Learning from higher-ranked students doesn’t seem like too great of an idea. Unless they have what they do down packed (and most don’t) then they can be teaching you bad mechanics and habits.
I, personally, wouldn’t stick around in a school where I don’t have contact with the Sifu. I don’t mind practicing with older-students, but I didn’t sign up to learn from another rookie. I signed up to learn from an experienced fighter and teacher.
I was talking about my experiences in Wushu clubs in high school and college in Taiwan in the 70’s and 80’s. If there were many students, you were grouped into 5. The teacher was around, but not enough time for everyone. There were Americans and southeastern Asians and non-Chinese exchange students in the class, too. The treatments were the same for all students.
Luckily, I had private tutoring with teachers, too. In that case, it was one on one.
I have studied in Taiwan since 1989.
I have seen little to no discrimination based on race.
I should add that I have spent a lot of time meeting different teachers.
This goes for the younger generation as well as the older.
Any discrimination I have seen has been based on personality of each individual who walks through the doors.
It is odd since I have noticed that people in Taiwan often have a tendency to believe popular racial stereotypes they have seen in the movies or elsewhere.
Coming from a Vietnamese family I think I can say that most asians are racist. Not the kind that goes around smashing cars and windows and assaulting them. But they just keep their discrimination between themselves.
Conversation between my aunties (translated):
A1: So we might be putting our house up for sale soon.
A2: Whose going to sell it for you?
A1: Some white guy from Century 21.
A2: No, no, consult this Viet guy. (Writes down phone number for A1).
And from past experiences, I think white people are more open with their racism.
(At chinese restaurant celebrating my nephew’s first month, I was outside talking with my cousins while they were smoking.)
Old caucasian lady walks past and stops in front of my cousin and tells him to SHUT UP!, for no reason. Walks off.
Couple of minutes later comes back and tells my cousin to SHUT UP! again, and then said “**** off, this isn’t your country!”.
Originally posted by dodger87 Coming from a Vietnamese family I think I can say that most asians are racist. Not the kind that goes around smashing cars and windows and assaulting them. But they just keep their discrimination between themselves.
I think you’re right on the money here!! Asians on the whole are quite conservative and insular, hence perpetuating long held prejudices. Though this is probably changing amongst those born outside of the “mother” country.
dodger - i am almost embarrased by your second story. what if someone had said the same thing to her parents when they came abroad. how quickly people forget that they are descendants of immigrants, and turn upon the newest ones.
Hmmmmmm, if this is all true, how do we know we even have the legit systems when we are taught them?
And if we are intentionally not taught the full transmissions, what’s the difference between that, and getting some guys together and self teaching eachother off of videos? Certianly trial, and error will revele just as many secrets as the teacher who is not willing to teach properly…correct?
Even if you filter out the Chinese / non-Chinese issue, you STILL have the Tudi (Disciple) student vs. regular student question.
Some teachers ONLY teach Tudi. Others have it where if students hang around long enough theybecome Tudi because that teacher will run off any non-Tudi students.
Then you have the more common situation - many regular students and a much smaller number of Tudi. For example, one teacher I know of talks about having taught over 10,000 students - yet when you see a picture of him with his Tudi, there are around 10 or 15.
Doing the math 15/10,000 = 0.15% LESS THAN 1 PERCENT of his students are formal - meaning that more than 99% of his students MAY NOT be taught correctly.
Do a few more numbers…say averaging over ALL teacher’s reveals that 25% of ALL students are formal disciples and learn correctly.
Now, that means that 3 out of 4 people learning don’t get it taught the right way.
Now, you have out of all the people teaching…what is the percentage that were actually Tudi of their teachers … 1 out of 4…and then if they taught someone…1 out of 4…and then you learn…1 out of 4…
Meaning 0.25 * 0.25 * 0.25 = 0.015625 or you have a 1.5625% chance of learning from someone that was a formal student of a great teacher when you are removed only ONE generation.
No wonder there is so much bad CMA out there.
And then…add in the racial and other issues…even worse
That’s funny. I come from an Irish-American family and I don’t feel entitled to pass judgement on all caucasians. [/B]
Nice try, I think the keyword there was MOST. Of course not ALL asians are how I say they are, but just personal experiences with alot of my own race most my lifetime just leads me to believe that MOST of them are racist.
Nice try, I think the keyword there was MOST. Of course not ALL asians are how I say they are, but just personal experiences with alot of my own race most my lifetime just leads me to believe that MOST of them are racist. [/B]
that’s true. asians aren’t blatant when it comes to racism. we keep it to ourselves.
one time I was inside a martial arts supply store, after the white teenage students from canada left, I heard 2 of the employees say how they could tell they’re from canada with their buck teeth.
It was a very funny comment and I had to laugh at the irony BUT . . .
I live in China and you know what? Chinese are the most racist predjudicial people I have ever met. I hear a lot of it because depite their famous tendency to hide their comments and onyl slur you in private…I can speak Chinese.
I can even understand a fair bit of the local dialect.
I hear **** all the time.
I even hear the ****ty stuff they say about my GF for having the gall to date me. I’ve heard them talk smack saying “who the hell does she think she is? Thinks just because she got an American boyfriend she’s better than us?” Shopping and haggling over price or debating wether to buy it or not I’ve heard people ask her on the side, why I even care about the price since I have more money than I can spend anyways. You don’t even want to START with what goes on in the chat rooms. ALL blacks are lecherous monsters spreading AIDS and gonnoreah thourgh out the Chiense population. Every ugly anti black predudice you’ve heard in America they share in China but without questioning it. They are just more polite.
Then there’s the postitve but equally disturbing predjudices.
They love Jews. As soon as anyone finds out I am Jewish they suddenly feel free to open their heart and pour out all the ulgy stereotypes they cherish so freely that they think theu are getting closer to me by saying things like:
Oh, no wonder you were smart enough to be able to learn Chinese…your Jewish!
Oh, so you must be very rich! Because ALL Jews are good at business…
That’s wonderfull. You know the two highest quality people on the earth are Jews and Chinese.
Oh, you must be very smart. The 2 smartest people in the world were Jewish . . . . Einstein and Marx!
And on and on. And not now and again but frequently.
