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Frequently Asked Questions
Teacher what exactly is a the meaning of the word Kwoon?
In
the Chinese language, a hall of training is refered to as a "Kwoon."
In Japanese, it is referred to as a "Dojo," again meaning a training
hall.
Actually, the first part of the word, Do, means a way or path.
In Chinese we call it the "Tao" meaning the same thing in essence, a
way, a path, a discipline. This is the bottom line purpose of a Kwoon -
a place to teach the methods of the so called " way."
Many of the customs of Chinese Kung Fu are taken from everyday life,
as the Chinese see it. At one time Kung Fu was taught strictly from
father to son. A person's particular style came from his father. Your
teacher was your Father, so you called him ShiFu which means "teacher
father." Many of the varied styles we have today bear the
family name of the originator.
In essence, a Kwoon was a family oriented
atmosphere. To this day traditional Kwoons are run this way: like
a family, a brotherhood if you will, where people all share the same
desire to learn, experience, and refine the mind, body and spirit.
The Kwoon is a friendly place, where people meet people and share the
training experience. Learning of all the methodological,
ideological, and philosophical aspects of the arts making the learning
process that much more fascinating.
Traditional training has the potential to transform people for the better. As the noted martial
artist Master Peter Urban once said, "A way or path is intended to
lead the individual to the attainment of perfection, or what is often
known as self realization, enlightenment, or simply maturity."
Although Chinese Kung Fu is a powerful fighting art, the original
purpose in spreading it was to unite people. In Chinese thought,
fighting is the lowest form of
compromise. My teacher once said, "Fighting is easy. Just walk into
the street and slap someone, and there you are in a fight. It is not
fighting that is indeed difficult."
It is in a Kwoon that we learn to
control our tempers and simply walk away when we can. Well
trained students are always confident, self assured, and controlled in
any situation. Fighting is always the last resort.
A Kwoon is a place of sharing with others the knowledge of the ages.
This is why we always bow when we come and go from the Kwoon floor. It
is a sign of respect for what the Kwoon symbolizes.
Some Kwoons are very beautifully built while others may appear rather shabby. Some are
located in obscure areas, some are located in the heart of town. But
they all teach the same thing: The Way.
A kwoon is a cherished
place of learning, a place where one could learn to develop himself
/herself to the highest order of excellence, to be a person of virtue and
confidence, clear mindedness, a person of character. These are the
qualities a Kwoon attempts to instill in its training. Respect is
taught, a respect for life and how to preserve it, most importantly, how
to live it. A Kwoon is a place of peace and harmony with the universe.
It is the place for cultivation of the Tao.
A Kwoon houses the complex world of Chinese Kung Fu with all is
principles, ethics, customs, rituals. It is place where one can
experience inner growth and change. In fact, a person who enters a Kwoon can
never be the same person again. It is in a Kwoon that one undergoes a
metamorphosis, from the mundane to the sublime.
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