Flying Crane
Sr. Grandmaster
Do some groups in the Martial Arts become a Cult of Personality?
It seems to me that sometimes this might be true.
When a popular or influential individual becomes established in the martial arts, is seems that sometimes his/her students and followers end up a little bit glassy-eyed and put him on a pedestal and regard him as some sort of demi-god. Sometimes this happens after the person passes away, and sometimes it happens when he is still alive and active.
I certainly understand loyalty and commitment to one's school and system and teacher, but it just seems that sometimes things get taken a bit far. These popular and influential people may have been/continue to be extremely talented and insightful in their study and teaching of the martial arts. Obviously an individual would not have become their student if they didn't have faith that he was talented and had much to teach.
But sometimes it seems, especially after this person's death, that they get elevated above what might be realistic. Their students hold up any of his writings with almost a religious fervor, and claim that what he taught was perfect and unquestionable and unimprovable (and therefor what the student is now teaching to the next generation is also perfect and unquestionable and unimprovable), and anyone doing it differently has got it wrong and it can't possibly be equally effective.
Personally, I feel that EVERYTHING can be questioned, and every individual practitioner needs to be mature enough to recognize that things are not perfect, and not everything will work equally well for all people. We all gotta find our own way in the end, taking what we have learned, perfect it to the best of our personal abilities, make any appropriate changes so it is best for us, and be willing to stand on our own two feet with what we have. Finding our own personal strength and confidence thru the fame of our teacher, or the reputation of our system, just doesn't cut it. It's either you alone, or nothing.
These are some thoughts that I have had for several years now. Just thought I'd share them. Comments, of course, are welcome.
It seems to me that sometimes this might be true.
When a popular or influential individual becomes established in the martial arts, is seems that sometimes his/her students and followers end up a little bit glassy-eyed and put him on a pedestal and regard him as some sort of demi-god. Sometimes this happens after the person passes away, and sometimes it happens when he is still alive and active.
I certainly understand loyalty and commitment to one's school and system and teacher, but it just seems that sometimes things get taken a bit far. These popular and influential people may have been/continue to be extremely talented and insightful in their study and teaching of the martial arts. Obviously an individual would not have become their student if they didn't have faith that he was talented and had much to teach.
But sometimes it seems, especially after this person's death, that they get elevated above what might be realistic. Their students hold up any of his writings with almost a religious fervor, and claim that what he taught was perfect and unquestionable and unimprovable (and therefor what the student is now teaching to the next generation is also perfect and unquestionable and unimprovable), and anyone doing it differently has got it wrong and it can't possibly be equally effective.
Personally, I feel that EVERYTHING can be questioned, and every individual practitioner needs to be mature enough to recognize that things are not perfect, and not everything will work equally well for all people. We all gotta find our own way in the end, taking what we have learned, perfect it to the best of our personal abilities, make any appropriate changes so it is best for us, and be willing to stand on our own two feet with what we have. Finding our own personal strength and confidence thru the fame of our teacher, or the reputation of our system, just doesn't cut it. It's either you alone, or nothing.
These are some thoughts that I have had for several years now. Just thought I'd share them. Comments, of course, are welcome.