ANN ARBOR, Mich. - iSportsWire -- "Every truth has four corners. As a teacher I give you one corner, and it is for you to find the other three." – Confucius

Are you familiar with Confucius's idea of four corners?

Have you thought about how ancient principles apply to our everyday lives?

Sensei Wayne Muromoto from SMAA has this to say:

Confucius has been influential in the premodern educational system of many East Asian countries. This is true too of Japan. The Confucian classics were part of the traditional education of the warrior class before Japan's modernization, and Confucian philosophy still exerts great influence over Japanese culture and society. It's easily seen, of course, in the way teachers are supposed to be accorded great respect by their pupils.

What I find more wanting, however, is the self-motivation espoused by Confucius in the above quote. One would think that this lack of motivation would be expected in Japan, China or Korea, countries that were the bedrock of Confucian societies and whose educational system relied heavily upon rote memorization and repetition. But in many martial arts dojos in America, this lack of self-discovery and personal initiative is also easy to find.

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Confucius was saying that a teacher's role is really limited. No matter how much he offers, he is only, as the Buddha would say, a "pointing finger" showing you the path to wisdom. It is up to you, the student, to take that road and find its end. The teacher is a marker, a pathfinder. He's not going to carry you all the way to the end like a baby.

Check out the full article on Confucius' four corners: https://www.smaa-hq.com/articles/article/the-other-three-corners-japanese-karate-association

Find the Other Three Corners at a Japanese Karate Association

Have you been looking for an authentic Japanese karate association?
SMAA offers five different divisions of authentic Japanese martial arts. Submit a contact form here or call 734-720-0330 to start your martial arts journey: https://www.smaa-hq.com/contact

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About Shudokan Martial Arts Association: SMAA was founded in January 1994 by a group of martial artists concerned with promoting and safeguarding Nihon budo and koryu bujutsu—the traditional martial arts and ways of Japan. SMAA is a non-profit that aims keep the spirit of traditional budo alive in the West. Anyone can become a member, even if you aren't a martial artist, and SMAA members are from multiple countries across the globe. For more information, visit https://www.smaa-hq.com/about