by
Dr. Makia L. Pai
The
concept of
lineage is what
guarantees the
perpetuation of
a martial arts
style. It is the
familial or
family-like
relationship
that binds the
lineage
together. At the
core of this
binding is the
sacred
relationship
between a
teacher and his
student. This
student-teacher
relationship can
be akin to a
father-son
relationship.
The teacher is
the father
figure who is
given the utmost
respect. The
student is the
son who is
taught according
to his aptitude
and cared for
even when he
makes mistakes.
Traditionally,
you have only
one teacher,
just like in
life you have
only one father.
Although
students may at
times interact
with their kung
fu brothers,
uncles, cousins,
nephews and even
grandfather, it
is the sacred
relationship
between the
teacher and
student that
allows the style
to develop,
flourish and
grow. It is only
when all members
of a lineage
respect this
structure that
the lineage can
function in a
healthy way,
thus insuring
the art's
survival for
future
generations.
Although
mutual respect
for all is a
hallmark of the
traditional
martial arts, it
does seem that
people will
sometimes more
readily show
more respect to
strangers than
to members of
their own family
and likewise to
members of their
own martial arts
family or
lineage. History
is full of
examples of
arguments,
bickering and
fighting among
practitioners of
the martial arts
and at times
even more among
practitioners
who share the
same roots and
are related
through a common
lineage. It is a
shame when this
happens as
outsiders see
these displays
and wonder why
there is no
family unity
within the
lineage. As a
result, the
reputation of
the lineage
suffers.
Many
times, this
apparent
disagreement
between members
of the same
lineage occurs
because someone
has claimed a
position in the
lineage that
their teacher
did not give
them. Remember
only your
teacher can give
you lineage to
him, you cannot
claim it for
yourself and it
cannot be
bestowed on you
by those outside
of the lineage.
Often when a
famous martial
arts master
dies, various
people come out
of the woodwork
claiming lineage
to that
particular
master. This can
obviously create
friction with
the true lineage
members who do
not believe the
newcomer's claim
to lineage. Just
because you
attended a few
seminars with
someone does not
make them your
teacher. Just
because you
studied with a
particular
teacher for a
period of time
does not place
you in his
lineage. The
teacher must
declare you to
be in his
lineage either
by signed
written
acknowledgement
or verbally
during a special
meeting or
ceremony where
other members of
the teacher's
lineage are
present. Every
teacher in every
style with
lineage has a
unique way that
lineage is
acknowledged in
order to prevent
false claims to
the lineage. If
somone is
claiming lineage
through any
other way, do
not believe
them. The actual
members of that
lineage
certainly won't
either.
The
cases where the
disrespect does
not stem from
someone's
unlawful claim
to lineage
usually arise
when one
legitmate member
of the lineage
belittles
another
legitimate
member of the
same lineage for
their own
selfish
commercial
purposes. This
is usually done
orally in front
of either their
own students or
other students
in the lineage.
Some lineage
members may have
schools in close
proximity and
feel that they
have to compete
for students.
Other lineage
members may even
try to "steal"
students who are
training with
another
instructor in
their own
lineage. While
many martial
arts instructors
have no qualms
about trying to
steal students
of another
instructor, it
certainly is a
shame to see
such behavior
among
instructors from
the same
lineage. It is
usually a
student's lack
of martial arts
etiquette that
would allow them
to be "stolen".
Some of these
students may not
even be aware
that it is
happening. They
may be flattered
by the attention
given to them by
someone who is
older, more
famous or has a
fancier title
than their
instructor.
While reputable
instructors do
not engage in
such behavior,
it is
unfortunately
not as uncommon
as one might
imagine. I
myself have had
a few world
renowned masters
(not from my
teacher's
lineage) try to
steal me from my
teacher (prior
to my adoption
by my teacher
into his
lineage). I
thanked them all
respectfully for
their invitation
and replied that
I already had a
teacher. As this
kind of response
must have been
rare for these
masters to hear,
they all
instanteously
inquired about
my teacher and
his lineage. As
I replied I
could see the
respect in their
eyes for my
teacher even
though they had
never met him.
They all knew
how difficult it
was to instill
loyalty in a
student born and
raised in the
United States.
The ironic thing
about those
students who
allow themselves
to be stolen by
another teacher
is that those
students
demonstrate
their level of
loyalty to be
minimal. As
such, this other
teacher will
just treat them
like customers
and commercially
exploit them as
long as they
can. No teacher
will give the
pearls of his
art to someone
who does not
exemplify the
virtue of
loyalty.
A
different
situation arises
when your
teacher suggests
that you go and
study with
another teacher,
usually in the
same lineage or
in some way
connected with
your teacher. In
this case either
your teacher is
trying to get
rid of you or he
wants you to
undergo a
different
learning
experience that
he feels will
make you into a
better
practitioner of
his art. If you
feel that your
teacher is
trying to send
you away, you
have probably
offended him in
some way and
should see it
for the test
that it is and
don't go.
Otherwise, go
and learn
whatever the
referred teacher
shows you. Treat
the referred
teacher with the
utmost respect.
Usually he will
be considered
your kung fu
uncle (if he
shares the same
teacher as your
teacher) or your
older kung fu
brother (if he
is an older
student of your
teacher). Either
way, realize
that you are
going as a
representative
of your teacher
and your
teacher's
teaching and as
such your
loyalty must
always remain to
your original
teacher.
If you
are being
considered by
your teacher to
one day become a
part of his
lineage, expect
some tests of
your loyalty to
be included in
the lessons of
the referred
teacher. Do not,
however, expect
these tests to
be obvious. They
will be very,
very subtle. You
will either pass
or fail them
based on your
current level of
understanding of
honor and
martial arts
ethics. If you
ever consider
asking to be a
formal student
of the referred
teacher, you are
a fool. Only a
disreputable
instructor would
accept you and
even if he did,
you would
forever carry
the scarlet
letter of
disloyalty.
After all, if
you left your
original teacher
for him, how
long would it be
before you left
him for another
teacher? Many
times, other
insructors
trying to steal
you will dangle
the carrot of
higher rank or
fancier title to
entice you to
leave your
teacher and
train under
them. Stay aware
and see it for
the trap that it
is. No matter
what tests you
undergo,
continue to show
respect to all
of the teachers
in your
teacher's
lineage and
loyalty to your
teacher. If you
are one of the
fortunate ones
who can
perservere and
stay loyal to
your teacher,
you may one day
find yourself
accepted into
his lineage. And
if you do you
may find it to
be
simultaneously
the proudest and
most humbling
experience of
your life. I
know I did.
Dr. Makia L. Pai is the Founder of Dragon Moon® Kung Fu
and the Director
of Dragon
Moon Martial
Arts Association.
He is a long
time
practitioner of
the Pai
Family
martial,
meditative, and
metaphysical
arts.
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