• Archive through June 26, 2007 June 26 - 12:31 pm [20]

Here's how I see it....

if you're in China, speaking Chinese to a Chinese speaking teacher... then address the teacher by the proper Chinese term.

If you're in a Western Country... then address the teacher by their name or by 'Sir' or 'Mister'.

It stupid for 'students' and 'teachers' to cling to foreign terms to address someone. Some might argue that they're doing it out of respect for the 'masters' culture... but the joke is, the 'master' left his culture to join yours... and you're insulting the 'master' by continually reminding them of the culture they fled.

don't get me started on 'western' guys who refer to each other as 'sifu' and 'master'... it's just sad.

Bob numero dos understands where I am coming from.

I know where everyone is coming from.
That's what makes me great.

That's why they call me "Ubber Dubber Sifu GrandMaster LaShir Bob#2"

Laoshi, Laoshi, not Lashir!! Jeez!

they just call me master #187993

Master #187993, or inmate #187993?
Jake

if juvy counts...

James McNeil teaches both Splashing-Hands (which he describes as having street-fighting origins) & Xing-Yi.

He has a couple Splashing-Hands videos in which he teaches the drills/short-forms (called Browns -- they're numbered Brown #1, Brown #2, etc.) -- essentially these are what western boxers would call combinations (only you'll find kicks as well as jabs & upper-cuts in these combinations). Some applications are also shown.

It moves quite fast & doing the drills gives quite a workout... it also doesn't require much space to practice.

According to George Lugo, Lima-Lama style also incorporates the Browns.

'lao shi' is a commonly used and generic term for 'teacher'. It literally equates to something like "old (lao) specialist (shi)".

Though it may imply reverence, it is hardly ostentatious, per its common and loose usage in Chinese culture. Anyone from an elementary school teacher to a gongfu expert is accurately called 'lao shi'.

'shi fu' is the more specific term of reverence and endearment, literally meaning specialist(shi)-father(fu). Its the same 'shi' as in 'lao shi'. In Chinese martial culture, 'shi fu' is what the in-door student calls the (male) teacher. The shifu's spouse is addressed as 'shimu', and fellow students are addressed as shishiong, shidi, shixie, shimei (respectively: older gongfu brother, younger gongfu brother, older gongfu sister, younger gongfu sister).

When the student first trains under a martial arts teacher, it is appropriate to call him 'lao shi'. When the student becomes accepted as an in-door student, it is then appropriate to call the teacher 'shi fu'.

Essentially, a martial arts student should have only one 'shi fu', and addresses other martial arts teachers as 'lao shi'.

However, as with all language, the terms are, in practice, not always used as meant to be used. You may address a respected and great teacher of your teacher's as 'shiye' ('grand' teacher-father), as the term 'laoshi' may be too distant and common, and does not convey the necessary level of proximity and endearment.

Similarly, 'bro' is an American slang term that literally means 'brother, but is often used loosely to address any random dude you might be drinking with down at the student union bar.

Now i'm very curious, in China or Tiawan, what would a Chinese speaking basketball player call his Chinese speaking coach?

Bob#2

A basketball player would call his coach "jiao lian" or "coach."

It's also the term a Wushu practitioner or Sanda fighter uses to address their teacher.

but basketball is an 'american' game... shouldn't the Chinese speaking player call his Chinese speaking coach "Coach" in English? Or "Boss" or "Broseph"..... I mean, so many English speaking american's call their english speaking kung fu teachers 'lao shi' or 'shir fu'.... doesn't it work the other way around?

Good point Bob #2, I'll start writing letters.

Proper naming is good form. But name changing can be futile if the implications are perceived to remain.

A new name then adopts old meaning and again needs changing. This can repeat indefinitely: 'Clerk' to 'secretary' to 'personal assistant', with 'judicial clerk' and 'secretary of state' acceptable.