The Walking Tiger Tai Chi Club

Providing private and group lessons in metro San Diego: Phone 619-865-3711 Email: TheWalkingTiger@Juno.Com

About The Teacher

I began martial arts training at the age of 13. In those days the small town of El Cajon, California had little to offer, and most of the schools that started went out of business in a very short time. As a result I was exposed to many styles over a very short period of time. Each of them convinced that theirs was the only truly effective system.

This continued until the 1970’s when EC McGilvery; who was not only a master artist but also a good businessman, started the American Colleges of Karate and Martial Arts, as well as The International Martial Arts Association.

Master McGilvery developed a system he called Aam-Ka-Jutsu; a mixed martial system which focused on effective self-defense martial arts. Hence the term, Jutsu, which conveys the idea that this art is all about self-defense. Master McGilvery did not care about, nor had he any allegiance to, any dynastic system of self-defense. He collated every worthwhile and effective technique into his system.

I remember hearing him laugh out load for several minutes when he heard someone referred to as “a third generation master”.

At the same time, he had enormous respect for true masters. He recruited masters of many arts, including Karate, Kung Fu, Aikido, Judo, Jiu-Jitsu and Tai Chi.

During this time he created a virtual renaissance-offering first class training in a wide variety of arts to all of his advanced students. It was during this period, from 1970 to the late 1990’s that I was able to take Tai Chi training from a number of teachers, including Michael Brown and William Funchin.

There is a saying from Zen; “Humility is the key to mastery”. This means that all too often, those who seek mastery cannot put aside their pride and ego. The way to mastery is in deciding one will always and forever be a student. One must never put their hands on their hips, swell their chest and say; “I am a master”.

The term “master” is widely exploited in the United States. There are some martial organizations in the world that will assign this title, but it is very, very rare. Further, anyone who calls HIMSELF master, probably has very serious ego issues.

Arrogance, pride, ego and fear have been the cause of the downfall of great institutions, countries and masters. During my journey I have known too many people who, upon reaching a certain level of skill, stopped learning and closed their minds.

These same people sometimes claim to have created their own art; forgetting that masters have labored the create these arts. And, that sometimes there is a reason; not instantly obvious, why things are done a certain way.

I would want my stone to read: “ He was patient, kind and a good teacher”.

Finding a Teacher-What to Look Out For

If you’re looking for a Tai Chi or martial arts school, here are the things to watch out for. Head for the door if you see them at a school:

· Anyone who uses the term “Blood Sport”

· Teachers who think they are a spiritual Guru

· Any references to Ninja

· A teacher who calls HIMSELF master or grandmaster

· Signs that claim the school teaches several different and disparate martial arts

· Those who claim to be students of Bruce Lee (even if it’s true)

· Mullets

· Swaggering

· Swastikas

· A window full of tournament trophies

· Ancient fundamentalist religious symbols

· Contemporary fundamentalist religious symbols

· A “king of the hill” attitude toward the “Pushing Hands’ exercise or sparring

· A wall full of weapons that don’t apply to the 21st century

· Long-term contracts

· Shrines

· Foreign flags

· Few female students

· Starry-eyed allegiance to ANYTHING

· Pee wee black belts

· Instructors who groan when they get out of their chair

· Stoic, superior, impolite, cross eyed, smelly or unhealthy looking instructors

· Impatient, unkind, ill mannered or intimidating instructors

· Smiling out of context

· Smugness

· Eyes whose “whites” show all the way around

· Shiny silk uniforms

· Preoccupation with lineage

· Bruised, limping or twitching students

· Topknots