Oct 30, 2024
Oct 21, 2024
The Three Qualities of a Kung-Fu Student
(from Master Z's Facebook page)
HUMILITY, RESPECT & PATIENCE...
The Three Qualities of a Kung-Fu Student
In my time in learning Kung-fu I understood that I wasn't in just another sport or activity. I realized from the get-go that this is something very special that may not be suitable for just everyone. A good student will accept the fact that learning Kung-Fu requires the practice of the three qualities of a Kung-fu student. This is Humility, Respect and Patience. Kung-Fu translates to skill developed over a long period of training. In other words, "Hard Work!" If you are not humble, you will boast and brag and believe that you are more skilled than you truly are. This becomes like a virus that grows within you and doesn't allow you to learn and grow. When you are not humble you become negative and feel entitled. This is the worst place a student can get to. Trust me, I've seen it hundreds of times in Kung-Fu. The longer a student is training, the more that student learns, and the more that student feels he knows. But truth is, Kung-fu is an endless journey and you will be a student for life in Kung-Fu. A Sifu (Master) looks first at how humble a student is. How he behaves in class with his peers and his instructors. You can always tell if humility is being lost by the students attitude. When a student begins to expect more for less and takes offense to being guided. This is when that entitled attitude takes over and destroys the humility that feeds the other two qualities.
Respect is the brother of Humility. They both work together to develop the character of a Kung-Fu student. Learning Kung-Fu has a formula that has worked for thousands of years. This formula is guided by the culture and disciplines of the Kwoon (school). If a student loses his humility he automatically also loses the respect. This respect is what guards his character and ultimately what keeps him listening, following and learning. Once respect is lost, the student will stop listening and will stop learning. If a student thinks he knows more than he truly does, he will shut off to the guidance of his older Kung-fu siblings and even his Sifu. You can see how humility and respect are bonded together and how they define the character of a Kung-fu student. As I remember it, when a student would lose himself in this virus of lack of humility and respect, a Sifu would have to humble them. Often times this would mean degrading them in front of their peers. This was the hard way if a student didn't want to change. Often, they would either humble themselves from this or quit. But it is what needs to happen if peace and harmony is to be kept in the kwoon.
The third quality is patience. We all know that in order to achieve any of these qualities, they must be practiced daily. No one is automatically patient. Patience comes from an understanding and an acceptance to the culture, discipline and philosophy of training in Kung-Fu. There is no fast road in Kung-fu. Everyone has to put in the time and learn to live the disciplines. If a student lacks patience, he will not accept the time and sacrifice that it truly takes to learn Kung-Fu. In Kung-Fu everything must be earned, and earning Kung-fu requires time under sacrifice. A Sifu will not accept into his circle any students that lack patience or the other two qualities. So if you ever hear a Sifu or an older Kung-Fu sibling say, "Check Your Attitude" ... this is a warning that one or more of the qualities is not being practiced by you or someone else in the class. This usually becomes a warning before the student is humbled directly. But this becomes the last resort as this act may work or may lose you that student.
Strong & Inspired,
MASTER Z
Oct 1, 2024
Ralph Macchio on How Mr. Miyagi's "Kick in the Gut" Affects Daniel in 'Cobra Kai' Season 6
The Netflix series picks back up with season 6 part 2 in November, and the actor has thoughts about Daniel's future.
(goodhousekeeping.com)
With the final season of Cobra Kai in our midst, it's hard to say goodbye to our favorite TV dojo. But the story isn't exactly over yet, and Ralph Macchio has some thoughts about where his iconic character will go in the long run.
The hit Netflix series is airing season 6 part 2 in November, and back in July, the actor sat down with Good Housekeeping to talk about Daniel LaRusso's surprising storyline in the last installment. When the season first premiered back in July, fans watched Daniel learn his mentor Mr. Miyagi wasn't always the good-mannered karate master he knew from when he was a kid. What's more, this all came out right as he and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) needed to help their students get ready for the international Sekai Taikai tournament in Barcelona, leading Daniel to go in a tailspin no one expected.
So, how will this affect Daniel as his and Johnny's team fight for the biggest form of recognition in their lives? According to Ralph, his character will have a lot to work through in the next set of episodes.
"For Daniel, when we discover and introduce this box of Miyagi's secrets, clues of a life that may have not added up to him ... that's a big part of the arc," he said. "Daniel winds up wondering and not understanding why he wasn't told of things, and the hurt and pain of that. But also, the deeper he tries to unearth it, the more tangents he goes off on and potentially loses his focus on his students and his family."
Although it's unclear as to how Daniel will have to face these newly unearthed mysteries about his former karate teacher, there is one thing The Outsiders alum is excited about in regards to this emotional storyline.
As Ralph explained, he's excited to see how Daniel's heartbreaking revelation about Mr. Miyagi affects how he approaches being a sensei. Given how Daniel and Johnny's philosophies for teaching are so different and they're trying to win the most important competition in their careers, Ralph is ready for viewers to see how Daniel reacts to it all.
"Daniel's dynamic with Johnny and all of the students really comes to this pinnacle in the final chapter," he said. "There's that evolution and growth going forward. He needs to fight some real kicks in the gut, and find a place within his heart and soul to get through it."
"The legacy of [Cobra Kai] is blurring the lines of good over evil — overcoming the obstacles and finding your inner self," he added. "Things will eventually make sense as to why [Mr. Miyagi] motivates Daniel in this specific story, and I'm looking forward to that."
Well, we need to get our karate gis on and prepare ourselves for what's sure to be an epic ride on Cobra Kai!
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My take
Cobra Kai season 6 so far, to put it mildly.... has been a disappointment. Actually, what has been released so far was awful, I was barely able to get through the six or so episodes. I found myself fast-forwarding anything that had Kreese in it. And how can a wanted criminal, (Kreese on the run since he escaped from prison at the end of season 5) just show up in Barcelona? Don't you need a passport to get into Spain? Wouldn't his name show up on a wanted list as he goes through immigration and customs? Ugh....
I don't know. They better do something fast to fix this mess or this last season is going to leave a bad stain on an otherwise pretty good series.
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