Dear Confermezza Siguje
It will become clearer when you think of these terms as family relationship terms (Verwandschaftsgrade) - because that's what they really are. They are no titles .
As your "Sifu" is your Kungfu Father/Mother, there can be only one. In our school the teacher who first introduces you to our school is your " Sifu". All other relationships are deducted from this one. This is why Sigung (Grandmaster Wong) is your Sifu. It does not matter if you take courses with another teacher later. Just like in a real family, it does not matter if your uncle shows you how to ride a bicycle, your father is still your father .
This is different from other traditions, where the teacher carries a title ( "Sensei" in the Japanese tradition for example). What might make it even more confusing, is that there are Kungfu schools today (at least here in Switzerland) that use "Sifu" as a title for any instructor in their school. However in our school this is not the case.
You can address other Shaolin Wahnam instructors, just like any other Shaolin Wahnam Family members by the family relationship term. Most instructors will be of the same generation as you (their Sifu is also Sigung/Grandmaster Wong) and will have started in our school earlier than you, thus they are your older brothers (Sihing) or Sisters (Sije). For those like me who are a generation "younger", I do not know the correct name and I can't recall anybody using one...they simply call me by name.
I hope this makes it a bit less confusing
Best regards
Andrea
It will become clearer when you think of these terms as family relationship terms (Verwandschaftsgrade) - because that's what they really are. They are no titles .
As your "Sifu" is your Kungfu Father/Mother, there can be only one. In our school the teacher who first introduces you to our school is your " Sifu". All other relationships are deducted from this one. This is why Sigung (Grandmaster Wong) is your Sifu. It does not matter if you take courses with another teacher later. Just like in a real family, it does not matter if your uncle shows you how to ride a bicycle, your father is still your father .
This is different from other traditions, where the teacher carries a title ( "Sensei" in the Japanese tradition for example). What might make it even more confusing, is that there are Kungfu schools today (at least here in Switzerland) that use "Sifu" as a title for any instructor in their school. However in our school this is not the case.
You can address other Shaolin Wahnam instructors, just like any other Shaolin Wahnam Family members by the family relationship term. Most instructors will be of the same generation as you (their Sifu is also Sigung/Grandmaster Wong) and will have started in our school earlier than you, thus they are your older brothers (Sihing) or Sisters (Sije). For those like me who are a generation "younger", I do not know the correct name and I can't recall anybody using one...they simply call me by name.
I hope this makes it a bit less confusing
Best regards
Andrea
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