I have done much thinking about how I am to offer different
paths within FMK, the path of rank & the path of no rank. The path of rank has been established. I do not encourage Todai’s towards rank &
I do not encourage Todai’s towards no rank.
It is your decision, not mine. I
am here to have both paths available.
What I value is a good heart within & loyalty & commitment to
this kwoon. How talented & skilled
you are athletically & combatively will be of no benefit to the kwoon without
those components.
All practitioners of ZMA within FMK are Todai’s of this school. The labels of Sidai & Sihing are simply
used as tools to show a progression towards the label of Sifu. But either way, all Sidai’s, Sihing’s, &
Sifu’s are Todai’s of FMK.
Those who choose the path of no rank will just be addressed
as Todai “Chinese name.” Through the
advancement of the FMK website, it has allowed for better promotion & enhanced
motivational factors, just as the Blog has done.
All Todai’s that train in FMK are seen to have a good heart
or are working towards developing greater peace, love, & compassion. What is left for evaluation is loyalty &
commitment towards the kwoon regardless of athletic or combative
abilities.
I have decided that public profiles on the FMK website under
the tab of “Todai’s” will be used as a tool to decipher those who have shown
greater loyalty & commitment towards the kwoon. Regardless of whether or not you choose to go
on the path of rank or no rank, you have the choice of participating on having
your own personal FMK public profile page set up on the FMK website. This profile page can contain anything you
deem relevant to your development. This
profile page can consist of the expression of your way in the Martial Arts, it can
contain pictures, videos, writings, links, etc.
It is your creative self-expression to all those within FMK & to the
world at large, to learn about your way.
You can create your own YouTube channel with all your creative works
& have the website link up to your own YouTube channel that you manage
yourself.
The profile page will cost $100 to establish. This money will help separate those who
really are interested in this public expression from those who are not, &
it will signify greater commitment towards the promotion of the kwoon, similar to
the FMK apparel & badge. The $100
will cover the basic management of the profile page. The profile page will stay active as long as
you remain active within the kwoon communicating via email, blog, or
phone. The communication is essential to
signify your close connections to the kwoon.
These profile pages will allow Todai’s that choose the path
of rank or the path of no rank to have the same benefits of online promotion
through public profiles as an extra motivational factor.
Todai’s who choose the path of no rank will be allowed to
wear FMK apparel of any color other than Red, Blue, & Black. Todai’s can purchase apparel in white, green,
purple, pink, grey, orange, etc. The
colors of Red, Blue, & Black for FMK apparel will be specifically saved for
Todai’s that choose the path of rank.
Those who wish to receive an FMK badge will be required to fulfill the
basic fitness standards of the red rank.
Once the red rank has been obtained, the Todai is not expected or
obligated to progress towards the Blue but can simply stay on the path of no
rank & continue to express their own creativities & has the option of being
addressed as Sidai or to remain being addressed as Todai, they also will have
the option of wearing Red colored FMK apparel if they so choose.
Very exciting developments, in my eyes, Sifu... both this announcement and your video on similar topics this evening. You'll find I've already committed the fee for development of my profile page. In addition to what you have described above, I will commit to maintaining greater than the minimum standard red fitness for my age bracket (and aiming toward greater than the minimum black fitness standard for the optimal age bracket), demonstrated annually, as part of the privilege of representing this kwoon. I do feel that martial artists should be reasonably, if not exceptionally, fit.
ReplyDeleteI will also seek to purchase apparel with FMK or ZMA logos in other-than blue or black ranking colors, so that I can help promote the kwoon when wearing these advertisements generally, and when wearing the same in my videos. Do you have an electronic copy of a logo that can be used? I would prefer to take the logo to a local embroiderer, but could order from CustomInk as well, if they already have your stuff on file. If there are other marketing tools available, brochures or the like, let me know. I do travel on speaking engagements several times a year and could always distribute such materials both locally and when I'm on the road.
As far as titles and training videos go, I am personally happy with Todai and the videos you've already provided for the time being. As expressed earlier, I enjoy learning new ways of using my body, and your presentation of the CLF-inspired form, with its dynamic power techniques, has prompted me to look further into this system. I'm busy developing upon what you've introduced and exploring other CLF techniques at present. I will probably seek to purchase training videos your other forms later, particularly those that derive from systems I'm less familiar with. Weapons are somewhat difficult, because of the limitations of Canadian law... it is a criminal offence to possess many traditional martial arts weapons that have no other applied purpose than training-for and/or hurting other humans.
In any case, I think this development in the kwoon will be very beneficial. It is a significant step toward settling my sense of fitting-in. I am very much committed to working with yourself and the other martial artists you attract and/or train long-term, to present a united alternative to what 'martial arts' has become in the mainstream. I don't think working together should have to be tremendously difficult, but it is - as you point out - rare in the martial arts, and rare among individuals of various accomplishments. But it is not at all impossible. I will certainly bring my own talents and experiential history in to strengthen this endeavor.
SPOKEN LIKE A TRUE MUDAN AND ZEN CHAMPION.
ReplyDeleteDear Shi Zu,
ReplyDeleteI have just sent you an E mail regarding this choice.
I also think it would be a great thing for those leaving far away to be able to buy the logo for each shirt we would print.
Let me know if that would suit you,
Todai Ling