Shihan Brian Cyr – The Academy of Martial Arts – Founder
kur-tuh-see
(a courteous, respectful, or considerate act or expression)
“Karate begins and ends with courtesy”
Gichin Funakoshi
Over the years I have heard the term courtesy used to define a particular quality of the Traditional Martial Arts; but does anyone truly understand what this expression means?
In our daily lives courtesy is demonstrated through many small gestures: saying please and thank you, holding a door open for someone, letting another driver in front of you… All minor, yet extremely important acts that we all participate in daily; a Martial Artist portrays courtesy in much the same manner.
Every day we simply make the effort to treat others in the same manner that we would like them to treat us. The Martial Artist sees courtesy as an act of kindness without an anticipated return. On the surface this sounds easy; however, the ultimate test of this quality is to remain courteous to others when we are met with rudeness.
“Life is short, but there is always time enough for courtesy”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Really big people are, above everything else: courteous, considerate, and generous- not just to some people in some circumstance- but to everyone all the time.”
Thomas J. Watson Sr.
