Western culture, on a whole, continues to struggle when it comes to understanding and committing to mastery of an art. Our cultural tendency toward narcissistic excess makes certain knowledge dangerous. It wasn’t that long ago when it was almost impossible for a guy my size of european heritage to find a Chinese master willing to teach him kung fu. I am riding on the coattails of fifty years of diligence and humility demonstrated by the non-Chinese kung fu black belts who opened the doors before me. It is my job to ensure those doors stay open for those who are to come after me.
Our search for instant gratification makes it hard to learn a system. Everyone wants to learn a new technique or test a new skill but it takes a true martial artist to look beyond the surface and seek the essence of the style. Everyone has something to teach but not everyone has the ability to learn. Humility gives us that ability.
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” - Rick Warren (b. 1954)
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