Egos!

[Ben Martin]

Personally i don't like people with big egos. i know lots of fighters have big egos so many boxers love to taunt and stuff and people in the gym who work the weights alot walk around like they are a king. Do you guys think that as a martial artist you do need a big ego, to tell your self you are the best and that no one is better then you.

 

What do you guys think about egos?

[Master Jules]

Egos are everywhere, in every field of endeavor. In the physical realm though, a big ego is easily dismissed when the ability to "do", and depth of knowledge arent actually there. This certainly holds true in the realm of the martial art world. The longer one trains, the more one realizes how much MORE there is to learn, and while you might not be a "beginner" anymore......you'll always have "a long way to go"........so just get on the mat and train.....and forget about having an ego.

[cross]

Do you guys think that as a martial artist you do need a big ego, to tell your self you are the best and that no one is better then you.

 

You definitely need to beleive in your self and your ability while staying humble, this is alot different to having a big ego.

[Cmon]

Well as it says at my dojo "Leave your ego at the door".

[cathal]

The good thing about having over-inflated egos is how easy it is to burst their bubble.

[karatekid1975]

Modesty is the key

[jedimc]

U might notice that many martial artists have big egos , probaly because people with egos want to be in control and if they do the martial artrs they might think other people will be scared of them.

[Master Jules]

U might notice that many martial artists have big egos , probaly because people with egos want to be in control and if they do the martial artrs they might think other people will be scared of them.

 

I have to respectfully disagree. I think that in the case of martial artists, its not a question of having a big ego, but rather the development of self confidence. Its not about having people being "scared" of you. Progressing through the ranks, a student grows in many ways. Self confidence is generally one of them. There is a big difference between being self confident, and being "cocky". "Cocky" is usually perceived in a negative way, while self confidence is an admired trait.

[jedimc]

I would have to say some of the people I know go in the martial arts for these reasons and I know for a fact people dont muck around with them, im talking about in the school yard not in public because many of these people are friends from school.

[MASIsshinryu]

"The way of the sword and the Way of Zen are identical, for they have the same purpose; that of killing the ego." - Yamada Jirokichi

 

In my youth, I entered into my training for the wrong reasons, and have since come a long way in improving who I am as a person. The others I have seen who enter with the need to inflate their ego end up in one of three categories:

 

1) They learn to abandon that motivation;

 

2) They leave, or are asked to leave, the dojo because of their attitude; or,

 

3) They find a dojo or instructor who does not value a developed character and they end up neither liked nor respected by those who do place value on this.

 

It has been my experience that those falling into the 3rd category tend towards trophy collection, elaborate gi decorations and other outward signs of "success." Please do not get me wrong, this is not the only motivation for decorating a gi or seeking trophies, but those seem to follow with the ego-driven mentatlity.