What makes an instructor a Master?

[TropicalStorm]

When discussing the term and the people who call themselves a Master, does ethinicity matter, and is their origin of any consequence? This has been a debate in other areas on the internet and I would like to have your opinion.

 

Rainy

[Rotten Head Fok]

IMO ethinicity? (ethnicity ?) does not matter.

 

Origins are a prerequisite unless it is the Founder.

[aefibird]

I agree. Where a person comes from shouldn't matter - it's what they've done, who they've trained with and what they can do that are the important factors in being a MA Master.

 

Also, 'Master' means different things to different people, depending on their background and training. As DM keeps on reminding us... the term 'Master' means far different things in Chinese martial arts than it does in the West.

[TropicalStorm]

I agree with you in that origins don't matter. You seem pretty open minded. I just went to the website TOASKUNGFU.com There was so much information and this Master Safakhoo IS the founder of this style of kung fu, Toas. It's impressive to me that he has enough confidence in his techniques to introduce them to people, and I am sure it is not easy to try to create a new system of martial art. What do you think about the website? Seems interesting.

[Upasik]

A Master is someone how has made there art (while keeping the tech. and spiritual asspects true and intact) better then it was when it was passed to them. The art must always improve and evolve threw each generation (with out changing it, or makeing things up) or it will die out.

 

...and that can never happen.

[47MartialMan]

http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=14780

[Rick]

I always understood the concept of a master as someone who has perfected every intricate and intimate detail of a certain martial art (physical and mental) and then has attempted to further their martial art by means that they see fit eg: more schools, less schools, no junk students, quality control, continuation of tradition etc etc...

 

I never really thought of ethnicity as an issue.

 

Rick

[law hon gung]

I dont think anyone on this earth should be called master,at least I wouldnt call anyone that,I called my teacher Shi Gong

[47MartialMan]

Same here,

 

As well as other terms for the other practitioners of the same school. Yes, si gong (shi gong) can be translated to grandfather. Hence, in a Chinese school, on the heirarchy of a family structure. This is where DM culd be saying that there isn't really a term or character for "master"

 

If I can state, that actually si (shi) the sound like a "sh" or "zh" can translate itself as teacher. In Mandarin, the translation could be many-temple-monastery,four, to die, to resemble....fu, taken on many others, louh, or old.

 

Now, I will happily receive other info on this because my experience is restricted to Mandarin with conflict between PinYin and WadeGiles.

 

DM, this is where (in one of many) I am curious about your post.

[Master Jules]

Could be as simple as earning a certain rank (usually 4th Dan)......but really.....it should be based on your ability to "do", and of course....depth of knowledge