The wonderful thing about martial arts training is the opportunity to develop insights into our world and how to live.  On the Ki Inspiring Thoughts website we have developed a blog to encourage everyone to share their thoughts and insights so that we can all benefit from each other's wisdom.  Recently, Jonathan Mann, one of our students at The Center for Humane Living shared with me the following insights.
 
          Several months ago, I had the honor of participating in a Center for Humane Living belt promotion test.  I am a relative beginner in the martial arts and this was my second belt test, to move from Orange to Yellow.  Before the test, I felt quite insecure of my abilities to execute the required techniques.  This, I thought, was strange: I was fairly confident prior to my first belt test, and there were only a few new punches, kicks, and blocks for this rank.  I knew the new techniques, and I had more hours of instruction and practice. Why should I be less confident now?  The answer, I believe, is a paradox that you can observe in many aspects of life. I summarize the paradox as "the more you learn, the less you know." 
 
          After receiving my first belt promotion, my senseis continued to have us practice basic techniques.  Through this instruction, I realized my confidence during the first belt test was misplaced.  I saw there are subtleties to these basic techniques that I had no idea about.  I was only roughly approximating the moves, and was far from any level of expertise.  My confidence came from ignorance.  My insecurity came from learning.  This phenomenon was documented in 1999 by Justin Kruger and David Dunning, researchers in the Psychology Department at Cornell University (Kruger, Justin; David Dunning (1999). "Unskilled and Unaware of It: How Difficulties in Recognizing One's Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments".  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 77 (6): 1121-34).
 
          In one test, they had participants take quizzes measuring different skills and knowledge.  Participants also estimated their skill level compared to others taking the same quizzes.  Those who scored in the bottom 25% predicted their scores would be well above average. These people had the lowest scores, yet expected their scores to be in the top 67%. The authors say, "Not only do they reach erroneous conclusions and make unfortunate choices, but their incompetence robs them of the ability to realize it."  Meanwhile, those in the top 25% demonstrated the opposite behavior.  Although this group scored in the top 85-90%, they predicted they would score only as high as 70% of the rest.  They underestimated their ability. 
 
          We also see this effect in matters of personal finance.  After the housing crisis, a study by economists at the Atlanta Federal Reserve found that of those who scored at the bottom of a basic test of calculation skills, 20% had been foreclosed on, a much higher rate than those with the best scores.  This may not be surprising, but the study also showed that those with lowest scores were also the least likely to do research before getting a mortgage.  These people didn't recognize their lack of knowledge so didn't try to get better information.  Those who scored higher on the test, by contrast, were also more likely to ask others for help, presumably because their education revealed to them how little they actually knew about mortgages. 
 
          Have you ever had a political conversation with someone who argues a position passionately, yet upon further inquiry you realize this person knows very little about the history and dynamics of the topic?  How can this person be so sure of his or her position while knowing so little about it?  This is another example of the Dunning-Kruger effect, where this person doesn't know the gaps in his or her knowledge so is unencumbered by doubts.  In karate, and in life in general, I will try to stay aware of this principle and I encourage you to do the same. There's nothing wrong with being confident in your knowledge and ability, but make sure your confidence doesn't stem from knowing just enough to be dangerous.  Use education not only as a means to learn more, but as a path to open your eyes to the vast knowledge and skills you can continue to build throughout your life.  And, always remain humble about what you do know, because it may be less than you think. 
 
            I appreciate Jonathan sharing his thoughts and insights with me and allowing me to share them with you as well.  Through the process of looking deeply into his experience and sharing his thoughts, Jonathan discovered one of the many secrets of martial arts, the fact that through the process of teaching others the teacher often learns more than the student.  The other principle that I am reminded of in reading Jonathan's thoughts is the importance of keeping an open mind.  The purpose of teaching our students the importance of maintaining an empty cup is in response to this concept of "The more you learn, the less you know."  The cup is only useful when it is empty.  When it is filled, then it cannot be used to hold anything else.  When our minds are filled with the notion that we know something, we are not capable of further learning.  Always remember that none of us are really any good at the martial arts and "the more we learn, the less we know."  Remain humble and approach every experience in life with an empty cup.