"R-E-S-P-E-C-T find out what it means to me..."

It is hard to have a conversation about martial arts without the word respect, but what does it mean?

In and out of class we hear the term bandied about:

"Respect your senior belts."

"Respect your elders."

"Respect your parents."

"Respect others' opinions/ways even if they differ from your own - maybe especially if..."

"Respect your workout partner."

"Respect your opponent."

"Hey!  Take care of that equipment - treat it with some respect if you want it to last!"

"Keep the Dojo/Dojang clean and tidy - show some respect for your workout area."

"Respect yourself. Don't let people walk all over you!"

and on and on...

It seems like we know what it means, but there are so many different opinions...

Take "respect your parents" for example...
Upon seemingly ignoring or discounting a parental unit's advice,
you can almost read the response (in the eye roll or other facial commentary)
of "but they just don't UNDERSTAND things are so different now than when they were my age!"

Here it almost seems that Respect is about "liking" or "agreeing" with the guidance.
That certainly won't fly as a working definition if we then try to apply it to Respecting someone with a differing opinion on a topic or way of doing things.

So - for me (MOO = My Opinion Only) - I have found great value in defining respect as "to treat with importance."

That definition of respect works with situations, things, and people.

You don't have to like and/or agree with your parents - but you do need to treat them, and the things they say, with importance.  Think about, consider, and remember what they say and pay attention to them as they are saying it.  Blowing it, or them, off is not an option.

Over the years my students have come to know that this is what I believe.

Let's look again:

-----

"Treat your senior belts with importance."

"Treat your elders with importance."

"Treat your parents with importance."

"Treat others' opinions/ways with importance, even if they differ from your own - maybe especially if..."

"Treat your workout partner with importance."

"Treat your opponent with importance."

"Hey!  Take care of that equipment - treat it with importance if you want it to last!"

"Keep the Dojo/Dojang clean and tidy - treat your workout area with importance."

"Treat yourself with importance - you matter! Don't let people walk all over you!"

------

If you feel differently, or even disagree, that's o.k.
I respect that.  : )

Oh, and no post about respect would be complete with a link to one of my favorite cartoon shorts of all time...  Pixar's:  The Chub Chubs!
It really is ultimately about not taking people for granted, but treating everyone with importance...  make sure to watch for the incentive learning the Chubb Chubbs provide the audience about respect that takes place after the credits!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmhgi665Oek

Respectfully,
Kathy Wiz