So you’ve learned all the forms in your school’s curriculum, you’ve taken all the exams, competed in tournaments and accumulated a nice collection of awards, medals, and trophies. You now have a certificate declaring you a “Black Sash”, “Assistant Instructor”, possibly even “Sifu”. Congratulations!
So, the obvious question is, “What’s next?”
There is an oft-quoted statistic that declares that you are something of a rarity, one percent of those who partake in the study of martial arts. They say out of 100 students, only one of them will complete the program and become a teacher. I’ve even used that one myself a few times. This is for another article, but I take issue with that saying, despite that it is possibly true. Imagine if doctor’s had that same expectation–only one in a hundred patients will be cured. Or your local high school only expected to graduate one out of 100 12th graders. You get me, it doesn’t say much for the system, or the teacher, or doctor, does it?
Trust me, we will come back to that conversation another time. For now, just know that I’m proud of you, and I’m proud of the Chinese martial arts community for the changes we have made over the decades.
You see, in my day, it wasn’t one percent of the students who became a Sifu, it was more like one percent of one percent of the students. Many a teacher has gone to his grave without promoting any more than 2 or 3 students–and most teachers have never taught all they knew to their students. This gatekeeping of information has killed many a lineage, and discouraged many martial arts students from even trying. Gone are the days when teachers only gave out one or two forms per year, and held out allowing students from ever competing in sparring to test those skills. Today, we are promoting more and more instructors and advanced students than ever before, and I believe that is a good thing. There are, however, a small faction of Sifus who contend that perhaps too many students are being promoted–or that the criteria for promotion to higher ranks has terribly been minimized. We won’t deal with that today, so I’ll leave it up to you all to discuss that in the comments if you wish. Today, we will be offering suggestions to answer that question, what one should do next.
Here we go.
While there may be some debate about whether there is a difference between an advanced/expert level martial artist versus an instructor level martial artist, I would argue that once a student has completed his school’s curriculum that student is now qualified to teach the martial arts. Very few schools have training programs to help advanced or expert level students transition from the Black Sash/Expert level to that of a teacher. (Note: I’m currently writing a book to help with that transition, check back with us for updates!) It is expected that a student who has achieved that level should know everything that a teacher should know, maybe except for specific training on how to teach or run a school. One thing is for sure, though: Formal instruction between teacher and pupil is mostly over at this point. The relationship should then become more of a mentor-mentee than a teacher-student. Most often, at this point there are no formal classes being held. Training becomes one on one, and most often they will occur when no other student is around. This will allow the teacher to give the now-advanced level student his or her undivided attention, and allow the teacher to impart information that no one else is allowed to receive. Rather than remain merely a student, the student becomes more of an apprentice or disciple in order to receive specialized, often secret, knowledge.
Many teachers do this without a formal ceremony, without titles, or formal rituals and practices. Most teachers, however, do none of the above. With those teachers, when you complete the curriculum, you simply complete the curriculum.
Which ever system you end up in, you have the choice of continuing to learn, or teach. Some may choose to undertake a new system or learn from another teacher within the same art. Both paths are good, as they broaden one’s horizons and outlook on the art. Not that I am an expert on Wing Chun, but it appeared that the great grandmaster Yip Man studied from a Kung Fu Uncle, who gave him a new view of the art he was already well-versed in. Here in my country, the Philippines, many expert level practitioners venture out to both test himself on practitioners of other styles and end up studying several various styles before forging all the lessons learned into a new art. This last thing–creating a new art–is most often frowned upon in modern Chinese martial arts, but if you look at the histories of each style we studied, this is exactly what our founders did. And they did so with less formal study than we have access today–and did so in their 20s.
I am reminded of an old Tae Kwon Do master and friend of mine, who told me that after achieving his Black belt (it may have been a second or third degree) his father sent him to work for health clubs to learn how to run the business from the inside. His father was opposed to him putting himself in debt by attending university. Because of this, going to work directly for a gym as first a salesman and finally as a manager he learned lessons–highly valuable lessons–that he would have never received sitting in a classroom. At the time we met, I was working for a commercial chain doing what he was doing, learning how the big boys make their money, in order to make money with my school.
Several of my Kung Fu brothers studied the non-profit field in order to learn that approach to running a school. As a young man, I didn’t understand the appeal, but over the years I realized the genius in doing so. It allows the teacher to focus on primarily the teaching of the art, without worrying about contracts and billing–things most martial arts teachers loathe. If your goal is to change the world, one community at a time, or even one student at a time, I consider the non-profit method of teaching a brilliant path for an aspiring Sifu. Let the other schools fight over money, with a non-profit school, your focus is on teaching and actual community work rather than receivables.
As the saying goes, there are many paths to the summit of a mountain, and none is truly superior to the other. Some martial artists wish to make pilgrimages to ancestral homelands or to study with one’s grandmaster. Some will learn several martial art styles, sometimes related arts, sometimes completely different styles. Some compete to build their reputations as fighters or forms stylists. Some are satisfied simply teaching in their small worlds while others don’t teach at all and only want to practice and perfect what they know. And still others, myself included, made teaching professionally their chosen life path; and in this path, there are still many smaller, varying paths. Some of my most beloved martial arts friends and family chose none of these, electing to simply assist other kung fu classmates with their schools and remain in the background.
The point of this article is simply to say this: There is no correct answer to that question, of what to do next. There is no best answer. When you complete a curriculum, or achieve the advanced level in Kung Fu, do not allow anyone to dictate what you should be doing with your martial arts knowledge. As a parent, and as a teacher, of course I am biased somewhat and will nudge my young ones to pursue the path I dreamed for them. But as one who loves them unconditionally, I respect whatever decision they make, even if that decision is nothing or nothing yet. I have a higher path of learning and development for those who wish to pursue it, but there is no shame if they choose not to. This is much like the decision you must make when graduating high school… the choice is yours, however, you must choose. And as my old folks use to tell us, whichever path you choose, make sure you strive to be the best at it.
The Dean Chin Jow Ga Federation is here to assist all Jow Ga practitioners in achieving their goals in the martial arts. If you wish to teach the art, learn more kung fu, improve upon what you already know, wish to compete, or simply haven’t decided and would like to discuss the possible paths, don’t hesitate to drop us a line. Congratulations on your achievement, and good luck! Thank you for visiting the DC Jow Ga Federation.
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