Many people could be in awe of your 5th dan, or Godan grade. Technically, this is a master level. Do you have any advice for those who are in awe of you as a martial artist ? Also, how are the technical skills of a Godan different to other black belt levels ?
Well each organization has different concepts on what makes a Godan. When Pak Taman gave me one, I think it symbolizes the fact that I have completed all the core syllabus of what he has to offer, and that I have shown sufficient attitude to make him believe that I will carry on his traditions the way he want it to be. That's about it. I don't think I'm a master, I'm just a guy with less-than-average intellect, very-much-less-than-average physical capabilities, but with a certain above-average love for the art..which enables me to endure the training, and in the end, was able to memorize the whole syllabus.
Now that memorizing is done, my goal is to make the techniques truly a part of me, and the only way to achieve the goal is by consistent training. Judging by my chimp-level intellect and nonexistent physical condition, maybe I will achieve that goal by 4096 AD. If I am still alive, off course :)
Seriously, the best part of Budo is the training. I don't set any goal anymore. I just train and teach and enjoy it. I think the sense of happiness when doing the training and teaching transcends everything else.
2. While we’re on the subject of grades. What would you say are the responsibilities of senior grades within the club ? What, for example, would you say the responsibilities of a Brown Belt are ? What are the factors you take into consideration when awarding senior grades ?
Well, I have basically a roomful of seniors who quit training as soon as they get 4th, 3rd and 2nd Kyu. So, many people treat their training in GBI club simply as a self-defense course, not as an activity which they should be doing as a livelong journey. Kind of sad, really. But, like I say, people's love to the art are different. Just like every person's destiny are different. So, I have nothing against people quitting.
However, those who do wish to stick with it, must be very serious about that. I make a rule, that I will not award somebody their Shodan, if they are not as skilled and as serious about their training as I was when I was a MuKyu struggling to the Shodan grade. In short, I don't give away that DAN grades, people has to earn it. For Kyu grades, as long as the attitude are correct and the technical skills are sound, I'm really an easy-going guy when giving away Kyu grades :)
I think real serious responsibilities to become assistants to help me spread and teach the art should fall upon the shoulders of those who has reached 2nd and 1st Kyu. However I have people quitting on me at those grades. So I'm not kidding myself in thinking that people always has the same love to the art. People has different priorities in life, and I accept that as facts of life. So, I will simply continue teaching until I find the right students to help me carry on the traditions.
3. Some people look up to the Sensei as an all-knowing, parent-type figure ? That level of responsibility must be hard to take. Senseis are human beings, after all. Some Senseis have been said to fear their students superceding them, or just absorbing knowledge and moving on. As a modern, forward-looking martial artist, can you comment on this rarely-discussed aspect of a teacher’s life ?
I don't mind having a student surpass my achievements in the martial arts. In fact I am looking forward to it. If any of my boys or gals has more love to the art than myself, more skillful than myself, more passion to spread the teachings than myself, more capable in administering the GBI than myself, then I'm happy.
Absorbing knowledge and moving on to something else? That already happened many, many times! :D So I'm getting used to it. I guess it's a natural selection thing. Some people are fit to be teachers of my tradition, some people are not. That's a fact of life. There's nothing I can do about it, so I just kind of sit back and accept it. After all, I am not a god and nowhere near deification :)
4. You’ve done a lot to promote unity between the different styles of martial arts. In one Radio Republik Indonesia interview,
(you actually listened to that? And I thought only Gandarvas in the Jungle, CIA people in their NASA Satellites and the inhabitants of Planet Mars listened to that particular broadcast. Must make note to myself: people don't actually puke when they hear my orations :) )
you are said to have called on martial artists to unite as they are all artists. How do you manage the question of rank between clubs ? For example, how should a purple belt in, say, a BJJ style, relate to a Godan in a traditional Jujutsu style. Surely the lower-ranked BJJ student would have to regard the senior Jujutsu exponent as his (or her) senior ? If not, how should we manage the question of different ranking and status demarcations in our effort to unite the martial arts ?
Rank and titles are meaningless outside the Dojo. It only signifies what the giver thinks about the receiver. Thus, it means something only inside the Club/Dojo. I know of a brown belt in Wado whom are better than me in doing Wado Katas, won more Karate competitions than me, and throwing better high roundhouse kicks than me. I know of a Wado 1st Dan in Holland, a 20 years old fella, who knows all Wado Jujutsu stuff that I know, maybe more. The only seniority that counts for, to me, is personal maturity regarding the role of Budo in enriching people's life. A 6th Dan in Jujutsu, be it BJJ, Gendai or Koryu, will not impress me if he still has the "my-art-is-the-best-I-can-beat-you-all" attitude. I will be more impressed by a guy who say "I don't care whether my art is the best or not, but I try to make people's life better with my art". Those guys with nothing to prove are my true heroes.
5. As patriotic Indonesians, many try to base their organizations on Pancasila. Can you explain the role of the Pancasila in GBI ?
I try to become a living embodiment of Pancasila. For starter, I accept only believers of a religion. Whatever religion is OK, I will even accept Rastafarians, Shintoists, Judaists, Mormons, whatever. It does not have to be an organized religions, because I will also accept anyone who does not follow a formal religion, as long as they believe in a God, an Universal Life Giver, or whatever you call it. Because it's kind of difficult to do the Mokuso without a God to say prayers to :) To whom atheists will direct their prayers? So I cannot accept them. Those are the embodiments of the 1st Pillar of Pancasila.
I also teach my students to respect even their opponent's human rights. Never hurt their opponent excessively. Pain should be administered as little as possible, only as much as necessary. That is the embodiment of the 2nd Pillar of Pancasila.
I always encourage my students to develop a bonds of brotherhood amongst themselves, and I also work hard to form a cooperation between martial artists from different clubs. That's the embodiment of the 3rd Pillar of Pancasila.
The Dojo is not a democracy, however, I always ask for my students opinions (in a Musyawarah style) about how to better run the Club. You know this, right? To me that's the embodiment of the 4th Pillar of Pancasila.
And lastly, I teach for free in YAI and Esa Unggul. In fact I always provide free teachings for those who need training but can't afford tuition fees. So, that's my interpretation of the 5th Pillar of Pancasila.
Do I sound like a product of the New Order generation? Oopss.. :)
Any more questions, bring em on bro!
Ben

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