Discipline vs. Self-DisciplineBack when the Shaolin Temple was

more than just a tourist stop for curiousAmericans, when the mountainous area inSzechuan province was known for martialarts instead of Buddha keychains, impres-sionable youth would dream of somedaystudying with the famous monks.

They knew it wouldn't be easy. Theyknew their chance of being accepted as adisciple of the Shaolin tradition would bemeasured not by their potential, but bytheir determination, their discipline.

One by one they would knock on thehallowed doors of the Shaolin Temple.

- One by one they would be sent away, dis-patched to their family homes and farmsby monks looking for the one in a millionworthy of learning the Shaolin way.

"You do not want it bad enough, myson," each was told. "You must want it inyour heart."

Most simply turned and trudged slow-ly down the hill, never to be heard fromagain. But every so often would come achild with a singular purpose in mind;studying with the Shaolin monks remainedthe only option. He would occupy anuncomfortable top step from morning 'tillnight, through freezing cold and blindingrain, through searing heat and blusterywinds.

Each day he would approach themonks on their way to mountaintop medi-tation. Each day he was told to go home.

Until one day when his dedication wasrewarded, when the monks stopped at hisfeet and pointed to the doors.

"You have shown us what we neededto see. You are welcome," my son.

Things have sure changed since thedays of the Shaolin Temple. My how theyhave changed. For better. And for worse.

On the positive side, children who wantto study the various martial arts inAmerica these days don't have to endurethe same pain and suffering. See a childbeing forced to sit in the rain day after dayuntil he is accepted as a student andyou'll likely see his parents being hauledinto court on charges of child endanger-ment.

Rarely is a student turned down, andeven if it happens, another training halldown the street will gladly find a space.

On the negative side, some contendthat life comes so easy for today'syoungsters that the drive to work towarda goal is missing. They maintain the dis-cipline so necessary to martial arts mas-tery has gone the way of the ninja; steal-ing into the night, never to be seen orheard from again.

At Master Glazier Karate, we prefer anapproach of teaching self-discipline,rather than in-your-face discipline. There'sa big difference.

Discipline is what the Army teachesyou. They tell you when to get up, when totrain, when to eat and when to go to bed.They tell you what you can and cannotsay. And when to say it.

The Army does not want you to thinkon your own. You must react to orders. Tobe disciplined, you have to have some-body giving you commands at all times.

Self-discipline is different. Self-disci-pline is when you discipline yourself,when you learn when to give yourselforders. Whether it's cleaning your room,doing your homework or going to work,there's something in the back of your mindwhich tells you these things must bedone.

We try to teach a child self-disciplineso that when he walks out onto the streetand there's no instructor around, he'llknow how to direct his life in a positivedirection. This kind of training leads toself-confidence.

Many schools follow a more traditional,antiquated way of thinking. They don'twant students thinking for themselves.They want to maintain total control. A stu-dent who can't think for himself will alwaysneed his sensei. It may feed the instruc-tor's individual sense of ego, but it doesnothing for the student when he tries toemerge from under his teacher's wing.

Cornered, three against one, the prac-titioner with no thoughts of his own willfreeze, waiting, hoping for his instructor toimpart wisdom which will get him out ofthe jam. Ultimately, the commands nevercome; the student must be left to his owndevices.

The Master Glazier Karate student whohas been taught to think—and react—onhis own will know what to do when thechips are down. Phyiscally he will be pre-pared to use a plethora of tried-and-trueattacks and counterattacks. Mentally andemotionally, he will react calmly and sen-sibly, even in the face of extreme danger.

That's the difference between a regi-men of discipline and self-discipline. Oneseeks total control in the dojo. Anothergives you total control when it counts.

Faced with a do-or-die situtation, whowould you rather see pulling the strings? H

Master Mark Glazier is Chairman and ChiefExecutive Officer of Master Glazier KarateInternational. Inc., which trades on the NASDAQ as"Kick". His organization owns and operates 10schools in New Jersey. New York andPennsylvania.