Shihan Way's blog

People want the truth and not a lie.

In most martial arts styles, the truth is often times shrouded in the veil of a legend or hyperbole (I think of the many Shao-Lin legends that are described in the Shao-Lin manuals given to new students). And, when this happens, the skill set found within a style more likely than not will have already been obscured or lost. The main reason why is because the teachers in the art lack integrity.

So what gives a teacher integrity? Consider that a martial arts teacher will have integrity if that person demonstrates in conduct, not words, (1) humility (2) competence, and (3) character. In my last blog, I talked about how "humility is good medicine." So, today I only discuss "competence" and "character."

(1) Competence

You wouldn't go to a doctor, lawyer, dentist, architect, or accountant who is not competent in their skill, right? Then so too a person should never learn martial arts from someone who is not competent. But, competence in the martial arts is truly something that may not be known or understood for some time.

What then makes a martial arts teacher competent? Among other things, competence is (1) where the skill set that is taught is consistent with what previous teachers of the art taught (e.g., Northern Shou Shu teaches what Sijo Da Shifu Sr. taught and does not incorporate other kung fu styles into any of the animals); and (2) where the student develops the particular skill being taught (i.e., the ability to use the fighting art). As the old cliche goes, "the proof is in the pudding" --- ask yourself whether you can truly defend yourself from both the "drunk streetfighter" and a "skilled martial artist, UFC fighter, wrestler, military hand-to-hand expert" using the art you learned?

(2) Character

Finally, the sign of a great warrior is not that the warrior seeks war; instead he does everything he can to avoid a war. This is the sign of a true martial arts master.

The character of a great martial arts teacher is the desire to avoid a fight, or a war. This is because the teacher does not need to prove the greatness of his skill to another (even another martial artist). Second, a teacher's character is also defined by whether he seeks to do harm to another, including a student. Unfortunately, some martial arts teachers will physically discipline a student under the auspices of "I am teaching you" -- clearly this is wrong and frankly might be considered criminal as there is no informed consent. Or, where a teacher promotes and teaches vengence or a vendetta, this of course is contrary to practicing humility. Therefore, any martial arts teacher who promotes gratuitous violence should be avoided even if the martial art that is taught is consistent with paramilitary training. (Any military infantry will tell you that there are rules of engagement). If you don't avoid a teacher like this, then you will inevitably become just like your teacher without knowing it.

...And Finally Some Advice...

Life is short and you know not the day nor the hour when your life may be in jeopardy (or when you must render an accounting for your life). If you are going to learn the martial arts or Shou Shu, then find someone who has integrity.

Da Shifu Clark teaching a mantis chin naJust two week ago, I was preparing to leave Tucson, Arizona and fly across the country to visit a very good friend and great teacher Da Shifu Clark.

After I arrived and we began the lessons, we had the opportunity to discuss Northern Shou Shu and various aspects of learning the many fighting ways of the animals. From this training, I learned and reviewed many important concepts and lessons which have opened my eyes, the first of which I will share today: Da Shifu Clark said to me in reference to his training from Da Shifu Sr., that "Da Shifu Sr., always taught me to remain humble."

No doubt, humility is a virtue that touches on the teachings of many faiths and philosophy. After all, humility is the opposite of pride -- and we all know that pride is the father of all sins. Still, acquiring humility requires an interior disposition that we see ourselves exactly as we are; as a fragile human being who requires the right temperature to live, enough food and water so as not to starve, medicine to heal us when we are sick, and that we are created by a God who loves us. If we strive to practice the virtue of humility, then we eventually realize that our own desires are not an end in themselves. Most importantly, we realize that we are not the center of the universe.

Accordingly, learning Northern Shou Shu requires humility --- if you don't have it, you can never continue to learn. Da Shifu Clark explained to me that as a Shou Shu master grows in his skill, he will have insights into something he has learned and practiced for 25 years. This of course only comes from remaining humble and therefore staying true to what was originally taught.

In Northern Shou Shu, every student should understand that your art will grow and change as you first become a black belt, then again around 3rd degree, and also at 5th degree. I can't explain what happens after that; at least not yet.

Nevertheless, it is absolutely necessary to learn and understand the core principles of Northern Shou Shu and the individual animals in order for the growth to happen. By analogy, consider that any judge, who becomes a Supreme Court Justice, must read the older cases and precedent in order to understand the current status of the law. However, only some Justices read and rely upon the Federalist and Anti-Federalist papers to understand the intent of the US Constitution when it was written. One might say that this is because these few Justices understand that even though "times change, people remain the same." Similarly, if you apply this same line of thought to Northern Shou Shu, you can understand that even though times have changed, the principles of Shou Shu and of what you need to learn in order to understand each animal must remain the same. Accordingly, if the Shou Shu principles and concepts that Da Shifu Sr. taught are not preserved in the art and passed down to the next generation, then the Shou Shu which Da Shifu Sr., taught will certainly be lost.

So, even though I can tell you and share more about what I learned when I went back to Arkansas to visit Da Shifu Clark, (including the awesome training and review of my animal forms), what I will say is that what I learned is exactly what he was taught from Da Shifu Sr. And just as important, I learned once again how to be humble --- especially when Da Shifu reviewed “Rising Knee.”

After all, humility is a virtue that must be developed and most certainly is the key to studying Northern Shou Shu – without it, you will undoubtedly lose or never learn the secrets which Da Shifu Sr. gave out sparingly.

Shihan Way