The Gompa Electronic News Letter - Vol.1 #3. November 2000. Copyright© IAM Co.2000. Reprints for friends allowed. Distribution of contents for sale or profit is a violation of federal copyright laws. PHILOSOPHERS DESK. THIS MONTHS FEATURE ARTICLE. WUDE THE MARTIAL ART CODE OF ETHICS. Note: This article contains a small section of the book "Wude Chinese Martial Ethics" (copyright 1999) By: Dr. John P. Painter. Many people pay lip service in Chinese martial arts to moral virtue or Wude. Today we feel that we can get information any time and any place. The art of respecting others and placing a high value on their knowledge has become lost in the instant age. No where is this more evident than on the Internet. People you do not even know interrupt you with instant messages, send emails demanding answers to questions about health, training and subjects dealing with Chinese internal arts. When you answer them you are lucky if they ever say thank you. Teachers of Chinese arts who spend 20 or 30 years sacrificing and training to develop a high level of skill are today often treated as if they were a piece of furniture or an appliance that is there for the students convenience. Some schools are filled with chatter, loud music and chaos that continues even after the teacher enters. Students talk to each other while the teacher is lecturing and do not show him or her proper respect inside or out of class. This break down of simple polite courtesy is in our opinion symptomatic of the breakdown of our society as a whole. As martial artists we should because of our ability to do good or do harm become respected for our knowledge and the service we can provide. How can we expect to be respected if we do not respect ourselves or our teachers or the teachers of another art? Hundreds of years ago in China the martial artists were thought of as being the lowest of citizens. There were not revered, they were scorned by society. To raise themselves up in the social hierarchy Chinese martial practitioners declared themselves artisans. The martial artisans formed guilds or societies and adopted rules of behavior and formal training methods. This was the beginning of the systemization of what we know today as Chinese martial arts. Becoming respected for their courtesy and behavior helped them move from the lowest rung of the social ladder to a very high standing. It also helped them to become better citizens and to make a better living teaching and practicing their trade. This is what Wude did for our ancestors. I believe it can do the same for us today. As Jiulong Baguazhang Sihing Eric Reynolds of Toronto, Canada says, "Adherence to Wude allows one to be free since it is a choice as to whether one wants to adopt these standards and the social relationships they represent. It most certainly contributes to responsible action due to its respectful and courteous treatment of others." So setting high ethical standards creates an environment in which those who choose to participate have a real opportunity to improve themselves and their lives through an inner art that allows for the development of those gifts. It is an environment in which anyone who puts forth the effort can find that they are capable of more than they may have thought. True Chinese martial arts of the internal or external traditions have a strict "code of ethics" that is essential to developing and sustaining relationships not unlike those in a family. This ethical code guarantees students and teachers alike that the arts will survive and be passed on to future generations by individuals of good moral and social character. Though a part of ethics is instilled to control one's combativeness to a point, its main goal is to learn an inner relationship of respect and understanding toward one's teacher, fellow students, ourselves and even to the school or space we learn from. This also helps open pathways for our internal understandings and energy awareness. What follows will be the concepts from the "Wude Code," commonly referred to as the "Code of Ethics" as explained to me by my Shifu, Li, Longdao. The purpose is to give you a set of guidelines for what is required of you as a student or instructor and one's relationship to Daoqiquan as a complete art. These rules will not only help you understand this art, its students and teachers, but it will make you a much stronger practitioner if you adhere to the code of ethics. Mr. Li taught me that the practitioner who has a strong code would also have a strong art coupled with wisdom. To be a true student of the Chinese martial and Qigong arts you must "empty your cup" of all pride and selfishness. When you do this you will see your strengths and your weaknesses and, individually, will have your priorities to work on towards self-perfection. Wude Personal Relationships. 1. Always honor one's family, and give without the expectation of receiving. Strive for family honor. It is a lifetime responsibility. 2. Second to one's family you must honor your teacher. Your Shifu is to be treated like a father or mother who gives you the art of life. To give you knowledge is a lifetime responsibility for one's official teacher. 3. Treat your fellow students as a brother or sister. By giving and helping them to be better, in truth this will strengthen you. 4. Senior students, be humble. Treat junior students as equals, thus, enabling you to have the respect and position of senior. 5. Junior students, be respectful to your senior. Their treatment of you as an equal is a sign that they are starting to understand a deeper level of the art and are worthy of senior respect. This humbleness is to be respected. 6. Never consider yourself knowledgeable, regardless of time in training. We are only on a staircase that is very long and with no apparent end. 7. Recognize that everyone will have strengths greater than yourself and weaknesses, regardless of their time in the art. Try to help their weaknesses. In turn, your weaknesses will be eventually strengthened. 8. Senior students are responsible to demonstrate the "code of ethics" in and out of class. This example shows that you yourself don't consider your art separate from your every day life, that it is part of everything. This demonstrates the strength of your art and makes good practitioners and teachers. 9. Rely on your teacher's judgment as best as one can. Many times you may not agree with policies, or actions, but it is your responsibility to stand behind them and strive for better understanding as junior students do towards you. Remember one is just on a step and possibly the next step will give you better understanding. 10. Remember, teachers are human. They make mistakes and have human problems like anyone else. Realize that no one who is alive will be a perfect master. It is this kindness and understanding that makes you strong by respecting your Shifu's humanness and appreciating his willingness to sacrifice his time to instruct you in his art. 11. Be an example of courtesy, regardless of what step you are on in your art. Courtesy in and out of class is a sign of strength. By giving courtesy, you get courtesy and respect. 12. Empty your cup and allow criticism and suggestions by anyone. Students who often have less time in can offer suggestions or catch something that is very true and helpful, if you are open. Remembering that we are all equal human beings helps. Thinking we know and understand it all, means we know little. 13. Never openly criticize your teacher in public or privately to others. Hold your doubts or criticisms to yourself and possibly your view will change later on the matter. Criticizing back to your teacher says you are their equal in knowledge. This is considered very poor code and essentially you need another teacher. 14. Don't think of criticism from your Shifu as personal. Criticism is to help you to gain better refinement from outside eyes. Without self-examination created by suggestions or criticism, one is no better off than reading a book. We need other eyes to tell the real story. 15. Pride. Carry yourself earnestly; try your best even if it's not up to your expectations. Disregard other people's expectations of yourself. Doing your best for yourself gives you honor and pride. 16. Containment of one's ego is essential for proper internal energy development. There will be some things you do better than others and some things others do better than you. When we get full of our own personal selves we begin to make mistakes. 17. The showing of too much power in practice with others shows you have low level ego containment. Use of technique with kindness and appreciation is a sign of strength. To intimidate others is low level. Demonstrate containment, this is a sign of strength. It is a personal test to try not to get even when someone betters you. Compliment them. Do not feel degraded by being bettered. Appreciate this as being personally helpful. They are giving you something to work on for the future. 18. Tenacity: It is your responsibility to not complain of tiredness or your inability to do the practice. It is your responsibility to try your best in all classes. Do not allow yourself to just follow or stand idle. Practice during class and every day regardless of your grasp or ability of the technique. Tenacity is the ability to keep trying with or without the teacher. By doing this you will always feel better when you leave, and you will gather honor and respect. Idleness means idle instruction in return. 19. Cleanliness: Refined cleanliness means refined mind. Clean clothes and body show by example the honor and ethics you hold. 20. Never ask for more knowledge. Let the teachers decide when you are ready. To ask is a sign that you have down what has already been given you. Remember any knowledge has a lifetime of perfecting. By working hard on what you have is the first sign that you are getting ready for more and deserve it. 21. Always remember your teacher's birthday, Christmas, etc. Give them some gift of appreciation from your heart no matter how small. This sign of thoughtfulness and respect allows a bond that makes the teacher feel appreciated, and usually they reciprocate by genuinely wanting to further your knowledge from this appreciation. 22. If you are far away from your teacher or have moved out of town and you return to the area in which your teacher lives you should visit or contact him. When visiting your Shifu or another teacher it is proper to bring them a small gift each time. This can be food for casual visits or presents suitable for more important visits. This is traditionally important. 23. If you have had a falling out with your teacher, but want to re-establish your connection, it is most important to bring a gift upon your "first" contact and to give your humble apology, regardless of whether you feel it is totally deserved. A good teacher will always accept a good apology regardless if they feel they were wrong or you were wrong. "Saving face" most times does not allow the teacher the flexibility of the student. 24. Anytime one invites the teacher to their home or anywhere else, it is essential that there is always food and drink available. This shows good manners and respect. APOTHECARY Olive Oil and Vegetables Cut Arthritis Risk. Some reports have suggested that fish oil and vegetable oil in the diet may help relieve arthritis symptoms, but research has not confirmed that these foods have a protective effect. However, a new study, led by Athena Linos, University of Athens Medical School, Greece, suggests that olive oil and cooked vegetables may, in fact, reduce arthritis risk. The 34 study was based on data from 145 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 188 people who did not have the disease. All study participants lived in southern Greece. The research team estimated the number of days per year that subjects consumed olive oil and tallied these numbers to estimate consumption over a lifetime. Then they calculated the likelihood of developing rheumatoid arthritis in relation to consumption of olive oil, fish, vegetables, and other food groups. The investigators found that people who consumed the least olive oil were 2.5 times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than those who consumed the most. Further, those who consumed the most cooked vegetables had a 75 percent lower risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. (American Journal of Clin Nutr , 70: 1077-1082, 1999). IN THE NEWS. Li Family Daoqiquan Gong Fu Celebrates 420 years. Promotes first new Shifu's in 30 years. Arlington Texas. Daoqiquan students and instructors from around the world journeyed to the Arlington, Texas home of the Li family Kwoon to celebrate the birthday of the arts founder. Students brought offerings of flowers, red packets with wishes of good will and attended the ceremony for the renewal of the four virtues and ritual of drinking bitter tea. During the ceremony Shifu John Painter the US representative of the Li family arts recounted the arts lineage and opens the ancestor's place to view the sword and scroll of his Shifu, Master Li, Longdao. Each student is asked to renew his or her vows to train heart and mind toward the goal of inner peace and internal strength through the practice of Daoqiquan and the ancient principals of Wude (martial virtue) as outlined by the arts of the Li family of Sichuan province. In a moving ceremony Shifu Painter fulfilled his promise to his Shifu, Li, Longdao, "to keep the art alive." when he presented Andrew Garza III and Alan Marshall with their yellow sashes, and swords plus their certificate of rank for the level of Shifu Daoqiquan. Both Mr. Garza and Mr. Marshall have been students of Shifu Painter for over eighteen years and have successfully completed the exhaustive and rigorous testing for all levels of full instructorship in the Daoqiquan arts. Each candidate for this level must be a person of high moral character who is educated in Daoist philosophy, Yijing and the Li family methods of Taijiquan, Baguazhang, Xingyiquan and martial Qigong as well as both traditional and modern weapons skills. In addition they must be able to teach and apply the Qigong health arts, Acupressure, massage and herbology. These were the first promotions of any individual to this level in the 30 year history of the Daoqiquan arts in the United States. Weekend Study Group Instructors Gathering, follows Ceremony, following the Founders Day ceremonies the Nine Dragon Baguazhang study group leaders gathered at The Gompa to train for three eight hour sessions with Shifu Painter, Shifu Garza and Shifu Marshall. Shifu Andrew Garza and Shifu Alan Marshall along with Steve Elliott, and Dr. Painter presented study topics and training methods focusing on the Nine Dragon Baguazhang mountain palm techniques of standing Qigong meditation, combative methods of Baguazhang, nine post training, weapons and push-hands. Study Group Leaders in attendance were: Jimmy Morris of Duxbury MA, John Adams of Los Angeles, Eric Reynolds and Neil Benvenuti of Toronto. Assistant instructors in training also in attendance were Keith Christian of Oklahoma, Steve Elliott of Allen Texas, Robert Castaldo of Arlington, Dr. Jan Carstoniu and Mr. Vic Trnavskis both of Toronto, Terry Jackson and Mike Woodward from Los Angeles CA and Martin Kelley of Colorado Springs CO. The Li family Nine Dragon Baguazhang has study groups offering weekly training in martial and Qigong health arts throughout North America, Europe and Israel. To find out more about the Jiulong system visit: http://www.ninedragonbaguazhang.com. NEW ON THE WEB. Jiulong Baguazhang Discussion Group. Kevin Wikse of Boise Idaho has created a great discussion group for the Jiulong Baguazhang students and fans. If you have an interest in Baguazhang we invite you all to come join this most informative forum. The group can be found on http://www.egroups.com/group. Copy the address into your browser. When you get to the page search for Jiulong Baguazhang. You will see a page come up for the club. You can join and receive emails at your address or just go out and look the questions over at your leisure. There are also photos on the site under the "file" section. Many of the international instructors for Jiulong monitor the club and will be happy to answer your questions. If you are interested in interacting with other teachers and students of this style of Emei Baguazhang from Sichuan Province please feel free to check it out.

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Nine Dragon Baguazhang™ P.O. Box 1777 Arlington, Texas. 76004-1777 TEL: 817-860-0129 FAX: 817-460-5125 Nine Dragon Baguazhang™ - John P. Painter Ph.D. ND. Jiulong Baguazhang™ - John P. Painter Ph.D. ND. Web Site© Copyright John P. Painter Ph.D. ND. 1999 - 2002