Consider yourself a Master?

[SigungWhite]

Gentlemen, I have been in the Martial Arts for over 34 years, I have many titles and ranks, some genuine and some honorary. However, most of my students jut call me Sifu.

I have certified titles, like, SiBak, Sigung, Si Tai Gung, But I also teach Aikijutsu, with titles like Shihan and Kancho. However, most of them even call me Sifu Too.

Can't figure it out, but I like it that way. Sifu White is what it is all about.

Tim White

Director Molum Combat Arts Asscociation

[stonecrusher69]

Hi Sifu White

[SigungWhite]

Hi, thank you for the welcome.

Tim

[ovine king]

just want to point something out in case your post get's mis-read.

i gather that you have been part of a school/organisation where certain titles are used a a rank. For those who are reading this, those titles aren't official ranking titles that equate to those used in other styles.

traditionally, the titles in chinese styles aren't really supposed to be used as titles of "rank";

they are supposed to be more of an indication of your position in the family/hierachy of the school.

the sifu of my sifu is my si-gung.

the kung fu brother of my sifu is my si-bak.

y'know, the whole teacher/father/uncle/brother/sister thing.

[stonecrusher69]

traditionally, the titles in chinese styles aren't really supposed to be used as titles of "rank";

they are supposed to be more of an indication of your position in the family/hierachy of the school.

Your right I agree but now even alot of Chinese Sifu's are calling them selves master,Grandmaster,Great Grandmaster.I like the idea of the traditional family,but the Japanese and Korean styles have ranks and titles.Most traditional Chinese arts sadly are moving in this direction as well.

[ovine king]

well, that's what i was trying to point out.

the previous poster stated that he has some "official" titles whoch suggests that these were given to him on an official basis by a club/organisation that uses the titles in relation to a "graded" rank.

just wanted to point out that not all schools/associations does this (title as rank) and also wanted to point out the original meanings of the titles to further illustrate the point.

as for the use of names used by chinese teachers.

to be honest, i have no idea of how it is anywhere else in the world other than in the UK and in HK and to an extent, some parts of china.

in the UK, i have only ever heard a chinese teacher called grandmaster in english (as in si-gung isn't used) and only ever in reference to, as there isn't usually much direct contact between those generations of students unless it's a seminar or special visit.

in my own case, I haven't even met one of my si-gungs, of which I have four.

in the cases where I have seen three generations of teacher/students together, si-gung was used and not the english version; grand-master, which if you remember my posts I think is incorrect anyway.

In anycase, the classes that I have been part of were usually conducted in cantonese anyway and sifu is all that was needed.

I know of one school, where all teachers are called sifu no matter the generation, with the sifus themselves differentiating within themselves (using sihing,sidai, sifu etc).

[stonecrusher69]

Interesting...In the U.S. it's similar to UK. But in my school we never use master ,grand master etc. only sifu,si gung etc. which is not a rank but shows your and relationship within your lineage.