You're Always Teaching - Everything is Information

 

Everything somebody does or says is information.  We sometimes note this in a self-defence context when we discuss such things as awareness or threat assessment - but how often do we apply this to the people who influence us and how often do we think about the information we ourselves are giving out in the context of instruction?

I remember an instructor friend of mine attending a seminar, the sort where there is a round-robin of teaching.  One of the instructors was 'holding court', explaining to the kyu grades how he "was always sharpening his warrior's edge".  My friend asked if that was a euphemism (he didn't find it funny).

Why do people say such things?  What response are they hoping for?  I don't know, however, it's good when they do because you know something important and relevant about them straight away.

There are times when we are hyper-aware of these bits of information - in dealing with a prospective employer for instance - but too often we are less than vigilant in the collection or control of this information, including in a martial arts context - perhaps it is comfort and complacency rather than hard work that reveals character.

Inadvertent Lessons from Your Teachers

Many people can see their instructor as some sort of guru.  One of the problems in believing your teacher to be a perfect martial arts genius and/or equating proficiency in a martial art with personal development is that you will miss half of the lessons they will teach.

Business decisions, personal relationships, favouritism, harshness, bullying, kindness, marketing successes and failures are all things you can observe in your instructors that have broad applications beyond mere technical demonstrations.

Building a picture

Most of the time singular pieces of information are only of limited use, and the possible conclusions which can be drawn from them will need collaboration.  

As an example let us say the instructor does something common in martial arts - they pass along an historical fallacy.  What does one example of this mean?  Not a huge amount on its own - but we can learn that some of the information we receive may not be reliable.

It happens again and again.  We now know that at least items relating to historical research are not to be trusted as the instructor is happy to pass on information that is not true for whatever reason.

It also raises two questions which deserve further investigation:

1. If historical fallacies are passed on, how reliable is information on any other subject?
2. Why would the instructor pass on historical fallacies in the first place?

We are at least aware that we need to be careful and assess any information we are given before taking it to heart.

"Why?" is one of those question that is sometimes very difficult to answer.  Perhaps they just don't care about historical facts, perhaps they believe everything their own instructor told them, perhaps they didn't want to say "I don't know", perhaps they volunteered the information so as to seem knowledgable.  

All of these things will need corroboration in context and each would tell us something different about the person in question that will change the way we view them - but observe how small pieces of information can create big questions in someones mind.

Control the Information You Provide to Others

Ultimately we want to build upon the positives and not repeat the mistakes made by those who came before us.  We should also be conscious that we are always teaching - we are always providing information through our words and actions - that information is gathered and it allows those who perceive it to draw conclusions.

You may be going to class and teaching your students decent martial arts along with the fact that you're the biggest dickhead in the local area - the fact that you're wearing a blackbelt won't hide that from those of even normal emotional intelligence.

Manipulation

When we understand that this transfer of information exists we must become aware of the ability to manipulate and be manipulated by others.  People may give out information that is designed to elicit particular responses.  People may conclude that certain types of information elicit certain responses in general or from you in particular.

Social media makes manipulating people far more accessible than ever - it is effectively an open book on the things you like, the things you don't like, and the things that will send you off the deep end.  It also seems to have normalised expressing this information to all and sundry.  Wouldn't you like to have this information on an opponent?  Would you like an opponent to have this information on you?

A certain amount of discernment needs to be exercised before acting on information - it may be designed just for you.  

You're Always Teaching

When I say "You're Always Teaching", it is not designed to be something to brag about, something to go on a motivational picture above a black-belted waist - it is something to note, be mindful of - a reason to put the microscope on yourself.  

It's a warning.