Post by Shifu Tolson on Feb 16, 2016 0:15:58 GMT -5
Though I have been training over forty years in the martial arts, I am still amused by the rank systems and titles used in Chinese martial arts. Since a universal ranking and promotion system does not exist for kung fu, it leaves the door wide open for comical titles and self-promoted masters.
At the Mantis Masters Academy, my students generally refer to me as Mr. Tolson, Richard, or more rarely "shifu". It is only since joining the YRTQA that we implemented a rank system for students. Since, what one does on the mat is more important to me than the sash tied around a person's waist.
Over the years I have developed a convention for assigning titles to students and even to other martial arts teachers whom I respect. My teachers, I have always referred to as "shifu". Shifu, depending on the Chinese characters used, can mean "father/teacher" or "master teacher". I never refer to another teacher that I have not trained with as "shifu". I would refer to one of my peers, like George Lisjak, as "Lisjak laoshi" when in a public setting of martial artists. Laoshi is a common Chinese title that refers to a teacher of any type of discipline.
My students are assigned the title of shifu when they have completed our curriculum and begin teaching. Currently, I have five students who teach at their own schools.
Two of my Chinese shifu introduce me to others as "Master Tolson". This shocked me the first time that it happened, because that is not how I view myself. However, I am a shifu who has trained others who are now shifus in their own right. So, my teachers consider me a "master". Thus, I in turn consider a Shifu who has students that teach in their own schools to be a "master".
A master who has students that have raised a student or students to shifu level may now be considered a "grandmaster". Though I meet that qualification, I personally hate the term and would probably boot a student in the butt if they ever referred to me with that term.
Be wary of those who feel the need to brag about their rank or use inflated titles for themselves. I choose to assess another person by what I see them and their students do on the mat or in the ring. That is where "the rubber meets the road".
Ability and humility are both great qualities to master. So, don't ever be caught up in the desire for more rank or fancier titles. Let what you can do and who you are earn you the respect you truly deserve.
At the Mantis Masters Academy, my students generally refer to me as Mr. Tolson, Richard, or more rarely "shifu". It is only since joining the YRTQA that we implemented a rank system for students. Since, what one does on the mat is more important to me than the sash tied around a person's waist.
Over the years I have developed a convention for assigning titles to students and even to other martial arts teachers whom I respect. My teachers, I have always referred to as "shifu". Shifu, depending on the Chinese characters used, can mean "father/teacher" or "master teacher". I never refer to another teacher that I have not trained with as "shifu". I would refer to one of my peers, like George Lisjak, as "Lisjak laoshi" when in a public setting of martial artists. Laoshi is a common Chinese title that refers to a teacher of any type of discipline.
My students are assigned the title of shifu when they have completed our curriculum and begin teaching. Currently, I have five students who teach at their own schools.
Two of my Chinese shifu introduce me to others as "Master Tolson". This shocked me the first time that it happened, because that is not how I view myself. However, I am a shifu who has trained others who are now shifus in their own right. So, my teachers consider me a "master". Thus, I in turn consider a Shifu who has students that teach in their own schools to be a "master".
A master who has students that have raised a student or students to shifu level may now be considered a "grandmaster". Though I meet that qualification, I personally hate the term and would probably boot a student in the butt if they ever referred to me with that term.
Be wary of those who feel the need to brag about their rank or use inflated titles for themselves. I choose to assess another person by what I see them and their students do on the mat or in the ring. That is where "the rubber meets the road".
Ability and humility are both great qualities to master. So, don't ever be caught up in the desire for more rank or fancier titles. Let what you can do and who you are earn you the respect you truly deserve.