What do you do when you don’t know what to do?

Hanshi George Anderson

Several years ago, Hanshi George Anderson, head of the national governing body for karate under the U.S. Olympic Committee, visited my dojo to teach a weekend workshop. He opened it with a question.

“What do you do when you don’t know what to do?”

Students started throwing out suggestions. He rejected them one after the other. “No. No,” he said after a while. “Come on, every real martial artist knows this!”

A few more thoughtful answers were suggested by students, and all rejected.

“If the Queen of England were to walk in here right now, what would you do?”

Some suggested polite greetings. “How are you, Queen?” a young student offered. “Welcome, your majesty,” offered another.

“No,” said Hanshi Anderson. “You don’t talk to the queen unless she speaks to you first. Come on, what would you do?”

Everyone was afraid to venture another guess.

“You do what every good martial artist knows to do,” scolded Hanshi. “You stand at attention and keep your mouth shut!”

Why, one asked?

Well, what can you do when you’re standing still and not talking? You can better focus on what’s happening around you. If the queen had walked in, standing at attention and not talking would allow you to better monitor how she and her party reacted to various comments or actions. And you would likely figure out the right course of action.

In his book The Art of War, Sun Tzu listed several things that would increase a martial artist’s chances for success. One of these was dictating the time and place for the battle to occur. To achieve this, it is often best if your target isn’t aware of your intentions.

Use anger to throw them into disarray, use humility to make them haughty.

Tire them by flight, cause division among them.

Attack when they are unprepared, make your move when they do not expect it.

Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness;

Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness;

Thereby you can be the director of the opponent’s fate.

Sun Tzu, The Art of War – Thomas Cleary Translation

Although Hanshi Anderson felt the ability to remain still, quiet, and observant were qualities all good martial artists possess, we see far too many today who have no control whatsoever over their emotions or actions. I think the problem is tied to the difference between a fighter and a martial artist. Let me know what you think the difference is and I’ll discuss my thoughts on the matter and its connection to the subject of this post sometime soon.

Take care and thanks again for your readership and support.