By Terry Wassink
I. Introduction
II. How do you become a Master?
III. What is a Master?
IV. Examples of my Masters
V. The Ultimate Master, Jesus Christ
INTRODUCTION:
When I was first assigned the topic for my next rank testing of 3rd Dan in taekwondo, I was completely unsure of how to proceed. So I researched many of the books about Martial Arts that I had been studying to learn about the Martial Way. While none agreed on who is a Master, most agreed on the traits a true Master would display.Then I used the examples set by my own Masters as a guideline of what is a Master. Finally, through all of my studies, I found that the one Master who set the ultimate example is Jesus Christ. That isn’t to say that I don’t appreciate the history of the Martial Way, but I see so many examples of how Jesus’s life truly demonstrates the Way of a Master.I hope this does not come across in any way sacrilegious and that it pays true respect to those Masters that have granted me the honor of learning from them. I didn’t want this to just be a repeat of the many great books that are already out there on the subject so I had to state what I personally thing a Master is and how to become a Master.
HOW DO YOU BECOME A MASTER?
In taekwondo, the World Taekwondo Federation located in Seoul, Korea sets the guidelines for becoming a Master to be:
Kukkiwon requirements from holder of 3rd Poom to 4th Dan: 18 years of age. From 3rd Dan to 4th Dan: 21 years of age, with a minimum of 3 years between the rank of 3rd and 4th Dan. (Pg 370 TaeKwonDo Textbook Vol III Black Belt Poomse by Kim Jeong-Rok)
However, I feel that these guidelines are simply the minimum requirements as set forth by a governing body. Once you fully define “What is a Master?” you will see that these guidelines fall short of the true term “Master.”In modern days, a Master’s Degree is earned in the professional world by attending an extra one - two years of higher educational instruction in a specific field of study. To draw an analogy between earning a title of Master in the martial arts and in the professional world, graduating from high school would be similar to earning a basic (1st Dan) black belt, a college degree would be equivalent to earning several levels of black belt and a Master’s degree would be similar to earning the title of “Master.”However, based on the students that I have seen start a martial art, earning a black belt (from a school that teaches all of the fundamentals of a martial art) is harder than earning a college degree. And certainly less people earn a black belt than earn a college degree. So it may be more accurate to equate a Master in the martial arts to a doctorate degree, one of the highest levels you can attain in the professional world. I only hope that the schools that have become “belt factories” don’t ruin the high standards that traditional martial arts have set! (But that’s a subject for another paper!)Forrest E. Morgan, in Living the Martial Way, turned away from a martial art (probably taekwondo) when he was a 3rd degree because they changed the title of “Master” from 5th degree to 4th degree. I can only say that becoming a Master is not so much a matter of rank or age or minimum number of years between rank but rather more of experience and maturity and knowledge in the art. Having trained in the martial arts for 16 years, I have encountered many students with a higher rank but are only 12 or 13 years old, less than I’ve been training in martial arts! Rather than letting that define me and my progress in the martial arts, and thus going to a “belt factory” for my next rank, I will let the teaching of the Martial Way define my path. I try to keep uppermost in mind: “At whatever level you achieve, if you think you “deserve” a black belt, or if you think you are now “good enough” to be a black belt, you are way off the mark and, indeed, a very long way from reaching your black belt.”1 Also, “Train hard, be humble, don’t show off in front of your teacher or other students, don’t complain about any task, and do your best in everything in your life. This is what it means to be a black belt.”2 In A Book of Five Rings Musashi sums up what is needed to train toward mastery of a martial art: “If you practice day and night in the above Ichi school strategy, your spirit will naturally broaden. . . This is the Way for men who want to learn my strategy:
1 Do not think dishonestly.
2 The Way is in training.
3 Become acquainted with every art.
4 Know the Ways of all professions.
5 Distinguish between gain and loss in worldly matters.
6 Develop intuitive judgement and understanding for everything.
7 Perceive those things which cannot be seen.
8 Pay attention even to trifles.
9 Do nothing which is of no use.3
WHAT IS A MASTER?
The only way I can describe a Master is by saying they are a true inspiration in their personal lives as well as in their extensive knowledge of the martial arts. They learn and demonstrate the true meaning of the Martial Way rather than just learning the physical aspect of a martial art. Forrest Morgan states it best: “In every field of endeavor there are a few men and women who, while mastering the mechanics of their system, intuitively sense there is something more than technique, something beyond the mere physical maneuvers that others work so hard to perfect. These people sense and reach for a level of mastery most ordinary people don’t even know is possible. They move beyond technical mastery to touch the soul of their craft; they perceive and merge with the very essence of what makes their calling art.4 With an extensive knowledge of martial arts, and a willingness to selflessly impart their knowledge to others, a master of the martial arts sets himself apart from the crowd by his humble and honorable spirit that pervades all aspects of his life. Dave Lowry further explains: “The Way of the master is a Way of life itself. Contrary to the Western notion of the “master” who teaches a class and then goes out with the guys . . . in Japan the master is considered to be a true master only when he is a shihan, a “model” for the guys. And so by the very nature of his mastery, while he may socialize and be informal with students, he must always keep a certain distance between himself and his followers.”5 Teacher/Discipleship:A true master of the martial arts selflessly teaches the martial arts to others as a way to give back to the art that has give so much to him. Furuya states: “One does not become a master by receiving or taking more than others. He gives of himself until there is nothing left of him. The ancients say: “The true master leaves no trace.”6 But as there is more to teaching than showing techniques; the next level of teaching would be discipleship. The difference being discipleship and teaching is that teaching is more about the techniques that a student learns, while discipleship teaches all aspects of the martial arts, especially the spiritual aspect, with the hopes that one day the student can go his own way and disciple others. In such a way, the traditions and art are preserved. Furuya explains: “Each student achieves a mastery and understanding of the art which is always slightly different from his teacher. Eventually, the student may go his own way, but, at the same time, it is important to maintain the age-old traditions which helped cultivate the proper environment for learning and the fertile fields in which the student grows and matures. This is how it was done in the time of old.”7
However, a Master cannot teach unless the student is willing. Furuya states: “In ancient days, I think, teachers judged the students’ capacity for training. A student without the proper attitude for training is like the bottomless barrel. He retains nothing. A student with the proper attitude toward training, even if he is nourished with a bottomless bucket, retains the tiniest bit of knowledge a few drops at a time and eventually attains mastery.”8 Thus the Master student must be receptive to the teaching of the Master.
Maturity/Age:
Age and maturity play a large part in determining the skills a Master has developed. For what teenager has the maturity to look past himself for others? Likewise, a young adult rarely has the spiritual serenity and mental tranquility required of a true master. Joe Hyams states “Rather for the true master, karate, kung-fu, aikido, wing-chun, and all the other martial arts are essentially avenues through which they can achieve spiritual serenity, mental tranquility, and the deepest self-confidence.”9 And Furuya expands: “A peron who is only concerned with personal convenience and his own interests, who has not initiated himself with the sacrifice and hardship that is an essential part of the training, and cannot put others before himself, cannot ever qualify to become a true teacher. Again, in this respect, we must throw out our new attitudes and bring back the old.”10 So while some 21 years olds may have the maturity to reach within themselves to achieve this, some 40 years olds still do not have the maturity to reach these levels of spiritual enlightenment.
Experience/Wisdom
A true Master of the Martial Arts has the wisdom gained from that experience to see past the surface of teaching and reach the heart of an issue. Dave Lowry explains:”A sensei leads, but at times he sits and watches and waits while the student struggles, giving a little push at just the crucial moment it is needed.”11 But even more so, a Master has experienced life and so can guide the student not only in a martial art but in how to apply the Martial Way to their lives.Knowledge of the Arts: Tradition.
The one aspect that I see lacking in today’s Masters are the tradition from which they’ve come. I don’t see the new Masters teaching their students the tradition of the art, and therefore the respect of the art is being lost. That isn’t to say that the old Masters are not teaching it, but the sport and commercialism of taekwondo is replacing the tradition of the Martial Way.Furuya cautions us on not following tradition by: “When we break with tradition, we are in danger of breaking away from the art itself. This question requires a great deal of study and reflection on the part of every martial artist. By making haphazard changes in techniques, we might end up breaking the arrows that our teachers gave us to point the way to mastery.”12 So if we do not learn why we do a technique and constantly seek what else the technique can teach us and show us, we depart from tradition and do not master the technique at all! While modern advances can refine the art, we don’t want to lose what has been tried and true over the years.
Knowledge of the Arts:
Mushim/ Miso No KoroIn order to have a real knowledge of the Martial Arts, we must learn how to operate in Mushim, mind-no-mind. This means we have practiced to such a level that our very reactions are made without thought. Joe Hyams states “It’s the state of mind the Japanese refer to as mushin, which literally means “no-mind.”" According to the Zen masters, mushin is operating when the actor is separate from the act and no thoughts interfere with action because the unconscious act is the most free and uninhibited. When mushin functions, the mind moves from one activity to another, flowing like a stream of water and filling every space.”"And how does one attain this state of nomindedness?” I asked.”Only though practice and more practicie, until you can do something without conscious effort. Then your reaction becomes automatic.”13
Likewise, if we approach life with Miso No Koro, a mind like still water, we will have a tranquility in our life and spirit. Hyams expands this thought: “The American karate master, Ed Parker, likens this state of tranquility to having a “a mind like still water” (miso no koro).
How does one achieve “a mind like still water?” One learns to go with the flow of life, the current of existence, When an untoward even occurs in your life, react to it without haste or passion. Realize that in almost every instance you probably have more alternatives than you think you have. Hold still a moment before acting or reacting and consider the alternatives. Then, having decided upon a course of action, proceed calmly.”14
Neither of these states of mind can be achieved without practice and mental concentration. But the Masters all demonstrate these in the decisions they make in the martial arts and in life.
Leader: Spiritual Leadership
The one quality that seems elusive to define but is pervasive in all true Masters is a kind of spiritual leadership. That is not to say that they are or should be Christian to display spiritual leadership. Rather they are able to guide their students like a shepherd guides his sheep, putting aside selfish interests for the good of others. Dave Lowry explains: “Thoughts of desire, fame, and profit are all human emotions, ones that often arise easily. It is not virtuous to indulge in them. To restrain these emotions, one should use the method of subduing the self.” Subduing oneself is difficult. Wee must summon sufficient willpower and not relent for a moment. We can maintain control over these emotions by being aware of their signs when they first arrive. This is the ‘method of subduing the self.’ If one determines to pursue learning and love what is right, thoughts of fame, profit, and material goods will weaken. If heavenly principles advance, human desires retreat. – Kaibara Ekken”15 Only the weak of heart would not want to be taught by a Master who has curbed all desires in order to teach selflessly.Leader: Way of LifeI have hinted throughout this paper that the Martial Way becomes a way of life, not just a hobby or pasttime for some to enjoy. Most arts, taekwondo, aikido, etc. include the word “do” or “Way” in their very definition and so studying these arts should become a way of life. Furuya explains: “How you conduct yourself in and out of the dojo, your attitude to your teacher and fellow students, your goals in life, how you handle the obstacles in your life, and how you persevere in your training are all important conditions of your black belt.”16 Further: “A martial artist lives 100 percent of his life and becomes impeccable. This is what the true black belt holder must come to realize within himself. He is no other than himself, and his practice leads to enlightenment into the mature of his true self, his real self. This is the essence of our training in martial arts.”17 While that is easier said than done, internalizing the “Way” leads our spirit to choose what is right when needed.Leader: Honorable and humble spiritMost new black belts of today are more concerned with trophies or medals than learning the true spirit of the Martial Way.
However, looking at most Masters of today, while they do emphasize competition, they don’t personally look at the trophies or medals as a sign of personal worth. Unfortunately, that isn’t being communicated to all the students, either because of the sport or because of the commercialism required to be financially successful running a martial arts school. Furuya expands: “Only when you finally give up all thought of rank, belts, trophies, fame, money and mastery itself, will you achieve what is really important in your training. Be humble, be gentle. Care for others and put everyone before yourself. To study martial arts is to study your true self. It has nothing to do with rank. A great Zen master once said: “To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to understand all things.”18As I stated earlier, I could look at my training in the martial arts for the last 16 years and compare to those that have a higher rank or more prestige and become frustrated with my art and training. Or I can focus on what I have been given by my Masters and what I am capable of giving back to others. Once that becomes clear, the rank and trophies seem less important.
EXAMPLES OF MY MASTERS
The very ideals that Musashi extoils in his book, A Book of Five Rings is demonstrated daily by my Masters. Their very lives epitomize the “Way” of Martial Arts in that they do not pursue any dishonesty, they have an intuitive judgement and understanding for everything and perceive those things which cannot be seen.
Because of their wisdom, I often go to the Lenix’s with problems encountered at work or with my martial arts school. I once asked Master Lenix, “How do you stay motivated? Why do you continue to teach?” I was at a very low point, having given so much to my students, only to have them quit or not realize what they had been given; I felt taken advantage of and used without any return. He just smiled and replied that for every 10 or 100 that quit, there is one that will use your knowledge and grow. Being shortsighted and not very patient, I didn’t see the purpose of continuing to teach and wanted to quit. That, of course, is a selfish approach to teaching, when the very aspect of teaching is selfless. When I am disheartened because another student has quit, I think back on Master Lenix’s teaching and realize that I was at least able to touch that student for a short time, and it’s less about what I have to offer than their strength of spirit in wanting to continue despite obstacles in their path.
Master Candy Lenix especially pays attention even to trifles, as Musashi suggests. Her days are filled with studying the details of the poomse or other techniques or sparring. I often marvel at the wisdom that both Master Lenix’s show in why a technique is done a certain way or what the purpose of poomse may be. But I also see the hardwork and studying that they put into learning and perfecting each technique. Yet instead of keeping the knowledge to themselves, as in olden days when a Master would only impart knowledge to those deemed worthy, they selflessly share all the information to any willing to learn!
The Lenix’s have also studied different disciplines and incorporated them into their training as Musashi recommends. They cross disciplines to bring the best blend to sparring and self-defense, refining constantly as the need arises to perfect a technique and make it workable in real-life situations.
This paper is another example of the extra steps the Lenix’s go for their students. Instead of just teaching, they disciple the students to expand their knowledge of the Martial Arts! By having a student explore and define what a black belt is or what is takes to become a Master, they are disciplining us so that we may grow in our own martial discovery.
The Lenix’s always stress the importance of the tradition of the Martial Arts. In fact, they’ve given me a history and lineage for my training; although I previously had a Master and Grand Master, the importance of that lineage was never stressed in my earlier training. Now I have an entire organization in which I belong!
I have had many students try to impress me with their learning or their knowledge. Rather than listening and emptying their cup, they talk more and learn less. Most students try to impress their teacher or master on where they’ve trained and what medals or competitions they have won. That just demonstrates they don’t understand the true Martial Way. Master Lenix talks very little and watches constantly those around them, observing what they say and how they act with other students or teachers. In this way, he observes their true spirit. I try to emulate this and listen to everything and internalize the information before putting my own experiences to it or before asking questions that will be answered if I only listen more.
Their spiritual leadership is unsurpassed. As a Christian family, their beliefs show in all they do. They truly lead their flock as a shepherd with no thought to their own personal gain. I have no greater example of Christian love than to look at all the Lenix’s do for other. That is so important to me as I need a role model based no only in martial arts, but in Christianity.
Finally, the Lenix’s demonstrate true selflessness in all they do. For instead of compromising the art for the sake of commercial success in a dojang, they humbly keep a small school true to the traditions of the martial arts. And rather than hold themselves up higher than others because of their earned ranks, they humbly work for the good of the students in the martial arts, both at a local, state and national level. Thus, the Lenix’s demonstrate not only the virtues of old recommended by Musashi, but the virtues I have seen in all Masters. As an example for all, they show a humble and honorable spirit, and a giving spirit. And most importantly, they provide spiritual leadership for us as we face the obstacles of life. THE ULTIMATE MASTER, JESUS CHRISTJesus was a teacher and a master of all things. Many followers of Jesus referred to Him as “Teacher” or “Master”. But his goal was of discipleship, appointing 12 disciples to carry on his work once he was gone. Jesus demonstrates true selflessness, obviously by dying on the cross for our sins, but more subtly by living among the people in order to teach them. He could have come as a king and had 10,000 angels minister to Him, but rather He chose to live as we do and set the example for our life.Similarly, a true Master could easily attain wealth and power by the knowledge and training they have. But most actually suffer to preserve the art by maintaining modest schools that teach the tradition of the art rather than flashy schools that might bend to the commercialism necessary to be successful. Forrest Morgan states it more clearly: “Strength breeds power, and as an emergent leader you assume the responsibility to lead ethically, to apply your power justly and benevolently. You must put your personal honor to work for the good of society.”19 Jesus also spoke of honor: in John 7:18 “He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.”20The very principles of Christianity, with a spiritual rebirth is similar to the Martial Way.
Similar to the Christians baptism, dying to the old life and spiritual rebirth, our training must center on no longer training for selfish desires. Furuya points out: “In ancient days, the student prepared himself to die for his training. This is the ultimate giving. However, everyone must understand that this is spiritual death and rebirth.”21 The Bible reiterates the point in John 3:6 “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”22 Thus is another example of the blending of the tradition of the martial arts and Christianity.
In summary, a Master is more than a title someone decides you now have achieved. It’s a very way of life not through what you get from the martial arts but what you give back to the martial arts. Through studying the ancient ways and exemplifying those Masters that currently lead by example, maybe one day my spirit will be humble enough to be called Master.