Talk: Keep the tiger behind the bamboo

Tiger/bamboo

I remember I became somewhat a legend, when early on in my training, I'd had a hairline fracture in my arm (and didn't know it), and was doing some techniques, and my arm snapped like a dried twig. I mean about as loud as a breaking pencil, and the bone bulged out (didn't pierce the skin), and so on. The class stopped, and I saw jaws drop as they looked over and realized what was happening. Just sheer reflex, I twisted my arm back and pulled on the wrist, which set the ulna. It felt fine, and I was thinking, "that didn't break, it was just a funny monkey-bump/muscle knot and a weird ligament/joint snap". Or maybe I was just denial. I said to my instructor, "It's OK, I can go on". This was the British officer equivalent is to saying, "oh, that smarts" in a distracted voice, when your arm has just been torn off by a mortar round. The class was still agape and couldn't believe what was happening. Fortunately for me, he said, "go to the hospital". Which I did, and it was broken.

I wasn't being heroic or stupid (OK, maybe a little stupid), it was just that when you do something really bad, the endorphins kick in, and you don't feel it much. Honestly, I'd felt hurt much more doing other little things like stubbing/dislocating a toe, or jamming/dislocating a finger. So I was just heroic because the full consequences of what had happened, hadn't set in yet. I was much more aware of it later, and the next few weeks with the dull incessant throbbing in my arm made me want to run over small things just to get my aggressions out.

After that, I worked out much harder, to make sure that wouldn't ever happen again. (It did, but that's another story). But the point was that I had really high expectations for myself. And while there was some ego involved in not letting myself (or others) down, it made me try much harder and become much better than I would have otherwise. I set an example, and tried hard, and so I could be flawed occasionally and still keep my status and esteem. When I failed, I admitted it, and tried harder. I never asked people to do things I wouldn't try to do. And so on. Lead by example, rather than the aloof king.

Once I'd achieved my position at the top of the dog-heap, it was generally wiser to no longer participate, since participation would lead to an eventual loss; thus the only way to go was down. So opt out and stay at the top. Fighters do this by only fighting those that they can beat. Others do it by being "above" others. However, I didn't get to where I was by being meek, or striving for mediocrity. I didn't want the symbolism of being seen as the best, I wanted the substance of doing my best. And by competing hard, it kept me on my toes, and made me better than if I rested on my laurels and reputation. Of course I lasted 10 years there, and my instructor is still there; so it really matters what you're striving for. But you can't strive for it, unless you understand it.

The point that I learned was if you want to be seen as a good, intimidating, mysterious person; then my all means, keep the tiger behind the bamboo. Become opaque and you have an advantage. Hearing the tiger pacing and growling and snuffling around on the other side of the bamboo thicket raises a lot more healthy fear and respect in them, than if they actually see the tiger itself. This works in many leadership positions; whether CEO, boss, Martial Arts instructor, and so on. It is a useful tool you can use to your advantage.