Rivalry

[Athena]

What do you think of using rivalry as motivation to improve oneself? Or for future reference...for the students to better themselves?

I just wonder how good or bad rivalry is in some people's opinions

[lordtariel]

It depends on how far you take it. A little competition is a good thing. It keeps you honest in your training and gets you motivated. As long as it stays positive, there's no harm in it. Rivalry that drives you to win at any cost isn't necessarily a good thing.

[bushido_man96]

I think that friendly rivalries in school are a great thing. I also think that rivalries outside of a school, say, tournament rivalries, are also great. They can be a great motivational factor in your training. When you get tired, and want to quit, you picture the other guy holding the 1st place trophy he got for beating you in forms or sparring, and it can help to push you to keep at it.

[NightOwl]

Mongol General: Hao! Dai ye! We won again! This is good, but what is best in life?

Mongol: The open steppe, fleet horse, falcons at your wrist, and the wind in your hair.

Mongol General: Wrong! Conan! What is best in life?

Conan: To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women.

Mongol General: That is good! That is good.

[ps1]

Rivalry is great. As long as you don't take it too far and aren't demeaning with it. That would only serve to break down self esteem and not fuel the fire to succeed.

[karateone]

it is good to a certain degree. one of our dojo precepts is to conquer one's self and not others.

[YoungMan]

Dojang rivalry is absolutely healthy as long as it is not carried to an extreme. I had a healthy rivalry in class with a partner. We would always see who had the faster basic kicking, best form, free fighting etc.

As long as it is kept at healthy rivalry to motivate, rivalry can do wonders to bring up technique and motivate you to better yourself.

[ironsifu]

rivalry is the most important in a teachers experience, especially young teachers. this is how the arts get developed, one guy says, you know i think i can beat this guy. i was with a teacher who didnt like another one, so when he knew i was going there (to invte them to my tournament) he came. any way, long story, but the conversation became, you told one of my students i'm fat and no good. he asked him to spar now, or later he can come back. the guy (who talks lot of trash, they dont do tournament only streetfight) told him, you guys leave or i'm calling the police.

he didnt realize, he violated one important skill of becoming a teacher, which is, hold your courage when your in the presence of another teacher. john was not going to hurt him, he even said, come on we can spar light, the other guy still said, get out.

rivalry keeps us in shape, it keeps us courage and brave, it also keeps people in respect. i bet this guy, he is never going to speak bad in his back, out loud, only as a coward does....very quiet. my friend yes he little out of shape, but i respect him a lot after that. this kung fu guy, he respects him too, and most because he's a rival and his going to demand his silence.

[DWx]

rivalry is the most important in a teachers experience, especially young teachers. this is how the arts get developed, one guy says, you know i think i can beat this guy. i was with a teacher who didnt like another one, so when he knew i was going there (to invte them to my tournament) he came. any way, long story, but the conversation became, you told one of my students i'm fat and no good. he asked him to spar now, or later he can come back. the guy (who talks lot of trash, they dont do tournament only streetfight) told him, you guys leave or i'm calling the police.

he didnt realize, he violated one important skill of becoming a teacher, which is, hold your courage when your in the presence of another teacher. john was not going to hurt him, he even said, come on we can spar light, the other guy still said, get out.

I think though that in this case the guy has a right to say no that he doesn't want to fight in front of his students. I think that actually this display was probably more beneficial to his students as he can say no that he doesn't want to fight and showed them how to deal with a conflict.

[G95champ]

Nothing wrong with pushing each other.