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| Dress code & the ego | ||
| Written by Rachel | ||
classes qigong tai chi kung fu about us reviews a-z
Sifu Waller and Rachel chose our
uniform for very specific, well considered reasons.
They are not entertaining suggestions for customisation, personalisation or
variations.
Everyone wears the same uniform.
Definition
This is what uniform means (Google definition):
- "remaining the same in all cases and at all times; unchanging in form or
character"
- "the distinctive clothing worn by members of the same organization or
body"
Appropriateness
The uniform puts you in
the mood.
You feel like getting on with the training.
Down to business.
Ready for action.
A pair of jeans or jogging bottoms would not produce the same effect.
Pilates trousers are too figure hugging and require a certain physique.
Cropped tops are immodest.
Also, martial arts outfits have generous groin space.
If you wore jeans to train form, kicks and throwing, you may rupture yourself or
be restricted in terms of movement.
Dress code
purpose
Our aim is not to stifle people or impose
some weird fashion. Uniform encourages the individual to
focus on the training not upon themselves. And that leads
to progress.
Get your head in the game
By wearing the same outfit as everyone else, there's no need to think about
style/looking good/personal expression/vanity etc. We all look the same.
That is what 'uniform' means...
The prayer of the monk
is not perfect
until he no longer recognizes himself
or the fact that he is praying.
(St Anthony)
Get over yourself!
Uniforms are worn in martial arts classes for safety reasons, but also to
quash 'egotism'. This is a Zen concern.
Tai chi requires the individual to lose their urge to show off, to be
special, to be noticed, to seek attention. None of those traits/habits will
help you to learn the art. They must be shed.
Following instructions
People are often reluctant to
follow instructions. They get smart with the instructor or seek to
debate the issue.
Martial arts classes are not democratic.
This is not politics.
Stop second-guessing and over-thinking things. Martial arts aren't about
self-gratification.
Context
When somebody starts tai chi,
they lack any sense of 'context'. What is
important? Why is it practiced? What dos it mean? What purpose does it
serve?
It is very common for modern people to make
judgements without criteria. There is simply no way for a new starter to
know what is important and what is not.
In fact, the only way they can make any sort of evaluation is to draw upon
personal experiences, memory and comparison with other things. None of these
will help the individual to determine what is what in a tai chi school.
Fixating on a minor issue and blowing it all of proportion is inane. If you
want to get off to a good start, just follow instructions and commit to
learning something new.
Get it right
Correct adherence to the formal dress code from the onset of training
is the first step in learning the kind of self-discipline required of a
martial artist.
If you can't get a simple uniform right, how
on earth are you going to make strong progress through the
syllabus?
Resolute
A martial artist doesn't over-think things. They don't deviate from the
teachings/guidelines laid out by the instructor.
Instead, they do their level best to do everything well.
The uniform is an easy way to achieve this.
The student has
nothing to offer but an absolute willingness to follow the teacher's
instructions and direction without question or comments or personal
improvisation.
(Dave Lowry)
State of mind
A clean, smart, correct uniform reflects a clear, sharp
mind.
By contrast, deviations from the uniform code reflects a student who is
doing things their own way. If
this is your attitude, why join a
class in the first place?
Learning necessitates the subjugation of the ego. Vanity, pride, arrogance -
these may be concealed by lame excuses for not
doing what everyone else is doing - but is this really the
truth?
Clean uniform
Your training attire needs to be clean.
Sweat will make your tai chi clothing smell.
Wash them regularly please.
In Asia it is considered the height of bad manners to smell bad when
partaking in partner work.
Please put your uniform in the wash after a class. Code of conduct item 1
states: "Students are required to be clean and tidy".
Clean body
We caution students not to cover up body odour with strong perfumes or
deodorant.
Over-powering scents may trigger irritation/allergic reaction/asthma in
other students...
Tidy appearance
If you are shabby, scruffy and unkempt, you will also most likely be
poorly disciplined in your tai chi practice.
Sloppiness and slovenliness are not desirable qualities in a martial arts
class.
Remember: you represent the class.
How you look reflects upon Sifu Waller.
If you are clean and tidy, you will perform better and look more
earnest.
On
your way to and from class
Do not wear your tai chi clothing in the street.
Drawing attention to yourself is not a good idea. It may not be the right
sort of attention.
Opinions
If you have an opinion concerning the dress code, keep
it in mind for when you open
your own tai chi
class...
Don't embarrass yourself by sharing it with
Sifu Waller or
Rachel.
Misconduct
Deliberately not following the dress code
is extremely arrogant and rude. Sifu Waller and
Rachel are doing all they can to teach students about qigong, tai chi and
the associated cultural concerns.
A lot of experience, research and
thought has gone into the
syllabus and the manner in which we run the
class. No student is capable of
conceiving Sifu Waller's motives and
understanding of the
art.
If a student chooses to ignore their teacher(s) - and
just do their own thing in order to
satisfy their ego/vanity - this is
ugly behaviour and will be treated as such.
When you come to the dojo, it
is a recognition that the teacher there has something you want. He will give it
to you in his own way. You must accept that. If you do not, you are free to
leave. The dojo, however, is never run by consensus.
(Dave Lowry)
•
Humility
•
1%
•
Ego
•
Self
•
Getting your own way
•
Tailored learning
Page created 26 November 2007
Last updated
09 November 2023