Integrity
As your parents and teachers have told you from a young age, it is important that you try to be honest and do the right thing whenever you can. But for martial arts students and other athletes, it is even more important. When you compete in tournaments or practice in your weekly martial arts class, you will usually have a partner or opponent.
This person trusts you to play fair and follow the rules. But you also have to make sure they are safe, and they don’t get hurt. This trust is important for both competitors in a martial arts match. It is what keeps everyone happy and safe. Without it, you may injure yourself or others. This is why integrity and compassion are essential for every student of martial arts.
What Does it Mean to Have Integrity?
Integrity means you act with respect and honesty. A person with integrity will come forward with the truth, even if it reflects poorly on them. For example, if you made a mistake with a martial arts form or move, and your opponent got injured, you would admit your mistake and take responsibility for your actions. Accidents happen with any sport, but only athletes with integrity are willing to admit their own mistakes.
Sometimes, integrity isn’t only about admitting when you have done something wrong, but not intentionally doing something wrong in the first place. When you agree to a martial arts match, you are agreeing to follow all the rules and act in a way that is safe for both you and your opponent. This means you never do something to hurt them. A martial arts master always follows the rules they agree to, and always sticks to their principles.
Why You Should Have Integrity
Those with integrity are not honest because they don’t want to get in trouble, they are honest because they believe in their principles. If you behave dishonestly with your opponent, or even your regular practice partner, you are expressing to them that you don’t care about them or their wellbeing. Being kind, respectful, and compassionate to others shows them that you value them and their talents.
Being fair and considerate of your peers is the kind and responsible thing to do, and it is an important part of becoming a martial arts master. No one likes having a match with a dishonest opponent, it’s not fun or educational. We should all treat others the way we would like to be treated, and part of that is sticking to your principles and being the type of athlete you would like to meet.
How to Be a Person of Integrity
To be a person of good integrity, you need to think about the principles you value. Do you value things like good sportsmanship, honesty, sincerity, or trust? If you do, then you need to act in a way that is true to them. This means being honest even when it’s difficult or being a good sportsman even when it’s easy to cheat. Sticking to your principles is what integrity is all about.
