Is there such a thing as a kungfu master?

This guy I work with brags that he is a master kungfu but he's such a big liar also...I think he's full of it 'cause he smokes cigarettes and eats junk food and never excersise...He can't even have a bath or wash his clothes for crying out loud! He stinks and has a horrible breath.|||There are kung fu masters of many a different style, lady. But I doubt if this guy you are dealing with really is one.





Mind you, martial arts masters are not always nice guys. Gary Dukote of Shisei-ryu Aikido is the highest ranked person of that art in this country, but he is a motorcycle hippie that drinks liquor and smokes a lot more than just cigarettes. It is a common misconception that all MA men live by the same rules and such, when they are as diverse as people of any other interest or life-style.





I remember this guy I knew years ago. He claimed to be a Shaolin priest. He was a really good fighter, mind you, but he was nowhere near being either Shaolin or priestly. In fact, he was one of the most manipulative womanizers and sexual predators you could have found (not that MA history has not had a few of those).





My point is, just because this guy does not appeal to what you expect of martial artists does not mean that he is not trained and skilled in the arts. Most MA men won't fit into that little picture.





I would be dubious of the man because of his CLAIMS, not because of his life-style or health habits. For instance, I know of one guy that is seriously ranked in 8 different arts because he bounced around in the military so much. Yet, he does not claim all of his certifications.





I mean, as he says, what good does it do to claim to be a 1st degree black belt in Kyokushinkai Karate if you have a 3rd degree black in American Kenpo? Why claim Kenpo if you've since earned your teaching certification in JKD and Kali? Why claim your old YMCA Judo 2nd degree black belt if you've moved on to gain a 5th dan in a completely different Japanese Jujutsu style? To him, claiming everything would just be redundant, so he does not claim most of it at all.





Plus, no matter what your style, you should not be bringing it up in places where it has no business. If you're working in some office, you don't need to be talking about the MAs, even if you run your own school after office hours. Your rank is not something to be brought up in mixed company, since that would be like bragging.





Traditionally, it is the STUDENTS who insist in the use of ranks and titles, not the master himself. Likewise, senior students keep junior students in line and guide them, while junior students ensure that senior students do not show off or become too arrogant. The teacher himself focuses on his art and the perfection of the moves, not on the use of petty titles that distract from his goals.





So, the next time this guy brings up his rank, shoot that at him. He should not, if he is a true martial artist, be putting his business out there like that. It is both a protective strategy and a mark of humility to keep that info to himself as much as he can.|||The guy you described does not sound like a master, but there are people who could be considered masters. Although who is a master is highly subjective to opinion. In my opinion you are never truly a master until you keep practicing your entire life and die knowing you kept improving on your skills.|||Yes there are masters. If the person has to tell others that he/she is a master, then likely they are not. Especially if they have to post pieces of paper on the wall to prove it. When I was a brown belt in my youth, I had two offers to be a "master" in schools by visitors to our club. Which is very sad because I knew very little about martial arts at that time and rank.





Funny thing, no one ever noticed that the clown costume in the photograph was made from a traditional Gi pattern. ;-)|||Hi there





This ones easy. Is he chinese? If he isnt then no hes talking out of his backside. That would explain why he has horrible breath.;-)





No such things as westerners being masters in any art. Anyone claiming so is a pure fantasist! You read some amazing stories in the paper about martial artists doing great things etc. But thats all they are stories!





I have been training for nearly 19 years now and im no master. If anything im still a novice! Once you think you know it all you stop learning!





Best wishes





idai|||Yes, there is such a think as a Kung Fu master. They don't work at a fast food restaurant or smoke cigarettes though.





Why are you crying out loud about this? Don't take it personally.|||yes.david carridene is a kung fu master.








ah ashopper take this burning pot and hold it on your stomach and the 3rd degree burns you get will not go infected because you are a kung fu master.lmao.|||Real martial arts masters are almost always good people that don't brag and have good personal hygiene. Although I've met a few that have bad habits like smoking, most are very careful about their health and habits. Sounds like you have a big mouth that will regret it when he meets a true master.





I have run into a few like you describe. I let them run their mouth all they want. Then I invite them to come to my class. They almost always come. I never tell them how much martial arts background I have. It is always funny when they show up only to find out who I am and what a fool they have made of themselves. It is always funny to listen to them try to explain themselves after they realize they have been found out.|||After a certain amount of training someone can be considered a master of a martial art. But this does not sound like the case. A person _might_ get such respect after getting their third degree black belt, 3rd dan. But that would be much more common for a person with teaching ranks and not just fighting rank.





Pretty much, if he doesn't have blackbelt students, you can assume he's full of it and knows a few strikes : /|||POOF! Your a master. That will be $139.95.





True masters usually don't call themselves that. They quickly discover there is always more to learn.