# Friday Recommendation #9

- Link: https://brianejohns.com/2021/05/21/blog-friday-recommendation-9/
- Published: 2021-05-21T10:00:00-04:00
- Author: Brian Johns

How many of you have run into martial artists who acted as though they knew it all?
The hell with them, right? While that may be a justifiable reaction, many of us 
have gone through a period where we knew it all.

## This terrific podcast touches on this phenomenon.

If you are not able to view this podcast video, click [here](https://youtu.be/HlwSvmVXuOs).

True story: In the spring of 2001, my [Modern Arnis](https://brianejohns.com/2007/10/09/blog-modern-arnis-what-it-is-and-it-isnt/)
instructor in Ohio decided to host a joint seminar with himself and Master Ken Smith.
The seminar aimed to raise funds for Professor Presas’ medical expenses.

Master Dan McConnell received an email from a martial artist wishing to attend the
seminar. The martial artist indicated he had 50 years of experience and wanted to
participate in the seminar. He attached a martial arts resume to the email to Master
Dan. The resume was quite impressive. My reaction? “_WOW_.”

He came to the seminar. Unfortunately, his performance left a decidedly different
impression on us. It’s one thing for someone to try something unfamiliar (a different
martial art, for example). It’s another thing when a person demonstrates unbelievably
poor eye-hand coordination. Unfortunately, this guy suffered from a version of the“
[_I know it all_” syndrome](https://brianejohns.com//2011/03/16/blog-i-already-know-that/).
One attendee said, “_That guy vastly overestimated his skill level. Pretty sad_.”

Another true story: a martial arts buddy of mine once approached a high-ranking 
black belt at a seminar. He asked him if he wanted to partner up on a technique.
The black belt responded, “_No, thanks. I already know that stuff. I don’t need 
to train that much anyway_.”

## Wut?

Contrast that with the late Professor Remy Presas or GM Wally Jay. Those two were
always training. Neither of them could get enough training. Professor Presas told
us, “_The day I stop learning is when I’m dead_.” Wow, I love that. Unfortunately,
not everyone is like Professor Remy or GM Wally. Even though their knowledge base
was, in my estimation, [equivalent to Ph. Ds](https://brianejohns.com/2016/05/12/blog-the-equivalent-of-a-ph-d/),
they never stopped thirsting for knowledge.

I can say most martial artists I know are not as ignorant as the bank robber described
in the video. Most that I have known do not suffer from the Dunning-Krueger effect.
On the other hand, many of us have been pretty sure about our knowledge at some 
point in our martial arts careers. Maybe even smug about our knowledge base.

I was more cocksure about my knowledge base in my younger days than I am today. 
The more I train, the more I realize there is much more knowledge to be tapped. 
I would go far as to say that it’s impossible to know an entire [style](https://brianejohns.com/2021/03/12/blog-friday-podcast-recommendation-3/).
I now understand why Professor Presas kept training as much as he did. His curiosity
and thirst for learning are what made him an all-time great. Is it any wonder he
kept telling us: “_You must practice_!” so many times?

Speaking for myself, though, [the more I train](https://brianejohns.com/2021/04/16/blog-friday-recommendation-6/),
the less sure I am about my knowledge. Even after 34 years in martial arts, I feel
like I am just scratching the surface. “_Man, what do I know?_” I am awed by how
much I do not know. In any case, I highly recommend the above video podcast.

Astronomers like to say they peer into the telescope, looking for answers. Instead,
they come away with more questions. I feel the same way many times.

## Do you?

## Additional Reading

 * [Knowledge Creation, the Internet and Martial Arts](https://brianejohns.com/2021/07/05/blog-knowledge-creation-the-internet-and-martial-arts/)
 * [The Equivalent of a Ph.D?](https://brianejohns.com/2016/05/12/blog-the-equivalent-of-a-ph-d/)
 * [I Already Know That](https://brianejohns.com/2011/03/16/blog-i-already-know-that/)
 * [Friday Recommendation #14](https://brianejohns.com/2023/08/04/friday-recommendation-14/)
 * [Killer Podcast Recommendation](https://brianejohns.com/2021/02/26/blog-killer-podcast/)

### Share this post:

 * [  X ](https://brianejohns.com/2021/05/21/blog-friday-recommendation-9/?share=twitter)
 * [  Facebook ](https://brianejohns.com/2021/05/21/blog-friday-recommendation-9/?share=facebook)
 * [  LinkedIn ](https://brianejohns.com/2021/05/21/blog-friday-recommendation-9/?share=linkedin)
 * [  Threads ](https://brianejohns.com/2021/05/21/blog-friday-recommendation-9/?share=threads)
 * [  WhatsApp ](https://brianejohns.com/2021/05/21/blog-friday-recommendation-9/?share=jetpack-whatsapp)
 * [  Email ](https://brianejohns.com/2021/05/21/blog-friday-recommendation-9/?subject=%5BShared%20Post%5D%20Friday%20Recommendation%20%239&body=https%3A%2F%2Fbrianejohns.com%2F2021%2F05%2F21%2Fblog-friday-recommendation-9%2F&share=email)
 * [  Print ](https://brianejohns.com/2021/05/21/blog-friday-recommendation-9/#print?share=print)

### Like this:

Like Loading…

### _Related_