Competence

"It is easier to instill confidence than competence" -- Rory Miller

In the world of martial arts, this is particularly true. Many instructors and coaches will instill a sense of confidence in their students. That keeps them in the dojo longer, keeps them paying. They may not actually be competent, but their coach has made them feel confident, but the two are not the same. I don't instill false senses of confidence in my students. In fact, I don't ever let them feel complacent with where they are at. I always point out the next thing someone needs to work on to improve and get better. This is tough for new students because they want to be told they are good, but the reality is there is always more to learn, more to improve on no matter how long one has been training. If you come to train at the dojo, it will be a growing experience. But growth should be the goal always and not just having a false sense of confidence.