and use them as clever marketing but would never live by the words they preach and the insecure ones who live through their members achievements as a way of feeding their own ego.
It’s tiresome.
Then there is the other side of the coin.
The instructors who make little money but love what they do and pass it on to help others selflessly. The instructors who try to do as much good in their communities as possible and who are living examples of the lessons they teach. They don’t do the whole I’m the best, look at me. They don’t go around telling everyone how great they are and how everyone should be admiring them and worshipping at their altar.
These instructors live quietly, humbly and honestly.
These people inspire me.
These people give me faith in martial arts and in human beings and the good they are capable of.
These people I have much love and admiration for.
They never ask for it. They don’t crave it. By being who they are to their families and to others around them they earn it.
If you are the instructor making no money in a community hall passing on your knowledge for nothing more than to improve another’s quality of life I see you.
If you help others with no intention of reward or return, I see you.
If you think nobody notices what you do and the impact you make, I promise you, I see you.
This is my shout out to all the instructors on the right side of the coin.
It may be less shiny on this side, but at least it’s honest.
More and more I am meeting more instructors who may not have the warehouse sized academy, the sun glasses and the car but they are good, honest people and I will always value that more than anything else.
Much love.
# grappling
