The Four Stages of Loyalty

Contributors offers insight into the non-physical side of the Martial Arts, often ignored when discussing self-defense.
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Rick Wilson

The Four Stages of Loyalty

Post by Rick Wilson »

The Four Stages of Loyalty:

From Overlook martial Arts Reader Volume 2

From “Arts of Serenity, Arts of Strength” by Nicklaus Suino


Page 246-247

Summary:

1. Beginner students: Must trust in the school and follow instruction without question because they do not know enough to question yet.

2. Intermediate students: Begin to feel part of the family and do not want to let people down. They should also practice hard now because they have the experience to see it is a good path.

3. Advanced Students: The advanced student demonstrates loyalty by giving back to and supporting the school and the teacher.

4. Senior Students: Quote Page 247 (Spacing modified for internet reading):

“Some mention should be made at his point of the fact that advanced students must often leave their home dojo to complete their development.

A natural part of the close relationship between teacher and student is that some students will grow and eventually become relatively close to the teacher in ability.

There will probably always be a difference in the depth of their understanding since the most advanced ten percent of knowledge in martial arts is far more difficult to achieve than the first ninety percent, but just as children nearing adulthood must challenge their parents and seek their own role in the world, so must students of the martial arts eventually become complete individuals by seeking independence.

While this separation might seem to be a severing of the ties of loyalty, and in some cases may end up being so, it is a necessary step in the maturation of students.

By testing their abilities in a larger arena, students will come to have a better appreciation of what their teachers have gone through before them, and while their abilities sharpen through contact with other martial artists, they will come to have a new respect for their teachers for having endured some of the difficulties they now face.

As long as the students remember that nothing in their martial arts career would have been possible without the guidance of their teachers, they will understand their proper place in the continuing succession of martial artists.”
AAAhmed46
Posts: 3493
Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2005 10:49 pm
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Post by AAAhmed46 »

Do i know enough to ask questions yet?
Stryke

Post by Stryke »

Nah Worship your master !!!! :lol: 8) , the force is strong in this one ....



Sorry Rick ;)
AAAhmed46
Posts: 3493
Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2005 10:49 pm
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Post by AAAhmed46 »

All hail rick!
All hail rick!
The holy trinity! The three ricks of WKS......The father(rick wilson) the son( Rick bottomly) and the holy ghosts(the other guy)
Three that are one, one that are three!
Stryke

Post by Stryke »

:lol: :lol: :lol:

now thats what Im talkin about 8) :lol: :lol:

:multi: :multi: :multi:
Guest

Post by Guest »

AAAhmed46 wrote:All hail rick!
All hail rick!
The holy trinity! The three ricks of WKS......The father(rick wilson) the son( Rick bottomly) and the holy ghosts(the other guy)
Three that are one, one that are three!
Is Rick okinawan?

:lol:
AAAhmed46
Posts: 3493
Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2005 10:49 pm
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Post by AAAhmed46 »

No he isnt okinawan,

but hes pretty fly for a white guy! :lol:
Stryke

Post by Stryke »

he`s the Okinawan Bear !!!! , how can he not be Okinawan !!! 8O
2Green
Posts: 1503
Joined: Thu Sep 23, 1999 6:01 am
Location: on the path.

Post by 2Green »

"... the most advanced ten percent of knowledge in martial arts is far more difficult to achieve than the first ninety percent..."

That's a very interesting statement.
I agree on a basic level, but I don't think it necessarily implies that YOUR TEACHER cannot teach you that last ten percent.

Many teachers themselves may not know the last ten percent. Some maybe do, some maybe don't.

Not all that KNOW something can TEACH it.

Some things can only be learned, not taught.

So, while this "ten-percent" statement might be true, there might be many not-obvious reasons for it.

The statement seems to tie the advanced learning to "other" teachers, but there is no guarantee that such "others" will be any more, or even AS insightful as the original.

NM
The music spoke to me. I felt compelled to answer.
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