At least till the black belt, I think there MAY be other things involved in the later belts, not sure though.

Anyway, my point is not to take anything from anyone who currently is or has advanced through a martial arts program (because the students are definatly gaining VAST skills in leverage, a greater ability to defend themselves, the people they care about and even the general population. They also get great physical benefits in strength, agility and cardiovascular health, and that is doing something totally priceless for themselves and the enjoyment of their life) my point is to say that although the smart, wise and thoughtful side of most martial arts is usually posted and recited, it is not what gets you to advance to the next level. Someone can learn and recite the words without ever really having to demonstrate or even understand them.

To one person the highest level of honor could be to defend the defenseless or simply not take advantage of the defenseless themselves. While the next persons highest level of honor could be to never let someone who saw them be dishonorable live to tell about it, thereby protecting their own honor.

Also I think that it is pretty easy for a bully to go through a program like that and not get or care about the messages that are told to them. A bully only respects power, and in a martial arts class it would seem very clear who has the power, just look at the belt. Higher belt than me has more power than me and I must respect them, lower belt than me has less power than me and they must respect me but I can not push that too far in front of the ones who have more power than me. I will exert my power away from the martial arts school where I will not get called on for my thug like behavior.

I have no doubt that good and bad people both, have passed through all types of martial arts.

I think it is more important to focus on improving yourself than to focus on being better than everyone else. Even if everyone else practices an inferior martial art ;p