| A young man who wanted to learn
how to defend himself from bullies at school sought a martial arts teacher
to teach him. He rode his bike to a nearby kung fu school and asked
the "Sifu" (teacher) for lessons. "Are you willing to practice?" the
Sifu asked. "Of course," said the young man. "Good," said the
Sifu. "Your first task is to learn how to punch. Do it like
this." The Sifu worked with the young man until his technique was
correct. "Practice this punch fifty thousand times. When you
have finished, let me know." The young man watched the Sifu walk away.
Fifty thousand times! That would take a really long time, thought the
young man.
The young man left the kung fu school and
rode his bike to a local tae kwon do school. He went inside and asked
the teacher if he would teach him. "Are you willing to practice?"
asked the teacher. "Of course," said the young man. "Good.
Your first task is to learn to kick. Do it like this." The
teacher showed the young man a basic roundhouse kick. He worked with
him until he had the correct technique. "Practice this kick fifty
thousand times. When you have finished, let me know." The young
man began kicking. He counted 10, 20, 30, 50, 100. After the
100th kick, he decided he would never be able to do fifty thousand kicks.
The young man left the tae kwon do school and
rode his bike to a local LOTUS school. He went inside and asked the "Ajarn"
(Thai for teacher) if he would teach him. "Are you willing to
practice?" asked the teacher. "Of course," said the young man.
"Good. Your first task is to learn to block. Do it like this."
The Ajarn showed the young man how to execute a high block until the young
man had his technique down correctly. The Ajarn said, "Practice this
high block fifty thousand times. When you have finished, let me know."
The young man was disappointed. The teacher was just like the other
teachers. The student, determined to learn how to defend himself,
executed 500 high blocks. He then went to the teacher and said, "Ajarn, I
am ready to learn something new." "Good," said the teacher.
"Have you done the high block fifty thousand times?" "Yes," the young
man lied. "Come with me then." The Ajarn brought the young man
to a weapon rack filled with bo staffs, nunchaku, and other weapons.
This is more like it the young man thought to himself. "Reach up to
the shelf on top of the rack and get the bo staff. We'll need it for
the next lesson." said the teacher. The young man reached up to the
shelf, far above his head, standing on his tiptoes, felt around with his
fingers. He rolled the bo staff forward but it rolled over the front
lip of the shelf and dropped on the young man's head. "That's
strange," said the teacher. "Most people after fifty thousand high
blocks would have blocked that automatically." The young man felt
embarrassed and confessed. He then walked back to the dojo mat and
started doing the high blocks. |
