The Shintaro Higashi Show - Coach or Instructor? | The Shintaro Higashi Show

Episode Date: June 16, 2025

In this episode, Shintaro Higashi and Dave dive into the nuanced distinction between being an instructor and a coach in martial arts. They explore the expectations, responsibilities, and personal dynamics involved in both roles, drawing from their own experiences in judo, jiu-jitsu, and even ballet. Whether you're a student or teacher, this conversation sheds light on what it truly means to coach — and be coachable.

The women look at us like, oh my god, he's Danny's boy. That might be a signal that you need to take more ownership over your own development. The Shintaro Higashi Show is sponsored by Judo TV, your premier destination for live and on-demand Judo coverage. Never miss a throw. Higashi brand.

Train hard, live strong, wear Higashi brand. Hakuen AI. Hakuen AI helps you measure, predict, wear Higashi brand. Hakuen AI. Hakuen AI helps you measure, predict, and solve customer churn. Visit Hakuen AI and start your free churn audit today. Hello everyone, welcome back to the Shintaro Higashi show with Dave. We're gonna talk about something very interesting today.

What's the difference between a coach and an instructor? I think this is something that can be very frustrating for people without them realizing why it's frustrating. Some people think it's obvious and other people are like, what's the difference? I don't know what the difference is. Can you give me an example of mistakenly, so I feel like this guy's my coach, but he's an instructor and instructor and a coach, like where that, like a personal anecdote

from you. Yeah, I mean, I think for me, someone can be an awesome instructor. So they're very good at communicating a particular technique, a particular method, even like a particular concept, right? They're great in front of the class. They know a lot of details. They're great with that.

But when it then it comes to tailoring something to the one guy, the one student, or adjusting something for a particular student, or giving feedback on a role, let's say, they're sometimes, they're just not there for it. Yeah. Right, like the coaching is not there. And it can be very, I think, frustrating for the student

because they're like, well, I'm doing everything in class. Like I understand, right? How do I cognitively understand the technique that they're showing me, right? But there's this gap between knowing the technique and Doing the technique. Yeah, and I think sometimes The coaching helps you bridge the gap I completely agree with you

And I think a lot of the times you play high school sports, right and then you're after school playing football something and the coach is there But he's also instructing you and teaching somebody skills like, you know, you walk into the football team in Scarsdale, you know, we're really not known for a football pro. All these kids didn't grow up playing football. It's not like, you know, right? We're not in the cornfields of Texas, like kind of living and breathing the stuff. So the coach has like this instructor coach kind of a hybrid thing, right? You know, we're in a very like-

I'm laughing because I know exactly what you mean. Yeah. I know exactly what you mean. So then you go to a jujitsu school and you see this guy, the instructor or the professor or the sensei teaching this stuff. And now all of a sudden you treat that person like a coach, like, hey, you know, I'm having problems with this

and problems with that. But you know, at the end of the day, right, the expectations are very, very different. Because a lot of these instructors are also coaches. They'll coach people in the room, and it has to have sort of this personalized element. And there's a lot more to be demanded with the label of coach, I feel like.

And then when your expectation is going like, this guy's my instructor and coach, and then the teacher, like myself a little bit, I'm an instructor, I'm your teacher teacher I'm an educator first and foremost coach sometimes you have to be hand selected to be in my coaching program almost you know what I mean and majority of the times like I really can't fulfill my duties as your coach because I have to take my kid to the pool this weekend she has a skating thing she has a ballet recital this Saturday.

Something this weekend, judo tournament. Hey, can you come coach me on this thing? No, man, I'm going to my kid's ballet recital. I just, I'm not gonna choose that over, right? But if you're a coach. My daughter who I love so much. Yeah, and if you're a full-blown coach and that's your job and that's your responsibility,

you made it clear I'm your instructor and coach, that's your obligation, you know? But I'm very clear I'm your instructor and coach that's your obligation you know but I'm very very distinguishing of like hey man you know so that's kind of the difference in my eyes there's got to be something like this in music too right because you know you you have a very strong background and playing the skin flute and you must have had coaches I guess something classy. I mean, you know, yes and no, I think because you're not you're fighting your, you know, your instrument, you're fighting your instrument and not another person. Right.

So it is a little bit different because it is like almost a purely technical exercise. Like you're not strategizing against your violin or your oboe, right? But there is still a gap like your teacher, I would say very much is an instructor. I would say that the amount, if you're percentage wise, every teacher, music teacher is probably like 80%, 90% instructor, but you do need coaching

when you're trying to do prepare for performance, right? There is like a lot of coaching bringing out your own personality and making a piece your own. I think that would be more in the coaching arena, right? Because there is an interpretive part of playing music. There is like a personality part. And I think a lot of teachers would love to get

their students to that point where they can just deal with that, right? I think like interpretation, motivation, personalized, highly personalized, in the trenches with the athlete, I think is more coach. and I think that's why the term sensei gets confused a lot because sensei is like the all encompassing everything it is also teacher. Right. And then you know, there is a word in Japanese for coach right like contact but it's like, you know, sensei kind of just, you know what I mean? Catch all. Yeah, yeah, so it's like, especially in the American culture, viewing Eastern culture, and then,

oh, in Japan they do this and that. It's like, but you've never been to Japan or trained there. You know? But it's like, it's this thing that, yeah. But yeah, that's very important. It's like, you put that on that word, not us. Not us, yes. But yes, this, how would you, if you were to definitely

describe instructor versus coach, how would you phrase that? Maybe the focus for the instructor is more on the technique, right? And the skill side of it. Yeah, whereas the coach is the focus is on the athlete. I don't know exactly where the line is and it's different for different people, right?

But that's sort of my general look at it. You ready for this one? It's like, you know how when Facebook came out, like how do you know these guys will stick around and stay on the platform? So in a certain timeframe, if they don't get the seven friends, they don't stay on the platform. But in a certain time, if they get the seven friends, they're much more likely to stay on the platform. So in a certain timeframe, if they don't get the seven friends, they don't stay on the platform. But in a certain time, if they get the

seven friends, they're much more likely to stay on the platform forever, right? So it's like, there's a KPI, key performance indicator in your world of science and math, not like my world of grappling, you know? Right, so the KPI metric, I think, might be... You ready for this one? This is a Shintaro original, okay? All right. I'm your instructor if you can't call me on the weekends. I'm your coach if you could hit me up on Saturday and say, hey man, I'm going to this tournament or whatever it is. Yeah, yeah. Right? I think that's a good indicator. That's a very good indicator. Yeah, yeah. It's like, man, you know, all right, for instance, like Marcus is my coach. Let's just say, yeah, I can hit him Yeah. Yeah. It's like, man. Yeah. All right, for instance, like

Marcus is my coach. Let's just say yeah, I can hit him up. Yeah on a Saturday. Okay, man What do you think about this technique? What do you think about this video? Is this the real thing that I'm seeing this spin behind back and crab ride bar and bolo 50? Like is that a real thing? Yeah, and he'd be like, no, this is really stupid. Okay. Thanks coach. Yeah So what does it say? You just saved me a lot of time. There you go. When does it cross that line? Cause it's never clear, right?

It's never like, all right, I'm gonna be your athlete from now on, let's sign this paperwork. It's never like that. All of a sudden you get pulled in and you know, there's like indicators even in the room. Like for instance, if you're in the blue basement with John Donahue, there was a section carved out where you sit down, and I was in that room

with Glick and all those guys, right? So it would be 60, 70, 80 guys in the room during noon. It's so crowded, you couldn't even stand or roll around, but the section where Donoher sat, Gordon could be there, Tonan could be there, Glick could be there, Glick could be there. I remember that. I was welcome in there because I was friends with Glick. That's that indicator. Now you're being coached by this one guy.

Everyone else is just a student in the room. How do you get there is the next question for you. Yeah, because it's hard to navigate as a student. Because sometimes you want someone to be your coach and you're asking them questions, right? Yeah. And sometimes you get like answers that really frustrate you, you know, like, sure. Yeah. You get the answers like, um, uh, you know, just keep rolling. Just keep rolling. Just keep training or, Hey, you're not doing anything wrong. You're not doing

anything wrong. Your timing is just a little off, you know, and that's a hint that they don't want to take you as they don't want to, you know, they don't want to engage. Right. And whether they want to be your coach or not be coached, like maybe, you know, maybe they just weren't paying attention at the time, like or something like that. I don't know. Um, and then there are people who try to coach you and you're just like, you're no, I don't want you to coach me. You're just okay. Thank you. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. I'm good. And so it is a weird. It's like dating. I remember my wife gave me a hard time once because we were talking to one of our friends. And I just bluntly told this girl, like, I just don't think he's that into you. You know, and you just gotta like accept reality.

And there is like a chemistry component, you know, between a coach and an athlete. Well, she was like shocked. She was like, I cannot believe you just said that. But it's like, hey, you got. No, I think she just was like, oh, you know, you're so blunt. But you know, it's better to just deal with it.

You know, I mean, you just gotta deal with reality and just rip that bandaid off or whatever it is right away. And I think, you know, but I hear it all the time. Like you overhear someone, hey, like, what do I need to do to sort of get to the next level and- Yep, yep. yeah yeah and just like getting nothing you know getting nothing back yeah weird and you know there's like a very nonverbal communication happening too you know and people miss

those subtle signs what am I doing wrong you know it's not and I've made episodes about this like be very descriptive and you know verbally yeah right dealing, right. Dealing with your right side versus left side. I can't get inside position when I'm on the outside. What do I do? Technically, I've already tried these things. This is my thing. Like, you know, it's like prompt engineering in your LLM world because you're so into that. Yeah.

Right. But when you're just saying to the coach, hey, what am I doing wrong? Maybe that person just asked like, hey, can you take an extra eye and watch me while I'm training so you can give me a little bit of extra feedback and maybe we could develop this coaching student athlete sort of a thing. Obviously when the teacher, the instructor is like,

ah, just keep coming, keep training, standoffish. You gotta have a directorship elsewhere. It's not wrong though, right? I mean, it's almost like we were talking about in terms of like the gold standard, getting like a fusion in your neck. It's sort of like, I mean, keep sparring, keep rolling. I mean, that's not really like bad advice, you know,

but it's just sort of very generic. But my theory though there is partially, partially, not completely, but it's just sort of very generic. But my theory though there is partially, partially, not completely, but partially, I think people are feeling unconsciously that divide between instruction and coaching. They are getting to the point where they need a coach, but they just can't find one. And they don't know that that's what they're looking for.

And maybe the instructors in the class, I mean, most of them are very nice guys and they'll like, they'll help you, right? And I think also when you go to privates, right? Some instructors continue to instruct you in the private, which for some people is perfect, that's exactly what they're looking for. But some people are looking for coaching in that private lesson.

And they're like, yeah, I mean, I don't want to learn any more techniques. I want to know why my stuff does not work, you know, like in live rolling. But then if you roll with the instructor, it's not the same because he's so much better than you. He's like the reactions are all off. Like when I roll with Dom Joni or I do stand up with you, like you're just all waiting. I didn't mention my niawaza skill, by the way. Thank you for that, David.

I caught that. That subtle jab at my ground. I'm trying to respect the dual roles of this podcast between Judo and Jiu Jitsu. But yeah, I mean, it's still wrong. If the skill gap is too high, he's trying to give you looks, like I'm sure you try to give student looks, but it's still not the same because you're just sort of waiting for them to do the thing that you hope they will do and then taking the fall or just letting them do the technique and that doesn't feel right either

as the Tory. So what does a good coach look like then to you? I think it is a hard job. I mean I think that's why it's hard to find a coach because it's one-on-one, it doesn't scale, right? Like you can't just coach 50 people, right? You can't do that. And it does- It causes a lot of issues in the class too, you know? And every gym has the teacher's favorite crop of athletes

who they wanna coach because it's kind of their way to live through them as well, right? They've become very good at this thing, majority of the time, not always. A lot of instructors haven't done a lot of competition, but a lot of them have. And now it's like, oh, I wanna create someone just like me. And then I coach these guys to success

and I wanna transfer the knowledge and all that stuff. And now all of a sudden you look in the gym and you have multiple sort of factions of like, all right, this guy's a first-class citizen. He's one of my athletes. He's being coached by me. And then you got all the regular hobbyists who just kind of get ignored and they're just being taught at, like, here's the technique of the day, go do it.

What am I doing wrong? And you just keep training, you know? And then you got the beginners that no one takes care of. There's actually like three levels of that stuff. Yeah. I mean, there is a natural progression, right? Because getting tailored coaching when you're brand new sort of doesn't make any sense to me. I mean, it can help you,

but that's where I think the instruction helps because you're just trying to get your head around using your hips or, oh, I can use hooks or like, what is a hook? What is a post? Like, what is all this stuff? So I do think that's, but I do think it's not forgiving to be a coach because you need a lot of input, right?

And there's not like, you know, you need to know so much about that person. Like you can't just start coaching a guy the first time you meet him, right? Like you need to know so much about that person. Like you can't just start coaching a guy the first time you meet him, right? Like you need to understand what his tendencies are. You need to see him rolling. You need to be paying attention when he rolls. Like it's a very, a very demanding role

because you got to know all this stuff about the person before you can be effective as a coach, unless there's just obvious crap, right? That the guy's doing wrong. And maybe that's true, but, you know, once you get past a certain point, it may be obvious to the instructor or the coach, but again, there's this gap.

Like there's this guy who was popular a while ago called his name was David Maester. And he was all about, he consulted with professional service firms, right? And his big thing was, one of his big things was this gap between knowing and doing. Like, you know, you wanna quit smoking, you know it's bad for you, you just don't do it, right?

But it's obvious, right? It's obvious to you that you should stop smoking, you just can't do it. And, you know, that's why I think once you get to sort of that blue belt blues or even purple belt, and you realize, you know what? All my roles are the same, like kind of, not just me, but other people,

like I sort of do the same things. I try to do things on the margin that are different or try to throw in some more technical things, but it's not about the technique anymore, right? It's about the anticipation, it's about the timing, it's about your mindset, right? Which's about the anticipation. It's about the timing. It's about, you know, your mindset, right? Which are things that I think a good coach could help you with, right?

But that guy, there's so much demands on that guy to understand that and then to find a way to either break back habits or like to get you to bridge that gap between knowing something and doing something because most people You know purple belt brown belt they know More like yeah, they know a lot of technique and a lot of it's just like finding the right motivators and all the stuff and Understanding how their mind works and trying to figure that out the work system sometimes like you know Like they're not so motivated and that's the coach's job, I think,

more so than the instructor, you know? But yeah, I told you about when I did ballet for a couple of years, you're in a ballet class, right? And then there's, you know, this huge room with the mirrors and you get sort of front row in the mirror if you're one of the people that the ballet teacher has sort of, are mentoring, you know? Right.

And then it's like, to get there, you kind of have to be like, it has to be a little bit like the tap on the shoulder. And I think the initial indicator is something like, everyone gets one or two feedback, you know? Oh, you know, your chin has to be up or relax your shoulders or whatever. He's going around just kind of like, same feedback for everybody, better turn out,

better turn out, you know? Relax your shoulders, shoulders down, ribs down, you know, chin up, whatever, right? And then he comes around and gives you two or three feedback in a training session, but then all of a sudden one or two of those things is not everything that he's giving to everybody else, but it's a little bit more. Right. And now all of a sudden you're in their radar and then you develop this thing. And then one day that teacher goes, hey, why don't you stand up here? And then this woman is brand new, she's gonna follow you,

and now all of a sudden you've been pulled into that thing and each one of those instructors probably have about five to ten athletes or dancers in their orbit and then now all of a sudden it is expected for those people to follow them around the class. Hey, I'm teaching at BDC on Thursday, you know, can you make it at 11? Hey, on Tuesdays, you know, where were you on Tuesday morning? You know, beginner class, you know, that kind of thing. Yeah. And you know, I was pulled into that world. And this guy, Danny, he was like, he coached Amar,

who was like the first Indian principal ballet dancer of the New York City Ballet. Ooh. Famous guy, yeah. And then he's like, took a liking to me. And then little by little, he started pulling me in. in and all the dudes because he was a guy right that he would coach were called Danny's boys and they were really good and then uh you know way would walk in and the girls the women look like oh my god he's Danny's boy you know it's Danny's boy right and then I was Brandon Danny's boy but I was a worst

one obviously out of all of them because I'm not a ballet dancer I don't look like him at all you know but it was a really cool thing and now all of a sudden this guy's giving me different feedback right not technical feedback because he knows I can't lift my leg he knows I'm not as mobile as these guys all the technical stuff I can't do yet but a lot of it'm not as mobile as these guys. All the technical stuff I can't do yet. But a lot of it is like, hey man, you know, Dan's like no one's watching. You don't give a shit.

If you fall, that's okay. Like there's some sort of motivating thing to just get me back into the room. Yeah. Well, he must've seen something. Oh yeah, no, I'm great at it. He must've seen something. Like you must've been in there like, you know,

in good faith, like, hey, I'm trying to, like, yes, I can't do what these guys do, but I'm trying to do what I can. But I thought it was very interesting, because all these guys who were in that circle were 20 years old. They're trying to make it on a ballet team. What is it called?

They're trying to be in a corps. Troop? Yeah, it's corps. I think it's like corps de ballet or something like that. They're trying to go to New York City Ballet, but they can't, so they go to some ballet of Cincinnati or ballet or whatever it is. Right. They're trying to get there, but clearly I'm not trying to do that. But still, Hugh was able to help me on the weekends and this and that and coach me in a way. So I think that's a really good distinction, you know? And it's responsibility of the athlete to seek that out, I think, right? Yeah, now that does bring us to a good point because, you know, at some point, I think you have,

you always have to take some ownership of your own development, right? But I think as you get deeper into it, sometimes people get frustrated because like, you know, I'm looking for a coach, I'm looking for someone to sort of help me. But I think if you're really frustrated with that, that might be a signal that you need to take more ownership

over your own development, right? And this is the number one thing you have to signal. It's like virtue signaling, but like in athletic world, you have to signal to the coach that you're coachable, that I'm ready, right? Cause you don't want to coach someone that's not coachable. You got to be coachable. So you really got to take an introspective look, I think, at yourself when you're kind

of in that situation. I am interested in this line between Judo and Jiu-Jitsu because on the one hand, I think it's clear the Jiu-Jitsu game is much longer. There's no Ipon, you know? So there's that old saying like, you effed up a long time ago. The time horizon is, I do think is definitely different. And so I've always wondered sort of how the failure

in jujitsu is different from failure in judo. Yeah. And how that affects the kind of feedback you get, right? I think I'll give you one about the failure. The stakes are much higher in Judo and I say this whole time, you make a mistake in Jiu-Jitsu, the guy passes your guard, not a big deal. Yes. You make a mistake in Judo, you tear your ACL, you know? Yeah. And you land on your shoulder and you get your shoulder dislocated and because it happens so fast, a lot of the times these shoulder and you get your shoulder dislocated and because it happened so fast

A lot of the times these coaches and instructors have no clue what happened Especially if they weren't watching with that intent of the whole time, you know, it's like bang someone I thought Why did I get thrown? Why did I get taken down there? It could have been a myriad of things Maybe you were losing position. So you were more likely to get taken. Yeah, but we were 50-50 Okay, maybe he's just stronger than you maybe he's faster than you. He set you up with a society two minutes ago, so maybe you thought society was coming, and then you leaned in that direction and he blasted you through, right? No, but I was winning in position. Maybe the guy's just physically stronger than you. You know, maybe you were trying to defend with your arms and then when you should have been defending your whole body. Yeah, but

then society would have came. Yeah, but maybe he didn't see that. Maybe he didn't know that. Maybe you tripped on your pant leg because your pants are too long. There's a million different things and it happened so fast. It's very difficult to say why that you got taken down. And majority of the coaches, I'm going to say like 90% of coaches don't have the eye to be able to see that because it happens so fast. Unless you've studied high level judo, watched film, can't slow it down, understand the whole context of the thing, had a great coach who was able to do that for you, it's really impossible to kind of see.

Even me, it's like sometimes bang, someone gets thrown, it's like, yo, sensei, do you see me get taken down? I did, you got slammed, you know, we all saw it, right? But it's like, why? Like, I don't know, man, like, it was so fast. Like, I caught the end of it. Like, what happened the minute before, you know, man. Like I used so fast. Like I caught the end of it. Like what happened the minute before? Yeah. You know, like, did you know it was coming?

Like it's impossible for me to say definitively. Why did I get caught? It's like, why do I suck at judo? I don't know, man. You know, you got to, you know what I mean? And then you could almost the guiding thing is like, no, don't step like this. Step like that. Or don't grab here. Grab like that.

I think that's the worst device on the planet. Yeah. Yeah. The answer to that as a good coach is like, listen, if you're in this position, you're less likely to get taken down by that. If you're reversed that position, you lose that position, you're more likely. So we have to spend a lot of time trying to be in better position. How does that look like?

What are your gripping sequences? Do you know how to fight for position? Also, let's take into account, that guy was 30 pounds heavier. So even if you're winning in position, did you see it coming? You could be losing. Do you know the defense and all this stuff?

So it's like it's a lot more involved and you could only sort of like guide them just a little bit. Maybe next time you'll be familiar, hey, you got caught with a drop Sode, why did you get caught? Because no one in the gym does drop Sode. Yes. And you just never felt it.

Yeah, and drop attacks are bad, green and below, you just got promoted to green. Of course you're gonna get thrown and dropped Sode 19 times in a row. And then you have coaches like, you just weren promoted to green. Of course you're gonna get thrown, dropped, sweating 19 times in a row. And then you have coaches like, you just weren't exposed to the stimulus enough. And you know, that's kind of, right? Don't push as much as you.

And a good coach will have a training program for you, to follow up, right? Exactly. They will know how to like, you know what? And then you know what, I hear all the time, don't step like this, step like that. This is how you defend it. It's like, no, that's not really definitively what it is, but that's a great instructor answer. Yeah. Just step around. Yes. Yeah. Just. You gotta block it.

Yeah, whenever you hear the word just, it's a red flag, I feel. Yeah. Don't grab here. Just do this. Grab that. It's like, oh thanks, that's the most helpful thing I've ever heard in all of grappling. Thank you. Do more jacomis. I'm the idiot. Yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah. I should have just grabbed you. Yeah.

If you're listening, we'd love to hear, what's the most annoying advice you get? That way we can surface them all, flush them all out. And that way everyone will know, this is a BS answer. You know, I kind of figured something better out. And if you're an instructor or a coach, I don't think it's that people have bad intentions. I just think it's being aware, right?

And so, and how like, if you've been in the game for a long time and you give some of these answers, I think it's just because you don't remember being on the other side of these questions. You know, being like, that's a responsibility to man, you got to show and see that you're coachable and you got to be within the sort of you got to be close, you know, you got to be closer to the guy who you want to be coached. And I think one of the main prerequisites is showing up time and time again you know and if and only if you're in the proximity for an extended period of time do you even qualify to ask the thing you know if

you're coming once a week and then you're like hey you know what am I doing wrong can you coach me the answer 99% of time is no get away from me yeah it's like you have to put the time and you don't deserve my extra time I will instruct you I will teach you you could listen to me teach about this stuff and understand and then ask technical questions But you know, you can't call me on the weekends. I Love this one though. People think they could buy that By purchasing a private lesson and now it's right. They're like, oh, yes This is interesting you watch and understand and this and that. You can't buy it.

You still have to be coachable. You still have to be there. Okay, great, you're paying me two sessions a month, that's $600, it's like $300 an hour for the private set I did. But that doesn't qualify you as an athlete to be coached by me. And there needs to be this mutual respect

because sometimes they'll do that and then they'll treat me like the help. And that's immediate like, you know, when you're fired as a student, you know? Yeah, no, that makes sense. That's why I say no to most privates too because there is that expectation of like, this guy is my coach and he's paying for that, you know?

But nothing can rub a lot of these coaches the wrong way. Most of these coaches though, they do it for a living and then they need the income for it also. I'm not saying I don't need the income, you know? I'm broke sometimes too, like everybody else. That's right. Right. But aside from that, unless they see you like training,

you know, like kind of training competitively, you don't have to be a competitor, but like having sort of higher intensity sparring where you're really trying to do the right things, which is why people say if you compete, you learn a lot more. You know, it's just hard. Like if you're having lackadaisical roles in class

and there's actually like your instructor's actually interested in coaching you and watching you, it's hard for him, I think to give you good feedback because sort of like garbage in garbage out. If you're sort of lackadaisically pulling guard, if you're not really sharp mentally and trying to do the right things, they're not gonna give you good advice.

You gotta be likable also. Oh, now the standard is too high, Shintaro. This is too high. So many unlikable people out there. Well, listen, any last words of wisdom on this subject? I think we've talked a little bit about instructors versus coaching. You've talked about coaching in the past, I know,

but this is something that came up with Marcus and it's something that comes up over and over again with people unconsciously and explicitly. And I think it does cause a lot of confusion sometimes. There's another level above coaching too, there's mentorship. And that costs 9.9999. But you know, I gotta just advocate for the athletes out there too, you know, not advocate, give advice.

And it's like, hey, man, be likeable, be coachable, do your very best, show up. And then you want to sort of get to that place where your instructor becomes your coach and find a good coach and then make yourself coachable. So then they take you on. And once you do, if they are a good person, and now yourself coachable so then they take you on and once you do, if they are a good person, and now we're talking into the realm of like, all right, this guy not only is skilled,

he's a good human being, maybe this person could be my mentor. And that really is the path to like martial arts success because there are smart people who are coaches who are instructors out there. And it's sort of this two ways. So it is like top down management and bottom up management. You gotta manage up, you know,

when you're talking about business stuff. And I think it really applies here. And, you know, hope this is helpful for you guys. And Dave, thank you very much for always being here. You're welcome, Shintaro. I'm happy to be your mentor. No. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Take it easy, guys.