Dedication and volunteers

Dedication is a strange thing really. In my life, I come across many different types of people. From school teachers to administrators, primary and secondary school students, salespeople and parents. They all have various ways of showing dedication, and to various things.

Some people are dedicated to their jobs, their families and their friends; and all of these are very admirable of course. However, it is not too often that I find poeple very dedicated to an ideal, or a virtue. The majority of the people I encounter do not necessarily lack a moral centre, but they seem to change what is personally important to them depending on who they are with. This is saddening because it means that they lack courage and strength to 'stand up for what they believe in', something that we try and address at the Dojo.

Our Dojo is a not-for-profit club. It relies solely on volunteers to run, manage and organise it. I often see the few people who are involved in this and their dedication go un-noticed or un-acknowledged. Of course these people would not ask for recognition in the traditional sense, it goes against the spirit of humility, an important Samurai virtue. But recognition, acknowledgement and respect can come in many forms. It might be suprising for some to learn that no less than 43 hours a week are volunteered regularly to keep things working and available for the students, and that is on a regular week. Of course more is required when there are events to organise, communications with councils or local groups, advertising or fundraising ventures and such like. All of this is time spent away from the volunteers' own training and development. As has been recognised internationally, the power of volunteers in this world serves as a great example to everyone.

The dedication that these volunteers show every week, every lesson, is amazing. Amazing that they would choose to firstly put others before themselves, and for no other benefit than the simple pleasure of being part of something that enriches and develops people in the traditional Japanese Martial Arts, thus making them stronger human beings. I would personally like to acknowledge everyone who volunteers at the Dojo to help it stay strong and remind others to consider this.

There is no requirement to volunteer at the Dojo, although volunteers are always needed. It is perfectly fine to attend classes, pay your fees and go home, but before you see something wrong or inefficient, or even inconvenient; just take a moment to consider that all these volunteers themselves have lives outside the Dojo, lives consisting of the same pressures and pleasures that you yourself have. Yet despite this, they consistantly make efforts to bring the spirit and technical instruction of the Martial Arts to the mat, and maintain a club and facilities to ensure it is there for you again next week, next month, and indeed years to come.

I would like to suggest that next time, instead of pointing a finger, raise a hand.