Obligation

In every dojo there is always a heirarchy, either overtly expressed or implied. At the top of that heirarchy is the head instructor. If you stick around long enough, and very few people do, you'll notice that people age.

People get older. When the head instructor is unable to teach any longer -- is when you find out the real core of people. The senior students who were the most respected and revered -- are sometimes the first ones willing to abondon the dojo they spent decades in -- at it's greatest time of need.

Are they obligated to stay and help? Yes. Because if they are a serious student of the traditional martial arts, they understand that they were obligated to their instructor in a very serious intimate way, the very moment that instructor decided to take them on as a student.

But what happens if they leave? Well, you learn the value of the student. It's good to have a healthy respect for everyone in the dojo. But those that are worthy of the greatest amount of respect -- won't reveal themselves until the instructor needs them to.