For over 200 years, the United States Marine Corps has exemplified the finest in military virtue. Its success in battle is unmatched and the credit for this success can be summed up in one word: Leadership.

What truly sets Marines apart from all the others is leadership. Leadership is encouraged from the moment a young man or woman enters boot camp, and is emphasized throughout their career. Leadership applies to all areas including yourself, in that a strong part of leadership is self-discipline and performing to the very best of your capabilities whether you are under direct supervision or not.

Leadership is not simply bossing around others, but is a selfless giving of yourself to guide and direct the activities of others or a group.

The Marine Corps has established a set of guidelines called Leadership Principles, which help leaders in their day to day contact with their subordinates.

The Marine Corps Leadership Principles are:

• Know yourself and seek self-improvement.

• Be technically and tactically proficient.

• Develop a sense of responsibility among your subordinates.

• Make sound and timely decisions.

• Set the example.

• Know your Marines and look out for their welfare.

• Keep your Marines informed.

• Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions.

• Ensure assigned tasks are understood, supervised, and accomplished.

• Train your Marines as a team.

• Employ your command in accordance with its capabilities.

As Martial Art Instructors, we have unique challenges in our responsibilities toward our students. It is no longer enough that we are proficient in kicking, punching, throwing and twisting joints. These days, Instructors must be good leaders and mentors to our students, and guide them in their Martial Arts development. The goal of every instructor should be to produce students that can carry on the traditions of their system and their legacy. However, today we are faced with young students who are often without a "father-figure" in their home, or lack a proper role model. Morality and self-discipline are only words that they have rarely heard, and likely do not know the meaning of.

The Instructor's Leadership and the Mentorship they provide may be the only thing that separates a child who may someday be a success and one that will continue to fill our prisons.

I believe that the very same Leadership Principles can be applied to Instructors of the Martial Arts by changing a few words around to fit our unique circumstances. By applying these principles to your day to day interaction, you will benefit yourself, your students, and the Martial Arts as a whole.

Know yourself and seek self-improvement.

When does learning in the Martial Arts end? If we are wise, then we never stop learning both our Art, and other things that supplement it.

Instructors should always seek to constantly improve themselves and through self-awareness recognize their own strengths, weaknesses, assets, and limitations. Recognize your strengths and assets and exploit them. Find your weakness and limitations and conquer them.

Be technically and tactically proficient.

Technical excellence is paramount for an instructor. Constantly practicing to maintain and improve your skills is a part of the never-ending journey that is the Martial Arts.

Again, this applies directly to the paragraph above. Seeking self-improvement sets the example for your students.

If a student asks something you don’t know, don’t "BS" them. Tell them you are not certain of the correct answer, and immediately seek to learn the correct answer. When you have the answer, get back to your student. Student's know when they are being fooled, just don’t open your mouth and be the fool.

Develop a sense of responsibility among your students.

Train your students to accept responsibility for themselves and their actions. Teach them that all actions have consequences, and that the skills they learn in the dojo should carry them in all aspects of their lives, from school to the workforce.

Make sound and timely decisions.

Indecision has destroyed the morale of more armies than just about any other factor. When a decision is called for, consider your options, use your best judgement and make the decision.

Set the example.

As a leader, you are the person students look to for advice and approval. Students will follow the example that is set for them by those that they respect.

Know your Students and look out for their welfare.

How well do you really know your students? If you have a large number of students, maybe not very well. A large number of students will definitely affect how closely you get to know your students, but you should always make the attempt to learn all you can about them.

Keep your Students informed.

Let your students know what is going on in the dojo, what events are on the horizon and let them know what goals you have set for the dojo in the coming months and years. Let them know they are part of the dojo and how they can help in achieving those goals. Make them feel like a contributing part of the dojo's success and future.

Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions.

At the same time we are working to develop a sense of responsibility in our students, Instructors need to demonstrate responsibility to their students through their actions. Little things like keeping your word, not making excuses and willingness to accept responsibility when things don't go quite right, sets the example.

Ensure assigned tasks are understood, supervised, and accomplished.

This might be a little tougher to apply, since our students are not our employees or a squad of Marines. However, as instructors we often assign tasks to our students, from dojo clean up days, organizing a function or special event, helping in the day to day running of the dojo, or performing a certain technique during class.

Employ your leadership in accordance with its capabilities.

Teach what you know and don’t assume that because of your high ranking in one martial art that you are qualified to teach another.