The qualities that differentiate a customer from a student are sincerity and intent. A customer's mentality is "what can I get from the art?" A student's mentality is "what can I give to the art?" A customer follows traditional martial arts etiquette because he is supposed to. A student follows traditional martial arts etiquette because he feels them in his heart. A customer is always thinking of himself first. A student is always thinking of the teacher first, the other students second and not of himself at all. A customer is concerned with what rank he has attained. A student is concerned with becoming the best practitioner of his style that he can be for the good of the style. A customer trains for himself. A student trains for others. A customer seeks glory and recognition. A student shuns glory and recognition. A customer seeks to build and bolster his ego. A student seeks to destroy his ego.

     A warrior is only as good as his discipline. The student understands this and takes every opportunity to practice and perfect his art. A customer makes excuses why he is unable to do something expected of him. The student takes full responsibility for his training and practice. A customer blames his circumstances, other students, or his teacher as to why his training and practice are not up to par. It has been said that the art won't mold itself to fit the student, but that the student must mold himself to fit the art. The student allows himself to be molded by his teacher. The customer decides what he will and won?t do. The journey of every martial artist is to become a student. My teacher always says it takes almost ten years for most people to change from being a customer to being a student. If you are busy trying to decide whether or not you are a student, then you are a customer. If you have already decided that you are a student, then you are definitely a customer and have learned nothing from this article. The only one who can make the determination that you are a customer or a student is your teacher. If you don't have a teacher, find one. If you have one, take very good care of him. Maybe one day, he may even consider you to be a student.