My frequent coauthor Lawrence Kane turned to one day and said, “You have a real problem with authority.” I replied, “No, I have a problem with bad authority” He smiled and gave his patented, “Heh” and nodded yes. It is true I have a problem with bad authority. How do I define bad authority? This way, “A slavish compliance to process to the exclusion of the actual goal.” We all have numerous examples of this bad bureaucracy in the lives we live, dealing with a bank, a state agency, etc.
Now you have gotten to this point in the article your questions is; “Kris, how does this apply to my martial arts?” Like this, what is your ultimate goal of your art? There are lots of supporting aspects of the art but at the end of the day, what is the one sentence mission statement? Your task is to carve, chip, and whittle down your mission statement, “The purpose of my martial arts is_______” Now reflecting on that mission statement see how it matches up with what you are doing every time you train.
Now some fun audio from a brilliant comedian Shelly Berman, who deftly and inadvertently demonstrates an inefficient bureaucracy is the equivalent of dealing with a child. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWwUgjkOHAA
