I have seen many people claim/earn the title of Master, and wonder if they accually have mastered their art and themselves? I personally have come accross a few “Masters” who couldnt fight their way out of a wet paper bag. I am no Master, not even close, so should a Master only have technical knowledge of a traditional system, ie. Kata, etc.. to be given the title?
Especially “GrandMaster” I sometimes have trouble seeing what they “founded” to be new or revolutionary in any way shape or form? It seems many are to concerned with doing things their own way, or mixing things up that they convince themselves to stop learning their current art, or moving on to another one ,and develop a new one based on current exp. Maybe this is ok when you are like 75 and you have nothing left to do?
But at what point do you think we should throw together our own art and teach it to others? I I will never have felt that Ive learned enough about Taijiquan, or Baguazhang to blend them or change them into another style? How about everyone else and your arts?
Also have you ever wanted to tell a “Master” that he should drop the title, and just learn/teach? It seems once you are a “Master” it would be a stopping point, that you are the final authority in your art, and their is no where else to go.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts/replies.
Gary
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=“-1”>quote:</font><HR> It seems once you are a “Master” it would be a stopping point, that you are the final authority in your art, and their is no where else to go. [/quote]
Right on man! No matter how long I train, and if I ever become a Sifu one day, and no matter what heights I reach in Kung Fu, I will NEVER EVER call myself a Master. I’ve heard you are only done learning when you die and you never can truly master your martial art. I train in BaGua also and this couldn’t be more true. I don’t know, maybe when I’m 85 I’ll feel different.
Good post Gary. I’m surprised it got no love.
“…either you like reincarnation or the smell of carnations…”
Grand Master - creater of an art
Master - 20+ years in the art
Instructor - 12+ years in the art
Advance student - 6-12 years in the art
Intermediate Student - 3-6 years in the art
Beginner student - less than 3 years in the art
I totally agree with you, I think that master title means you cannot learn any more about your art! this is a big debate, however the title is just that a title just like boss, captain or cheif. It is a way of reconizing acomplishments in your field an authority name. So techniquely you have to learn a complete art for 20 dedicated years and teach someone to sifu level to have a master title. To have grand master tilte you must have 20 more dedicated years and teach someone to master level. This is why I get a funny look on my face when I see an american guy with a full time job at chevy married and 2 kids say he is a master… where did he find the time?
but again this is america and across from my school the give black belts to 12 year olds so anything is possible
Hmmm. Krome, you just say dude has to be “in the art”. But I don’t think a guy who goes to Kung Fu class 3 times a week for 2 hours, and doesn’t train outside of that, and has been a student for 13 years should be considered a Sifu. Skill is determined by how much you work, not just how long you’ve been studying.
“…either you like reincarnation or the smell of carnations…”
Please sharky? C’mon, I’ll battle you. I battled a cat who took Ninjitsu a few years back and they were the nicest rhymes ever…with all types of martial art references in them. It’ll be fun. Live a little. I’ll go easy on you I promise.
“…either you like reincarnation or the smell of carnations…”
(Sifu) a master is someone who complete learn an style. (Sigung) a grand master is the is the old and or the head of the style. (Sitaigung) is the grand master before the grand master now. (Sijo) the founder of that style.
There can be many masters of a style, only one grand master. That’s what makes me laugh. So many GMs is one style. :rolleyes:
A master is not something you can describe in words, or give years as a numerical scale of their skill. A master is someone who has found their Way in the world, and followed that way. Most people never find their Way, many don’t even look for it, and many whom do find their way don’t have the courage to take it on.
We can never get rid of people calling themselves Master & Grandmaster whom posses superficial skill. In fact, as a student of a “Master”, it is often difficult to judge how much work that person has had to endure to call themselves that as it is.
People will gave themselves labels, identities, and titles all throughout life. Often people call themselves computer programmers when they are fresh out of college with no work experience, and often people call themselves artists because they can make a picture that resembles a fruit of some sort on a canvas that is recognizable.
As for telling a Master that they don’t deserve the title, keep in mind that it is only a title, and they will likely feel that even if your intentions are justified, the action may seem confrontational and all the more reason why you are uneducated and not worthy of telling someone if they can or cannot be called a Master.
You may one day find yourself being called Master by your students, or calling yourself Master.
Just remember that your Mom probably won’t call you Master
Blabla. Master is just a teaching word. Why people get so hung up on words? We’re studying an art of motion, not of words. So why worry so much about words? Motion is hard enough already!
I sometimes wonder why someone would want the title of master or grandmaster…
I have a stupid “Instructor” title collecting dust on my wall, and because of the damn thing I’m always thinking I should be some kind of super being, which I’m not.
Master, Grandmaster, … yuck. Too much pressure and stress.
Ryu
“One who takes pride in shallow knowledge or understanding is like a monkey who delights in adorning itself with garbage.”
To me, a master is someone who puts the art into practice effectively and consistently - and I KNOW IT WHEN I SEE IT.
I don’t think a person has to reach a point where they can’t improve to be called “master”. A guy like Yip Man certainly deserves to be called a “master”.
“Grandmaster”? I always thought of the term as being the sifu of my sifu.
my definition of a master is a guy who is a real badass.
jokes aside, i have only ever seen one guy i could really say is a master, I have seen a couple of the top names of china, and i cant consider them as masters, but this friend of mine he is the definition of a master.
He moves like the wind he is everywhere at once but you cant see it, and he has total control of his body, and the power he generates is phenomenal.
And he always says, i am nothing compared to my teacher. this is what i consider to be a real grandmaster and master.
hen you see poeple like this , its really different its a league of their own , its like a 20 year old in kindergarden all the kids look up to him like he is god.
what do bin laden and general custer have in common???
They’re both wondering where the fu(k all of those tomahawks are coming from. - donated by mojo
