What does it mean to be a sihing?

[Eric]

Hello everyone,

Recently, i posed the question "what does it mean to be a sihing?" to several students, and I got that oh so wonderful deer-in-headlights response.

I would like to share what i think being a sihing is, and I would ask that the rest of you share your views as well.

To me, being a sihing comes with several responsibilities to your younger brothers, in various areas.

Training Partner: You must learn to partner with your brothers at their level; being too demanding, or inserting details that they may not have been given yet has led to many botched training sessions in my experience. Give them the opportunity to raise their level of kung fu, but do not try to force a change on them. Trying to force a change only leads you to look like a bully.

Example: When you partner with a sidai, or are teaching a class, you have to exert a large amount of levelheadedness and clarity of speech. How you choose your words will be a direct influence how your sidai choose their words when they get to explain. Act now how you want them to act in the future.

There's always more, but i hope this is enough to get a conversation rolling...

[ShawnMiller]

This is a very interesting question. We recognize sihing as older brother and in a big way this is how I feel it is. Sihing is someone that has probably seen and experienced more than i have. They are given a certain amount of respect for the position alone. I do not believe in any form of blind loyalty, though.

Sihings have a bit of a responsibility to help with the education and training of the sidai. When they work directly with a sidai, they have to go back and forth between a lower level and a higher level of information. In a purely cooperative training session they should keep the detail at the sidai's level. However, they cannot do this all the time. They should be expected to push the sidai a bit now and then to help their progression. Perceptions of "bullying" is a matter of ego and should not be involved. In no way am I saying that I have reached the level of enlightenment to never have this problem, but I do know what the problem (ego) is and that helps me deal with it.

Dai Sihing takes on another purpose altogether. There is a reason that an individual student is given this title. This holds again another level of respect. This person should be expected to push a sidai's kung fu either through details(knowledge) or physical activities for better body karma.

The majority or us as todai have many sihing, but we are also sihing to many.

A very interesting half of this question is "What does it mean to be a Sidai?"

[Ricksta]

hi guys!

When you guys say sihing, do you mean being an assistant instructor or just being someone that have been in the school longer? Because to me these roles are two diferent things.

I agree with both you guys if you are a role as an "assistant instructor sihing".

but whe you say sihing as in you've been in the school for a week earlier or even a year earlier, I think just being a good partner that will train hard and or give a little advice here and there what else can you ask for? Your not REAL blood brothers or sisters. Be a friend!!! Maybe your sidai will turn into a really good freind.

Come on guys!! It sounds like your stressing over being a good sihing! Remember, your there to have fun training! Just train hard and help each other improve.

Don't get me wrong in thinking you don't have to give your sihing respect though!! Because no matter what kind of sihing you are, sihing is sihing!!! right or wrong you have to respect your sihings!!

Just me 2 cents!! :) Enjoy your training!! I'll see you guys soon!!

Rick

[Cang Long]

Yeah Ricksta have to agree with you.
Like any military apparatus there is a system in order for a reason you just have to realize like everything has a time and a place everyone has there time and place in the apparatus understand that and have fun plain and simple.