the rum soaked fist: internal martial arts forum

http://www.rpfsys.com/ironhead.htm

for all your iron head traiing needs you should go to

GRANDMASTER SOKE JEROME “CURLY” HOWARD
10th Dan & Inheritor, Twelve Buddha Internal Iron Head Style
8th Dan, Hungry Fat Monkey Style
Creator, Defense Against the Double Eye Poke Technique

Lance Burton: Master Magician (perhaps grandmaster later?)



His sleight of hand is quite good, (2:38)
http://www.wimp.com/handmagic/

direct download link of video

So, if I've kept the discussion straight, the problem is two words mistranslated to become "grandmaster," da shi and si gong. Are there any other Chinese terms so used? I mean terms that when translated across the ocean and the language barrier become "grandmaster." I can't help thinking the multiplication of "grandmasters" is hurting the image of MA in the pragmatic West.

.
.

klonk wrote:So, if I've kept the discussion straight, the problem is two words mistranslated to become "grandmaster," da shi and si gong. Are there any other Chinese terms so used? I mean terms that when translated across the ocean and the language barrier become "grandmaster."

These two are also candidates
宗師, zong-shi: ancestral teacher (dead)
師宗, shi-zong: same caracters, meaning 'founder of a system'

Okay. Thanks! What I am thinking is, there are plain English alternatives to "grandmaster" for all of those. We should be using terms like "distinguished teacher" or "senior teacher," or even "past master" if you like--equivalents that are respectful without being erroneous.

When I first started posting on these boards I was often thinking (and sometimes saying) that being able to study IMA in NYC spoils me. This thread makes me feel the same way because I am having the opposite experience to the majority of you. If I look around the city there are many who do not call themselves Master who could do with a lesson from me and many called Master who could teach me a thing or two. And since they can, who am I to tell them what to call themselves?

I respect JW's opinion, but wasn't his teacher the "King of Chinese Wrestling"? I suppose there are many titles one could have issue with, but again, I'd much rather take lessons from someone with the goods called Grand Pubah than someone with no skills and plenty of humility.

I dunno what peoples experiences are. I only commented on the language and how I see it evolving.

I have only ever had 2 CMA teachers. One was YC Wong and he goes by "Sifu". I don't see why anyone needs to bother translating it at all. It's a perfect example of when importing a word from a foreign language is perfectly appropriate. My second has been my current teacher, Li Suiyin. Since we are both in China and both speak Chinese, again, no real issue here.

I am only really even aware of the "controversy" from wasting time on the internet.

bwt, "King of Chinese Wrestling" is not a title. It's a nickname. I don't think Chang Dong Sheng ever used that title himself. It's just what people called him like Benny "The Jet" Uruquidez or Bill "Superfoot" Wallace or Omar "The Bajibomber of Xi'an" Belove.

Yes, exactly. it's what others may have called him. But who cares? Call him King, call him sifu, Grandmaster. Makes no difference with a person of such skill. I guess that's my main point. But remember, I do hate hucksters and in that spirit I do see the other side of the coin.

Where's that GIF of "you can't talk to him unless you adress him as GM cultmasster Nam" on his throne with the words "Haters gone Hate" that was up a while back?

S

I tend to ignore the title(s) but look at what the teacher can show me! Da Shr as a title may be more apt than many but in reference to Chang Dungsheng, he was called as such based on what he accomplished as opposed to the smoke and mirrors of the multitude of masters/see fuse and other taxi drivers!
I mentioned this many times befoer but even the cook, the door greeter, etc is called sifu becaus of their professional behaviour in the performance of their mundance duties.

neijia_boxer wrote:There really is only one.....Grandmaster

What about Melle Mel?

We need a zombie smiley for when someone resurrects a dead thread.

Grandmaster Sun Lu Tang, however, believed that the most important reason to practice martial arts was the improvement of one's health; developing fighting ability was merely of secondary importance.

And a Mummy one for those who get too wrapped up in the discussion.

From one Grandmaster to another... No can defend.