There is a Japanese term, "Jita Kyoei", which translates as "mutual welfare & benefit". This is a fundamental principle of martial arts training, which was formally adopted and made doctrine by Judo founder Jigoro Kano. Judo, as you may know, is a form of martial arts that grew out of Jiu-jitsu, emphasizing more sportive practices, and a treatment of the practice of martial arts as a "way of life" or "Do" in Japanese. However, the philosophical principles that were formalized by Kano have always been a part of Jiu-jitsu practice. This concept can be understood in many different ways, both on and off the mat.
The reality is, for us to effectively practice Jiu-jitsu, we need training partners. Therefore, it is for everyone's welfare and benefit to cultivate good training partners, and to contribute to the overall well being of the training academy. There are many facets to the concept of "mutual welfare & benefit". A very rudimentary example can be seen in how we drill techniques. If you are working on drilling a new move with your partner and you apply full resistance, it will be very difficult, if not impossible, for your partner to learn how to do the move correctly. Of course, one of the things that makes Jiu-jitsu so effective is live training with resistance. However, it is very difficult to learn techniques in this manner. We need to first learn the techniques working with a cooperative partner, who is feeding us the position, and giving good feedback so that we can make adjustments to the technique. This practice benefits both training partners.
You are on the mat to get better at Jiu-jitsu. But, you should also focus on trying to make your training partners as good at Jiu-jitsu as possible too. Remember what it was like to be a white belt. Help the people who are coming up below you. Yes, you are helping them, but you are also helping yourself! The new student who walks in the door today could become one of your best training partners in the future. It is your job to help cultivate this. Even if you are newer on the mat, you can help your training partners, and the academy, just by showing up! The more bodies we have on the mat, the more fun training is, and the more different training partners everyone has available. Regardless of how long you've been training, YOU are an integral part of the team.
Loyalty is an important, and often misunderstood concept in the martial arts. Loyalty is not something that is demanded, it is something that is freely given, out of gratitude. I have loyalty to my instructors and my team, not because it is asked of me, but because I am grateful for all that they have done for me. What I have been given through martial arts training can not be bought. Yes, I have personally invested countless thousands of dollars over the years for tuition, private classes, seminars, uniforms & equipment, etc. But, I cannot put a price on what I have gained through the years of training. I personally feel a tremendous sense of gratitude to those who have helped me along the way, and the best way to compensate them is to not only give them my loyalty, but also to pay forward to others the many valuable lessons that were given to me.
When former President John F. Kennedy said famously in one of his speeches, "Ask not what your country can do for you; Ask what you can do for your country..." he was speaking of the concept of mutual welfare and benefit. I recommend everyone to take this approach within your academy. If you are training at an academy that you find to be a good environment for you and you value the instruction that you receive, make it your personal mission to make you academy the best training environment for everyone. Spread the word with your friends and invite them in to try out a class. Help out when you can, whether that means emptying a trash can when you see it needs it, staying after class to help clean the mats, helping greet a new prospective student who walks in the door, helping a new student on their first day of class, helping out with the kids classes, etc. Be an active participant in team functions and events. And most importantly, BE THERE. Make a real effort to be a consistent part of the team. Not because it is demanded, but because you want to. Ultimately, it will all come back to you with interest! I am constantly amazed by the quality of people that share our mats and the numerous examples of this type of behavior I see on a daily basis!
What you get out of training is directly proportional to what you put into it. You can certainly take the approach, as some people do, that being a member of the academy is simply paying your tuition and showing up when you want. After all, you are paying for a service that is being provided. While that is true, I have never seen people who take this type of an approach make is long term in Jiu-jitsu. I promise, if you go the extra step, and really make a concerted effort to not just support your academy and instructor financially so that they can continue to provide the type of training environment that you want, but also share your time and talents, as you are able to, with your academy and your teammates, you will reap great benefit in the long run. YOU are an important part of the team. An academy is not the building or the mats, it is not the instructor. It is the people that make up the team!
In any academy, there is a "core" group of students, and then there are also those who just show up occasionally. That is not determined by the instructor. It is up to the students. In any reputable academy, the instructor doesn't play favorites. Rather, they have the highest hopes that each and every student that walks through the door will fall in love with being on the mat, and they look forward to helping everyone achieve their individual goals and maximize their potential. It is up to you which group you want to be part of. Your time on the mat, can become part of that core group. Anyone, regardless of your time on the mat, can become part of that core group. All you have to do is put forth the effort. Show up regularly, help your training partners and help your academy, participate in team events and be a leader in your academy. If you don't feel you're ready yet to take on a leadership role, just be a good follower first. You will find that the more you become invested in your teammates and your academy, the more it will benefit you-Mutual Welfare & Benefit.
The concept of Jita Kyoei extends beyond the walls of the academy. It is important in any group of people with a common goal, from something as small as a family, to an entire nation, or even an entire planet! As true martial artists, we strive not only to develop effective fighting skills, but more importantly to become better humans. Become a positive influence in your academy, in your family, in your community, in your world. Be the person that picks up that piece of trash someone else left behind, the person that holds the door open for someone else, or returns their shopping cart, the person who lets someone merge in traffic; Be the person that goes out of their way to help someone else out, without expecting anything in return. But, if you make it your practice to do these types of little things that can benefit your fellow human beings, the return on your investment will be very rewarding, indeed!
