Wu De - Martial Virtue

[wim]

Hi guys,

I'm doing some research for an article I'm writing. The topic is "wu de", martial virtue. Oversimplifying things, it is a code of conduct for the martial artist. In many schools, it seems you commit to this code when going through "bai shi" (becoming an inside the door student) and then try to follow it.

If anybody has gone through bai shi or if your teacher impresses wu de on you, could you share your experiences a bit here? I understand not everybody will be free to discuss this and that's OK. Whatever you can share is great.

Thanks for your help,

Wim

[ggg214]

wu de, IMO, is about how to be a good person.
it's very rare that you can baishi when you first meet your teacher. normally, it will take time to be accepted as a disciple of your teacher, a month or years. during this period, teachers exam not only your talent but also your personality. sometimes, you will be tested without notice in advance. a bad disciple can bring troubles and make shames to the lineage. then, in most situation, a person who is accepted as a disciple can be seemed as having virtues.

[wim]

wu de, IMO, is about how to be a good person.
it's very rare that you can baishi when you first meet your teacher. normally, it will take time to be accepted as a disciple of your teacher, a month or years. during this period, teachers exam not only your talent but also your personality. sometimes, you will be tested without notice in advance. a bad disciple can bring troubles and make shames to the lineage. then, in most situation, a person who is accepted as a disciple can be seemed as having virtues.

Thanks for your response.
I went through bai shi in two systems and it took several years every time. In one case , the testing was pretty intense. In the other it was just a ceremony.

Thanks for your help,

Wim

[JadeDragon]

Hi guys,

I'm doing some research for an article I'm writing. The topic is "wu de", martial virtue. Oversimplifying things, it is a code of conduct for the martial artist. In many schools, it seems you commit to this code when going through "bai shi" (becoming an inside the door student) and then try to follow it.

If anybody has gone through bai shi or if your teacher impresses wu de on you, could you share your experiences a bit here? I understand not everybody will be free to discuss this and that's OK. Whatever you can share is great.

Thanks for your help,

Wim

At the school where I trained at we had a student creed that stressed a code of ethics so to speak. We (the class) would say the creed at the begining of each class. The creed went like this.......

To build strength, honor, and courage within ourselves and one another.
To promote a strong and peaceful community through friendship, cooperation, and leadership.
Never misuse our knowledge or fight to achieve selfish ends but to develop might for right.

I don't know if this is any thing like what you were wanting but this was closest thing that we had to "wu de".

[wim]

At the school where I trained at we had a student creed that stressed a code of ethics so to speak. We (the class) would say the creed at the begining of each class. The creed went like this.......

To build strength, honor, and courage within ourselves and one another.
To promote a strong and peaceful community through friendship, cooperation, and leadership.
Never misuse our knowledge or fight to achieve selfish ends but to develop might for right.

I don't know if this is any thing like what you were wanting but this was closest thing that we had to "wu de".

That's great, thanks!


Wim

[Hosert]

JadeDragon,

What school did you practice at? We have the exact same creed up here in northern Massachusetts.

-H

[csc]

Different school will have different rules. This is the one used in my school.

You should

- not cheat your teacher and dis-respect you ancestor.
- not look down upon CMA masters in the past.
- not be a trouble maker.
- not pretend to be in higher generation than your true generation.
- be loyality, honest, and patient.

Anybody who violates the above rules will be punished by the brothers/sisters in your generation.

[Garland]

Hi guys,

I'm doing some research for an article I'm writing. The topic is "wu de", martial virtue. Oversimplifying things, it is a code of conduct for the martial artist. In many schools, it seems you commit to this code when going through "bai shi" (becoming an inside the door student) and then try to follow it.

If anybody has gone through bai shi or if your teacher impresses wu de on you, could you share your experiences a bit here? I understand not everybody will be free to discuss this and that's OK. Whatever you can share is great.

Thanks for your help,

Wim

Is this limited to just Chinese martial arts, if not I have some references for Japanese, Indonesian, Thai, and Filipino "codes" in martial arts...

[wim]

Is this limited to just Chinese martial arts, if not I have some references for Japanese, Indonesian, Thai, and Filipino "codes" in martial arts...

Preferably just Chinese but the other references could be handy for compare&contrast.

Thanks!

Wim

[JadeDragon]

JadeDragon,

What school did you practice at? We have the exact same creed up here in northern Massachusetts.

-H

International Kung Fu & Wu Shu Academy in Lexington, Kentucky. My teacher is from Boston and moved back to Boston in 2001. He has a school there now. His name is Master John Dufresne.