Whatever you are by nature, keep to it; never desert your line of talent. Be what nature intended you for and you will succeed. – Sydney Smith, 1771-1845
You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it requires people to make the dream a reality. – Walt Disney, 1901-1966, American Film Producer, Director and Animator
July 9, 2010
Thanks to those of you who took the time to write and let me know that you’ve really enjoyed this “series” of messages about the Chinese gung fu family traditions.
On Wednesday I’d promise to tell you about one other aspect of that tradition, but for the life of me, I can’t remember what it was.
It’s the age thing! But I did find my list of family titles and hopefully you’ll find it interesting. Here goes!
At the top of the family lies the Sijo, the “clan elder”, so to speak. In the Jeet Kune Do family, this of course is Bruce Lee.
Bruce Lee can also be referred to as the Si Tai Gung of a Jeet Kune Do school like the Academy.
Hang with me here while I explain this.
Dan Inosanto is the Sigung, the grandfather of the Academy since he is my teacher, my Sifu. That makes Bruce Lee the Academy’s “great grandfather”. Are you still with me?
Obviously, as in any family tree, this can get fairly complicated, so we simplify things and mostly refer to Bruce Lee as Sijo Bruce.
You are already familiar with the term Sihing or “older brother” as in Sihing John. There is also the term Sije which is the female title or “older sister”.
Another female title is Simo which is used for your Sifu’s wife, if she is outside of the art, a gung fu non-practitioner. For me, that would be Paula Inosanto.
Sidai, “younger brother” and Simui, “younger sister” are terms that aren’t used that often in an active gung fu school.
Same thing with Sibak and/or Sisuk which refer to your “older uncle” and “younger uncle”, respectively. So Chris Kent, Paul Vunak and Cass Magda, for example, are the Academy’s sibaks, because they started training with Sifu Dan Inosanto before I did.
Joel Clarke, Sifu Dan’s longtime seminar assistant, is a good example of an Academy Sisuk, because he started training in the 1990’s, almost 10 years after I did.
In case you’re wondering, the terms Dai gee or Moon yan refer to the Academy members collectively. An individual student is a Todai.
In the modern days, only the most respectful and ardent gung fu students will make a study of this type of material and make diligent use of these terms.
These are the types of students who end up in today’s final category… accepted by the Sifu as a Toyee, thereby becoming an individual member of the group of Moon-to. The disciples.
These guys are the specially selected students who are entrusted with the responsibility of carrying on the art. They are hand-picked students who meet certain criteria.
I know what you’re thinking. This sounds a lot like something from The Godfather, doesn’t it?
Maybe that’s where they get the saying, “Honour among thieves”, huh?
In any case, it goes to show that old school qualities like honour, respect, reverence, tradition will never go out of style.
Have a great weekend!
Now go out and conquer the world,
Sifu DW for TeamUMAA
www.unifiedmartialart.com
“Using Martial Art As a vehicle for personal growth and development”
305 595-2892
P.S. I found out yesterday that some Academy parents and members think that the Academy Awards is “not for” them, so let me clear that up. It is for ALL Academy members, their families and friends.
P.P.S. I just remembered what that aspect was…. Let’s wait until Monday.
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