CREONTE ISN'T A REAL WORD

In my school, I don’t use the word Creonte, I don’t believe in it. At the Academy and through out my association I do believe strongly in teaching martial values. Values such as: honesty, integrity, respect and loyalty. When I teach loyalty, it’s not so that my students never leave, I teach it with the hope that my students don’t forget who their teacher is, who I was and our relationship.  If they leave, which there’s a good chance that at some point they will for whatever reason, they always recognize and remember our time together and my place in their journey.

If you think of it like college, we might go one place for undergraduate and another for graduate school. When people ask where did you go to college you say both schools because you are appreciative for what they taught you and typically show some loyalty to the university. It is after all a part of your life.

I myself have had many masters and teachers over the course of my journey and am thankful for each one of them. My first belt, was given to me by Ricardo Viera, Comprido and Felipe Costa. All my other belts including my black belt and stripes where given to me by Grand Master Paulo Mauricio Strauch. During my journey I was a member of 4 associations: Masters/Brasa (Comprido), Jiu Jitsu Strauch, Gracie Fighter/Elite and my own association, Caio Terra Association.

We have all heard the word Creonte, it’s a word that does not exist and in my opinion is a word that will slowly phase out of Jiu Jitsu culture. If you look at any of the top associations you’ll notice a trend, most of the member schools DID NOT start as a white belts and learn directly from their head instructor, rather they joined their association later. Would that make them all Creonte or Traitors?

When some one leaves our school or association, we should be glad they were a part of our journey, happy for them in their new journey and never forget the time we spent together. Jiu Jitsu is greater than any person, association or team. The quicker we stop looking at people as Creonte but rather what they really are; our friends, the happier our lives will be.