Trust

Trust is a fundamental aspect of human relationships and interactions. It's the belief or confidence in the reliability, integrity, and abilities of others. Trust is essential for building strong, meaningful connections, whether in personal relationships, business partnerships, or community interactions.

In personal relationships, trust fosters a sense of security and emotional safety, allowing individuals to be open with each other. In professional settings, trust is crucial for teamwork, collaboration, and effective leadership. It enables people to work together harmoniously, knowing that they can rely on each other to fulfill commitments and act in the best interest of the group.

Trust is also dynamic and fragile. It takes time to build but can be quickly eroded by dishonesty, inconsistency, or betrayal. Once broken, trust can be challenging to repair, often requiring sustained effort and demonstrable change over time.

In a broader societal context, trust in institutions is vital for the effective functioning of communities. High levels of societal trust contribute to stability, prosperity, and well-being.

The Deeper Learning in Martial Arts Groups

Martial arts training is commonly associated with developing willpower, courage, resilience, strength, and martial skills. However, I want to highlight another, often overlooked, aspect: trust. This might seem like a soft, liberal idea, and for many who read about or participate in martial arts groups, it might appear secondary. But let's consider: What is the strongest force multiplier in war? What underpins mental health and well-being? What is a key ingredient of joy, and whose absence is considered one of the harshest forms of torture? The answer to all these is the same: the presence or absence of being or feeling alone.

Aloneness isn't binary; it's a spectrum. On one end, there's solitary confinement, and on the other, fulfilling friendships, camaraderie and strong family bonds. Trust operates on a similar scale. We all trust constantly, even those with paranoia. They might not trust most people, but they trust the chair they sit on, the water from their tap. Martial arts groups force this trust to a higher level. It's not just implicit; it's earned and tangible.

In a martial arts group, one must trust the instructor. If there's no trust, the dojo becomes a personal hell. This is why I always value a child's desire to train over their parents' wishes. Trust in fellow practitioners is equally crucial. Without it, social interactions feel torturous, akin to the hellish scenes in Bruegel or Kokoschka paintings. Conversely, being part of a group where trust is mutual feels like heaven.

In AKBAN groups, I often sense the need to address those who don't seem to trust me as an instructor or their fellow students. Rarely do I need to take action, as such individuals usually self-select out of the group. For them, the sustaining power of the group dissipates, leaving only technique and hollow discipline. They miss out on the nourishment – both emotional and mental – that comes from being part of a trusted community.

The Benefits of Trusting the Trustworthy

The act of placing trust in those who are worthy of it transforms the dojo from a mere physical place into a good path to walk on. In a dojo where trust prevails, each punch and each grapple goes beyond technique; they become expressions of a deeper connection; I trust the technique is not dumb, I trust you to not injure me; you trust me to not injure you. This environment fosters not just physical strength. Trustworthy companions in martial arts provide a safety net, allowing us to push our limits and explore technical vulnerabilities without fear of judgment or harm. This mutual trust cultivates an atmosphere where learning is easy, where mistakes become lessons rather than sources of shame, and where each member grows stronger not just as martial artists, but as individuals. In essence, the trust we place in our fellow practitioners, and that they place in us, becomes the cornerstone of a community where every member thrives, both within the dojo walls and in the wider world.

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