Hello Sen,

You started training, fell in love with the martial arts, and quickly found within yourself the dedication and commitment to pursue the dream of gaining the coveted black belt. Encouraged by your experience of self growth and increasingly positive approach to life that the Martial Arts (done properly) can give, some of you sought opportunities to teach; to pass on to others the experience and life changing opportunities to be gained through such studies. As you know, I have always encouraged teaching, I still believe it is fundamental to grasping your art and believe it brings with it amazing growth and understanding.   But as I have also said, teaching as I do in front of a class is not the only way and for some of you it is not your way.

Being an instructor is an honour, a privilege and a responsibility and that’s nothing but a good thing, but when students pass you their trust you must hold it with integrity and defend it with your honour . Remember that always….. I did!

Franchises aren’t for everyone and I know there are those of you struggling with trying to teach when all you really ever wanted was to be a student. To continue your studies, work your body hard a couple of times a week and feel the great feeling that training can give you, coupled with working hard at the zen lessons to keep the plates of life spinning. Now you are caught in a mire, perhaps you were swept along by the enthusiasm of the crowd and now you have few students and the commitment that comes with them. Yes, students are a commitment and rightly so too! For some others of you, the franchise has proven successful and you have a strong group following you. Why am I saying this? well, because I know that some of you are having ……. and the rest of you are going to have, issues with what will be asked of you as the future unfolds. Your students rightly tie you in to the courses of action which the school follows and I don't need to tell you that Pete Delane dictates all policy, as he would tell you…’its my school and you will do what I like!’  But it is you that has to implement his commands at the student level and face the difficult questions and embarrassing issues that they raise. I know of this because a great many of you have in the past come to me over such things.

I have to tell you I have been shocked by the number of ex black belts that have contacted me in recent days. The important point is that there are many many more ex Cotsfield students than current Cotsfield students, its not just the odd one or two ……. there are 30 years worth. Some men I haven’t heard from for 10 years or more and my recent discussions with them have been most enlightening. The distinct pattern that has emerged is that they all aspired to reach Cotsfield and take lessons with Pete Delane. Eventually they got there, and for a period of time they enjoyed it ….. before the doubts, worries, intimidation, constant talk about money and smoke and mirrors etc just became too wearing for them to take anymore …..  so they all ended up leaving …… by one route or another! Each felt a wrench of guilt and sadness that their investment in time, effort and fellowship was lost with their departure and all said that the biggest loss was the friendship of those men and women they had trained alongside. That's an important point, as valid today as it has ever been. Often it is the camaraderie, bonding and sense of esprit-de-corp between you instructors, forged on numerous weekend courses and black belt sessions that is the real reason for the feeling of wellbeing when heading home from Cotsfield, not the planted audience warm ups, the standing around waiting, watching a dvd, the pep talk or the show biz ending to the evening.

So….. if you are brave enough to still be reading…. Pay attention!!! If I am not an example of the fact that you will leave then I don’t know what is. 30 years counted for nothing in the end! When you do leave you will be the same as all the other ex students I have talked to, your future is predictable I am afraid. The camaraderie and friendships of your peers will be lost to you…. because they stayed … the friendships of those that leave before you will be lost to you…. because you stayed ….. its a loop and when its your turn you will feel very isolated. All the while the memories of your peers and theirs of you will slowly be damaged by words whispered into ears in private moments and the subtle stage-craft of a consummate actor performing live under the guise of heartfelt discussion.

30 years is a long time and I have learnt much in my studies of the way…. if you valued my council once ….. then you will again one day …….  sooner or later!

But, now for the first time ever there is a viable alternative for you …………… a bridge that has never before existed for those current instructors of the BAMA that are committed to their students but concerned and trapped by what is happening inside It ……… A way for you to be fully in control of your own destiny and the way that you teach your students …….... not the same old thing dressed up in a different coat,  a simple way, an honest way, the right way….  where you teach (or develop your group) as you think and as you want and with complete financial independence too…. yet with the full support and backup of my experience and a formidable network of friendly, like minded independent instructors.

I have built that bridge for you…… and called it the dojo of truth……it is for you, for when its your turn, it’s for those of you who are determined to hold your students trust with integrity and are prepared to defend it with your Honour.

Right now I stand on one side of the bridge ……. and I hold my end of the rope……… patiently I will wait to see you on the other side …… and when I feel the tug on the rope, I shall smile and welcome you across.

Yours In Truth

Murray Bruton

SEISHIN DOJO 誠 真 道 場

Can be read as “A place of "the way" that is loyal, constant and steadfast to the qualities of being free from deceit, untruthfulness and pretense, strongly principled, and with genuine feelings towards expressing the truth of thing’s as they actually exist in the world.”