(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
