The Price of Loyalty.

Loyalty is a commodity. If i were powerful and creative enough maybe I could list it on the futures market. It does seem that integrity, moral standing and even loyalty can be bought, if the price is right. Take for example political parties, there is no shortage of MPs and representatives jumping ship it is innate perhaps for people to seek ‘greener pastures’ or to make the move when it suits them or if it is a worthwhile endeavor monetary wise.

I bring this up not because I believe in buying loyalty nor do I believe that loyalty and allegiance should be a tangible commodity that can be bought and moved about in the capital market, but I refer to Loyalty as a value. I value loyalty in a person, it usually showcases a person’s character, one who is steadfast, trustworthy and unwavering in support come hell or high waters. A loyal friend is one you would like by your bedside on your dying day, or by your side when fighting a war. You cannot possibly place value on it likewise, a person who has betrayed you for monetary or because circumstances make it an easy choice is not someone you want to readily re invite into your inner circles, regardless of how many years you have known that said person. As I wrote in my previous posts, integrity, manners and loyalty are what I value most.

Contrast this with a person who has seen you at your worst and your best, who has been there more often when you are down than you are up, a person who has been infallible in their support. Its usually easier to take this person for granted. Just like how its always easy to get mad at your sister, mother, father, brother, wife or best friend because you know that they will never leave you. As unlikely as it is there will come a day when this support disappears completely, because unlike flip floppers and people with no real loyalties, those most loyal to you are often those who can leave you permanently without batting so much of an eyelid. Because when you give someone so loyal to you a reason to leave, it usually means they have had enough.

People want to be treated justly, and people want to be treated the way they treat another, for example I saw this when i was googling strongest man competitions. The question came “Which race of people is the strongest?” very few answers addressed the question seriously, one individual’s answer however stood out when that said individual answered  The Aryan race”. He followed up by saying something like  ”Ask a stupid question that has an inclination towards racism and you’ll get a racist answer”. Same thing, use “f**k” in a sentence when talking to me, and that usually sets the tone of the conversation.

Loyalty… who can really say they are loyal? Not many. Not many can even attempt to be true to Kyokushin or Sosai why? Because sometimes it gains you nothing.

It becomes  increasingly difficult to justify and explain  just how hard it is to keep a good karate class going. There is often that balance of growing classes and maintaing them v.s the nurturing of your current stable of students. As long as I’ve been here in Kyokushin, this post on loyalty is far reaching and strikes a chord within the whole Kyokushin structure, because as one soon finds out, there is a price on everything. Loyalty, love and even life itself.

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