Martial Arts Etiquette Archives - Waterloo Kung-Fu Academy

Respectful Greetings

Blue Orchard — Sun, 12 Mar 2023 15:45:14 +0000

Respectful Greetings

Traditional Kung-Fu Etiquette

Sigung’s Corner

by Sigung David Moylan
Fu For You Spring 2023

During my sixteen years training under Sigung Bob Schneider, I witnessed a few significant changes to our martial arts etiquette. He led us with traditional values and authored most of the Academy Rules (found in the Student Handbook). Sigung started training under Grand Master Pan Qingfu in the early 90’s, who had recently emigrated from China. This relationship really refined our style and informed the etiquette we follow to this day. One example is the method in which we hand off documents like grading letters and envelopes, whereby we use two hands, presenting it so that the wording is turned to the receiver.

Some of our etiquette stems from the philosophical roots of Kung Fu, one of which is Confucianism. As a means of maintaining social order, Confucius (551 BCE) stressed the importance of loyalty and held that those in a more senior position should be shown a level of respect, especially grandparents, parents and teachers.

At WKFA, a daily way we show respect is by greeting one another using the Shaolin salutation, whereby the left open hand (fingers together), covers the right first. In addition, we use our voices to say “Hello _____” with the appropriate title (if applicable) and name. We try to demonstrate this learned gesture of respect upon first seeing our teachers. As a finer point of this etiquette, the less senior student (by rank, then age) should initiate the greeting.

From my perspectives as a student, Sifu, head instructor and parent, I can attest to the power of a mindful “hello.” Many are drawn to traditional martial arts for our adherence to positive values, namely respect, discipline and spirit. Studying Kung Fu can also develop self-confidence. Regardless of age, simply saying “hello” is an important first step in developing social skills and building confidence. I understand that looking a person in the eye and consciously greeting them is not easy for everyone, but Kung Fu calls us to many challenges in the interest of becoming better people.

In classes, I often encourage our students to apply this practice outside of the Academy. Greeting family, teachers, classmates, co-workers and even strangers strengthens the fabric of society. On mornings after dropping my daughter off, an elderly gentleman near the school stands outside saying hello to every passer-by. I make a point of going past his house to exchange pleasantries—it totally makes my day!

A practical consideration for saying hello to an instructor—if they’re already in a conversation, please don’t interrupt them. Let them finish their moment and say hello when/if the opportunity presents. I also get asked if parents need to say “Hello Sifu/Sigung,” and I joke that this is not a requirement…until you’re also a student. That said, if you feel it sets a good example for your child, it’s not expected, but is appreciated.

I would love to see our Kung Fu community give renewed attention to this humble but potent tradition of greeting one another with respect.

Read more articles about Respect in Martial Arts and Kung-Fu Etiquette.

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Respect & Etiquette

Blue Orchard — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 15:01:09 +0000

Sifu Michael Prudencio-Brunello

Youth Student’s Corner

by Sifu Michael Prudencio-Brunello

Welcome back everyone! With the leaves falling and the weather getting colder, we head towards another fall, and another school year. In Kung Fu, this means classes will be back inside. After doing classes outside and on Zoom for so long, I wanted to remind everyone about our Kung-Fu etiquette: the rules we must follow to show respect and have a good class. Here they are!

Tip 1: Before Class

When waiting before class, remember to be respectful to your fellow students learning Kung Fu! It can be exciting to talk with your classmates but remember to wait quietly and away from the main entrance. Better yet, use those extra minutes to practice corrections from a past class, work on your strength requirements, or start stretching so you’re ready once class begins!

Tip 2: Bowing In and Out of the Kwoon

Each time we enter or exit the kwoon, we do a short bow. This is to show respect for the space that we are using to train. If you forget, that’s okay! We can all be forgetful at times. When this happens, or if an instructor reminds you, just go back to the entrance and bow.

Tip 3: Talking to Instructors

All the instructors have worked hard to learn Kung Fu, and now we want to help you on your journey! As such, we show respect whenever we talk to them or hear instructions. For black sashes, this is “Yes Sifu!”. For our brown sashes, we use Sihing or Sije, depending on if they are male or female. For all other instructors, we address them as Sir or Ma’am. Showing this respect lets the instructor know you are focused, listening, and ready to learn Kung Fu!

Tip 4: Paying Attention

When listening to the instructor, stay in your best closed stance! This means eyes forward, hands chambered back, feet together, and standing tall. When instructors see a strong closed stance, they know you are focused one hundred percent on Kung Fu.

Tip 5: Following Instructions

There are two different types of instructions in Kung Fu. The first one is when you are asked to do something – going into a stance, starting a form, or any other instruction to do Kung Fu. Make sure to get into position quickly and wait for the next instruction! The second type is when you are asked to move somewhere. For these, you say yes to the instructor (like “Yes Sifu!”), then move as fast as you can.

Tip 6: Working with Partners

When we work with partners, we always bow beforehand as a sign of respect. This tells the other person that you are going to work together to practice Kung Fu, using the teamwork and collaboration skills of the dragon!

The respect we have as Kung Fu students should extend beyond the kwoon, and into other areas of our lives. Make sure you know the rules of your school, of your home, and of other places so that you can always be respectful and show good etiquette.

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Significance of Bowing in Kung Fu

Blue Orchard — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 17:44:51 +0000

Sifu Cristina Prudencio-Brunello

Youth Student’s Corner

Bows. We use them so often in Kung Fu – in our forms, before we enter or exit the kwoon, and to begin our classes. Simple as they may appear, there are many layers of symbolism to bowing. For example, the closed hand may represent war or aggression, and the open hand peace. By covering aggression with peace, we tell someone that there is power within us, but we choose the path of nonviolence. In another way, we could use the bow to represent the opposites of yin (open, soft) and yang (closed, hard). There are many theories on what the bows could mean, and there is no one right answer. Even the three bows before class have their own individual meanings:

Ancestors (or Masters):
An ancestor is a person from whom we are descended, like a great-great grandparent. In Kung Fu, this term refers to many people, from the monks who created the martial art thousands of years ago, to their first students, all the way to Grand Master Pan and Sigung Bob who shaped the Kung Fu of our school. This first bow is a sign of respect to the past and to honour the work they did to keep Kung Fu going. Just think – without our ancestors to pass down the skills and knowledge of martial arts, there would be no Kung Fu to practice!
Sigung:
Our second bow is to Sigung, who is both owner and head instructor of our school. He teaches everyone at WKFA, from Little Ninjas all the way through Black Sash (the learning doesn’t stop once you become a Sifu!). Sigung also sets the tone for the school by honouring the traditions of our ancestors while still allowing our Kung Fu to evolve and grow. Bowing to Sigung before class is a sign of respect and thanks for all the hard work he does to make the Academy an awesome Kung Fu community.
Everyone:
Kung Fu teaches us to have respect for those around us, and the third bow is a sign that we will uphold that. It is a promise to your classmates, instructors, and yourself that you will try your best and work hard during class. The third bow honours the future of Kung Fu – you! As you continue to train and move forward in your Kung Fu journey, it will become your responsibility to teach the next generation of students how to be martial artists.

Everything we do in Kung Fu has purpose or meaning behind it, and the three bows before class are no exception. Our martial art is founded on a philosophy of respect and honour for the past, present, and future. Each bow is a way to acknowledge these aspects of Kung Fu, and every time we bow in for class, it is a promise to uphold these values while we train. So remember what you’re promising next time you bow!

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Reviewing the Rules

Blue Orchard — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 19:57:15 +0000

Sibok Lloyd Fridenburg

Parent’s Corner

Children Missing Summer Classes

Kung Fu training is a year-round activity. WKFA only closes for a week in the middle of the summer and a week at Christmas. Aside from that classes run according to our regular schedule. Ongoing training is essential to the success, and advancement of your children. It also instills a sense of commitment and accomplishment.

We know that some students have the good fortune of spending the summer at the cottage, camp, or some simply take a break from their Kung Fu training. If that applies to you, have a great summer, but it is unrealistic to expect that children will be allowed to grade in the fall if they have missed a big chunk of their Kung Fu training over the summer.

Academy Rules

Many of the school rules not only apply to WKFA students but to visitors and parents/guardians as well. Some of these have been discussed recently, but we are still concerned about a few recurring issues.

Please do not stand at the railing at the top of the stairs. There is new a monitor in the waiting room upstairs. Please observe classes from inside the waiting room to keep the top of the stairway safe and clear and the class free from any distractions. We strive to maintain a safe environment for everyone, but if you get banged by equipment bags or weapons please don’t blame the students or instructors…you should not be standing, or even worse, sitting there.

If it’s Grey; Stay Away. shoes are only allowed on the carpeted area of the lobby. If you need to venture onto the grey flooring, please be sure that you have removed your shoes. We train in bare feet and these areas need to be kept clean for the safety of students moving between the change rooms and training areas. Only students are permitted on, or beyond, the laminate flooring under the archway…except during gradings or special occasions.

Please treat the waiting room with respect. Leave it clean and tidy, and please pick up after your children.

Uniforms must be kept clean, fit properly, and in good repair. If you need to buy larger clothes for your child, they likely need a new WKFA uniform as well. This also applies to sparring gear. Sparring gear that is too small is dangerous for both your child and other children. If sparring equipment is deemed to be too small, it is the prerogative of instructors to prohibit a student from sparring until they get new gear that fits properly.

Smart devices are to be silenced when inside the academy. If you need to take a call, please do so outside.

Thanks for your cooperation. If you have concerns about any of these policies, please feel free to speak with Sigung anytime.

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Respect in the Martial Arts

Blue Orchard — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 17:21:02 +0000

Sifu Greg Weir

Junior Student’s Corner

You’ve no doubt noticed that at the WKFA we observe a number of different protocols and etiquette. Things like bowing as we enter the kwoon, bowing to one another when we spar, addressing our instructors by their proper titles, etc. All these displays of respect have their purposes—and may be more important than you think.

Bowing on our way into the kwoon, for example, shows that we revere the space we’re about to enter and the Kung Fu we train. It also shows self-discipline, in that we never just hurry in or out of the room. Always taking the time to do the things you’re supposed to is a good lesson for life in general.

Similarly, bowing to our opponents prior to a round of sparring and our partners before, say, holding kick shields for them shows that we respect that person and don’t wish them harm. That’s an important message because a lot of what we do involves striking one another. You don’t want to get hurt, nor does your opponent/partner. Bowing to them lets them know you’re on the same page.

Perhaps the most conspicuous form of respect we engage in is how we address our instructors. Calling people Sifu, Sije and Sihing shows that you respect the fact they’re your elder when it comes to Kung Fu. For me, this one can prove a bit challenging right after an Advanced grading. When someone you’ve been calling by a certain name for years suddenly deserves the honorific Sije or Sihing, it can be hard to get used to. And I bet all of us have referred to a freshly-minted Sifu as Sihing or Sije at one point or another. In those cases, apologize for your mistake—and try to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

A good reason to respect your instructors and members of the Leadership Team is that we respect you (hopefully you’ve noticed that by now). We’ve all been where you are, so we know the courage, determination and strength it can take to stick with your Kung Fu training. It has been said that the more respect you give, the more you get in return—hopefully the mutual respect between instructors and students constantly perpetuates itself.

Perhaps the most important kind of respect instilled through the martial arts is self-respect. You should feel proud of yourself for choosing to study Kung Fu. You should feel even more pride whenever you learn a new Form or earn a new Sash. Good for you! Ideally that self-respect makes you a happier, more confident person outside of the WKFA.

I read an article that said as soon as you allow even a little disrespect to infiltrate your school, all of its traditions are threatened. That’s why I urge you to observe our etiquette at all times. It’s a good policy elsewhere as well: treat your parents, siblings, teachers and friends with respect and you’ll likely find they return the favour.

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Why is respect important?

Blue Orchard — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 01:46:35 +0000

By Sifu Rebecca Knapp

Adult Student’s Corner

In Part 1, we talked about the pervasiveness of this concept in kung fu, and we discussed some different facets of respect, in a quest for a deeper understanding of its meaning. Onward…

Why is respect important?

Respect keeps us from hurting what we ought to value.
Much of the universal values and virtues that affirm our human dignity, and contribute to the good of the individual and society are derived from the values of respect and responsibility.
We need respect to successfully work together–whether you are on a project at work, or countries coming together to solve the world’s problems. We can’t make meaningful, sustainable progress as individuals, a
group, a society, a country, or a world, without mutual respect.
From a kung fu perspective, respect is a pre-cursor to trust. This is a place where people can be seriously hurt, and their training can be limited, in the absence of trust. Think about having to partner with someone you do not trust. Think about taking direction from a Sifu if there is no respect. It is important as fellow students, and critical as instructors, to foster respect, so we can support our traditions, and create an atmosphere of trust.
Most importantly, being respectful is simply the right thing to do–it makes everyone feel good at the end of the day.

Thoughts on Being Respectful

Recognize that the desire to be respected is universal. There are, however, individual and cultural nuances that have an impact on a person’s perception of respect.

Respect is a given in our academy. Start there.

Error on the side of collectively respectful behaviour: Please and thank-you, pardon me, May I help you, excuse me, shaking hands/bowing, paying attention, using appropriate language and behaviour, maintaining personal space, not being suggestive or overpowering, maintaining neutrality, and acceptance vs. judgement…just to name a few! Above all, make it genuine, or don’t bother.

You don’t have to like someone to treat them respectfully. No one can make you like another person, but as a citizen of our society and a member of this academy, we can insist that you treat everyone in a respectful manner.

Remember that acceptance does not equal agreement. You can accept a person, even if you do not agree with his/her ideals, values, principles and opinions. If you can accept people as they are, then you will be able to treat them with respect. Think of it this way: That person is not my friend or is not like me, or does not share my beliefs, values etc, but he/she is a human being with a right to his/her own opinions, feelings and preferences, and even if they are in conflict with mine, I do not have the right to treat him/her with anything other than genuine respect.

In its simplest terms, it’s back to The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Not so complicated after all!

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Some Important Rules for Parents to Remember

Blue Orchard — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 16:37:03 +0000

By Sifu Lorna Jones

Parent’s Corner

One of the most wonderful things about Waterloo Kung Fu Academy is that we try very
hard to adhere to old traditions and values. Sometimes, learning the proper protocol can be slightly frightening for the parents as well as for the children. Most parents tell us that they bring their children to us to help them to learn respect and discipline. At WKFA, we firmly believe that everyone can help teach these principles. Here are a few points to help everyone understand some of the guidelines and expectations at the school.

Cellphones are not to be used in the common areas of the academy. If you need to make or receive a call, please go outside. If you need to text, bbm or email, please do so respectfully in either the waiting room or the bathroom. This is out of respect for everyone. Please put phones on silent before entering the academy.
Students should carry their own equipment into the school. Unless there is a situation with broken limbs, or the student is already on the floor assisting, students are responsible for their own equipment. This includes labeling it and making sure it is in good working order. You’ll be helping them by not helping them.
Please wait for your children in the parents’ waiting room. It is air conditioned, which will be a great comfort soon!! Please make sure the door remains shut to the parents’ waiting room to keep it comfortable and keep the costs down.
Being on time is one of the greatest demonstrations of respect. On the other side, being consistently late for class is disruptive and disrespectful. If there is a specific reason your child may be late, this should be communicated in advance. Your child will be given pushups for joining class late, and any student that is late by over 15 minutes will not be allowed to participate in class. If your child is dropped off over 15 minutes late and no one is there to take them home, they will stay in the kwoon and sit to watch the class, but they will not be allowed participate
Please read the grading letters carefully. There are certain pieces of protocol that we expect the students to adhere to in a grading. The letter clearly outlines the expectations. If part of the grading requirement is not met, the grading results will be withheld and not given on grading day. This might be the result of things like a late essay, an expired student card, missing or incorrect grading fee, or not having the grading envelope correctly prepared. If your child does not meet the requirements in that letter, they will not get their new belt or sash on grading day and it is non-negotiable. This also applies to the adult students.

We do have a lot of traditions and expectations at Waterloo Kung Fu Academy. This is an amazing link to our lineage and to the days of respect and honour! I hope this helps to clarify some of the points, but if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to discuss them with Sifu or any instructor. We will all be happy to explain the protocols.

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