But if you stick it out, you will gain great benefits,
the least of which is great good health and
great fighting ability.
To be elated at success and disappointed at failure
is to be the child of circumstances: how can such a one be called the
master of anything if he is not the master of himself.
Never call any man or woman your master or sifu, he might be a master
but no one is your master. Be Your Own Master!
How To Use Tai Chi For Fighting: Page 61
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THE CLASSICS
Chapter Four
Most classical Chinese martial arts can be traced back to their
various beginnings by some tangible means such as ancient drawings
and script. This is most true of the Shaolin derived martial arts.
On the other hand we have the internal: Chinese martial arts where
we find that not much in the way ‘of tangible evidence, drawings
etc, has been left to us. All that we have to follow for the most part is
the lineage principle where-by the Father taught the son or each
master only took on one or two trusted disciples. Some of these disciples
did however write down alt of their thoughts on the internal
arts as they learnt them and so nowadays we are left with many classical
sayings and poems, which have been translated, many times
from ancient Chinese to middle Chinese to modem Chinese, then
into English and many European languages.
The principle of the Classic is most evident in the internal martial art
of T’ai chi ch’uan where we are left with many classic sayings and
poems written by various masters since the beginning of the art.
Even today, all we are able to test our knowledge with are these classics
and many arguments have resulted in different translations as to
how certain postures or techniques should be performed etc.