This could be a very CONFUsing post with the examples I have, as it might contradict with some of the points raised from "A Funny Story About...Sifu", especially when most of the quotes is from CONFUcius...hahaha...It is something that I didn't fully explain to the person who inspired the Sifu post using a different angle...from the receiving end...as a Disciple (Toh Dai).
If any of you have watched Jackie Chan's "Druken Master" before, you would remember all the scene where he went through some very difficult training routine under the Sifu. Just like "The Karate Kid", Mr Miyagi also have similar training techniques (Wax On ~ Wax Off Technique) where the emphasis is put on the understanding the philosophy behind the Kung Fu Style or Karate-do rather than the actual physical moves...of course, at the end of both movies, the trainings are put into good use where the Scriptwriter and Director of the film turn them into the killer or winning blow...(To be honest, where got Sifu that can anticipate that one of his Toh Dai's kaki will be hurt so badly until he has to stand on one leg one...tipu punya lah...).
Well, as the title suggested, it's about the Disciple, the Toh Dai. In both "Druken Master" & "Karate Kid", the Toh Dai played by Jackie Chan & Ralph Macchio respectively were a little sceptical about the training method in the begining but eventually, when the techniques are put into forms or flows and they finally realise & understand the reason behind it, they kept going and going no matter how difficult the training was...That is how Toh Dai should "Obey" and "Learn" from their Sifu...by giving it their all.Not to be CONFUsed with the die hard suicide bombers where they will just follow instructions or orders blindly...but to learn, a certain level of commitment, dedication and hard work is a must. CONFUcius says "He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.".
He also mentioned "By nature, men are pretty much alike; It is learning & practice that set them apart.". For example, the Shaolin Monks believes that all Kung Fu originated from their great monk Bodhidharma (while most would disagree with that claim...), it is very possible that through the generation of practices that branches and resulted in many other Kung Fu Styles today.
As a Toh Dai, the first and foremost requirement is to learn as much as possible from the Sifu...with CONFUcius's philosophy, the Toh Dai could easily outshine the Sifu by enhancing the style due to different level of interpretation of the 10 Jiu. If the Sifu's biggest fear is "Being Replaced", then the Toh Dai's goal should be "Replacing The Sifu"...why not? It is a dog eat dog world after all...hahaha...if that is what drives the Toh Dai to work hard at the training...
Even if the Sifu refuses to teach all 10 Jiu...just imagine, someone, from generations ago started the 1st Jiu that resulted in the eventual 10 Jiu, if the Toh Dai can have the same Progressive Mindset of the creator, he too, should be able to recreate that 10th Jiu...possibly with some differences but in general, it should encompass the same essence and power of the Kung Fu Style. If the Toh Dai has an extra edge, by taking the essence, he can even create the 11th, 12th, 13th Jiu and possibly even more...surpassing everyone before him.
Not all Sifu are bad or stingy in parting knowlegde but definitely, not all Sifu are good teachers...therefore, as a Toh Dai, knowing and understanding the "Training Method" as well as the way to decipher it, is very important. CONFUcius also said "If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.".
Seriously, I'd make a very bad Toh Dai...in fact, I think I'd suck at it...but in truth, I never really had a Sifu in life. Like I mentioned in "An Intro", I'd probably would have "Kek Sei" the Sifu...hahaha...I also had no one to complain to and because my superior don't know how to teach me...I could've just given up and got out of this business long long time ago...But, I've learn to live with it. Adjust. Find my own path. Learn by observing. Compute the possibilities. Trying to achieve different heights every time...
Therefore, even if your immediate superior is a "Sifu who is not a good teacher", it is up to you as a Toh Dai to find and try other method to learn the techniques from him/her.
A little side track,I found a very interesting report on The Sunday Star (14th March 2010). The article highlighted a local survey of 1,678 respondents with a whooping 96% of youth today aspired to be a millionaire and 75% of those believe they can achieve it by age 35. Having high ambition & expectation is definitely a good thing especially with role models like Mark Zukerberg, 26, founder of Facebook and Sergey Brin & Larry Page, founders of Google. But, question is, how many Mark Zukerberg, Sergey Brin and Larry Page are out there? Those guys are geniuses and lucky ones...one in a million. Even the report has a quoted opinion that pointed out, "Many won't be able to achieve the goal".
Everyone wants to be a millionaire...without a doubt, the opportunities are really out there. To me, everyone can be a millionaire. Provided that every single important factor converge in the right manner. There's a chinese proverb that says "To start a business is difficult, to sustain or maintain the business is even more difficult.". Without a strong foundation, things can easily crumble...start building your foundation by learning.
There is a very dangerous trap that all Toh Dai must be aware of and avoid falling into altogether...the "Easy Trap Of Self-righteousness or Over Confidence". Never "Sek Siu Siu, Ban Toi Piu" (Which translate into "Know a little but act like representative") and Never ever give others a chance to say that you are "Kong, Zhau Tin Har Mo Dik. Chou, Jau Mo Nang Wai Lek" (Which translate into "All talk no action"). Imagine yourself only having 1 Jiu, up against another Toh Dai that is learning the 6th Jiu...
At times, CONFUcius can be very CONFUsing...I'm 40 but I feel 28. I'm not a Toh Dai and I'm definitely not CONFUsed but I'm still learning...after all, I am still me...a Chun Toi with Cracks.
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