September 26, 2024
One day I bumped into a young woman with a young child who was sitting in a shopping cart while shopping down the aisle in the grocery store. Her eyes grew big as I came closer and we exchanged hellos. The thing that caught my attention was that she did not refer to me as sensei but rather by my 1st name. I smiled and I first doted over her beautiful child and then I asked her if she remembered anything that I taught her when she attended Zhang Sah as a youth. She jumped into a fighting stance, and right in the middle of the aisle, she performed a jump front kick. She was very proud and I was pleased as well. I don’t believe that I have seen her in at least 10 years. I asked her if I wanted her to forget how to do that kick or give the skill of doing that kick back to me could she do it. She laughed and told me that was impossible. I went on to say that when I taught her how to do martial arts that those skills were irrevocable. Also, there was a responsibility that comes along with it and respect that is due that is also irrevocable. Therefore she should bow when she sees me and refer to me as sensei and not my first name.
This perspective is important because martial skills are powerful and can be deadly. The mindset that things change because of distance and time can be equally as dangerous. I am proud to teach students to be competent with skills that can last a lifetime but they come with conditions. At Zhang Sah we hold courtesy as a tenet of our practice. At Zhang Sah we teach respect several ways through courtesy and it is really an important pillar of practice because: In many ways courtesy is how martial art differs from fighting.
The first thing you learn is how to bow and be courteous to your training space, teacher and classmates. All practice begins and ends with courtesy.
1. The Bow
The bow is a widely accepted symbolic act of courtesy and deference in martial arts. There are many specific and different ways to bow under certain circumstances. For example a student should always bow their head lower than their teacher when bowing together.
2. Manners
Saying thank you, please, and excuse me are basic ways to be courteous. Students should use manners with everyone, not just their friends and family. This can prove from time to time to be as effective as self defense techniques.
3. Courtesy as a Strategy
Use courtesy as a strategy to avoid problems with others. It is always better to avoid conflict whenever possible when having passing interactions with other people. This is not only a way to be with people that you like. You should be courteous to strangers and others that you do not not know well to keep interactions positive.
4. Adopt a spirit of Generosity
True martial art does not promote violence and It is not just a means of physical self defense. The complete endeavor includes mental, spiritual and physical training. You can be freed of a destructive path by giving when you don’t have to, by giving way when you are right and by sharing your strength as goodness when others would be weak or selfish.
5. Moral Duty
As a student at Zhang Sah and as a martial art practitioner you have a moral duty to be a good person. One way to develop virtues and skills that can be practiced to make you be a good person is by being courteous.
