Curriculum vs. Syllabus Part III

Excerpts from previous writings by Sifu Jeff Brinker

Mastery vs. Memorization

Kung fu is an art, it is not a science. As such we must value mastery over memorization. A person who memorizes an application may understand and be able to demonstrate the application but unless they have mastered it, they will not be able to apply the application with realism in a dynamic situation. The key to mastery is mindful, repetitive practice of what has been memorized.

The Four Phases of Technique Mastery

• Form

• Speed and Power

• Accuracy

• Realism

What is a Black Belt?

In the martial arts, the rank of Black is synonymous with expert. The term is also used as a metaphor for personal excellence. It is the rank we all strive to achieve as it is the ultimate recognition of all the blood, sweat, and tears that went into our training.

The concept of Black Belt is a relatively modern term. It is the norm in Japanese and Korean martial arts but most Chinese stylists have also adopted the black belt as a symbol of excellence and expertise because the rank of black belt is an inspiring objective and as such, a powerful motivational goal. The important thing to remember about the rank of black belt is that it signifies a beginning, not an end. A commonly used analogy is equating the black belt with completing a high school education. The real value of a strong high school education is the opportunity it creates for advanced education. Likewise, the real value of becoming a strong black belt is the opportunity it gives you to advance your training and further develop your art.

The Chinese Ideal

Many students become so focused upon achieving the rank of Sifu that it is difficult for them to remain motivated to train and stay dedicated to their art after they reach that goal. In essence, they are throwing away everything they have worked years to acquire if they do not continue cultivating their art. We must never forget that the belt is only a physical representation of what lies within. This is why when using the black belt as a tangible rank, it is important that we never forget the Chinese ideal. When a kung fu stylist is asked about their rank, their answer should be comprised of three elements: how long they have studied, who they have trained under, and an offer to step on the mats.

Khona Rybak

Curriculum vs. Syllabus Part II

Excerpts from previous writings by Sifu Jeff Brinker

Style/Form vs. Function/Application

With many styles becoming extinct and being replaced with mixed martial arts - a styleless hodge podge of techniques and applications - it is important to acknowledge the value of a complete style. An education without mastery of a complete style is rife with holes. The constant quest to shore up those holes with more disconnected knowledge only exasperates the problem. A complete style has no holes, only weaknesses. Once a style has been mastered, extra curricular study applied to the base style will expand a practitioner’s arsenal and strengthen those weaknesses. A good, balanced curriculum must serve both style and function and must be mastered so that our black belts have a good, solid base upon which to build. Therefore it is important that the curriculum serves to help the student learn how to move within the context of the style so that all applications support one another. A practitioner’s lineage should be apparent in the way he moves.

Curriculum Objective

The objective of our curriculum is to produce quality leaders who are amazing martial artists, committed to adapting the curriculum to their lives by using their kung fu as a process as opposed to a program, and taking their training out of the kwoon and into the world.

The Black Belt Success Cycle

1. Set a goal

2. Have a plan (and a success coach)

3. TAKE CONSISTENT ACTION

4. Review your progress

5. Review your goal

Curriculum Ideals

It is important to note that when we use the terminology Black Belt Requirements, we are actually referring to our Curriculum Ideals. Our curriculum speaks to what we value in a martial artist and a leader, and it defines who we are and our value to society. Our curriculum ideals can be classified into two major categories: Tangible External Qualities (Tiger) and Intangible Internal Qualities (Dragon).

It can be said that the External Qualities of the curriculum refer to the quality of the movements of the practitioner and that the Internal Qualities of the curriculum refer to the quality of the character of the practitioner. At Silent River Kung Fu, quality of character can trump quality of movement but quality of movement cannot trump quality of character. Therefore it is imperative that the student embrace the ideal of the curriculum and recognize the important role that extra curricular subjects such as Anger Management Training, Diabetes Education, Project Based Leadership, and Community Activism play in developing those all important Intangible Qualities.

The Silent River Kung Fu syllabus is designed and categorized so that each level represents incremental progress toward mastery of certain concepts and skill sets that bring the student closer to achieving the curriculum ideal.

Tangible External Qualities

• Flow

• Power

• Control

• Speed

• Balance

• Strength

• Timing

• Dexterity and Coordination

• Conditioning and Stamina

• Flexibility

• Intensity

• Realism

• Vocabulary of Motion

• External Harmonies (hands with feet, elbows with knees, shoulders with hips)

Intangible Internal Qualities

• Leadership/role model

• Discipline

• Respect

• Confidence

• Control/Judgement

• Empathy

• Humility

• Passion/Intensity

• Indomitable Spirit

• Fearlessness

• Compassion

• Adaptability

• Loyalty

• Honesty/Conviction

• Accountability

• Self-Realization

• Internal Harmonies (spirit with intent, intent with chi, chi with strength)

Curriculum Progression

The foundation of any martial art lies in the perfection of the basics. If there was only one standard there would be no need for promotions before the level of black. It is important that expectations of student skill with the basics of the style are raised as the student progresses through the ranks. The expectations at the green level for executing a roundhouse kick are higher than at a yellow level. Even though the basics are taught at the beginner levels, the student must increase their proficiency in those basics as they progress through the ranks.

Khona Rybak

Curriculum vs. Syllabus Part I

Excerpts from previous writings by Sifu Jeff Brinker

The term Curriculum refers to the overall course of study that is geared towards reaching an objective. It is the philosophical ideal of the product our school is striving to produce. When a student masters their curricular requirements they will be ready to begin the black belt phase of their training. The term Syllabus refers to the tools and requirements of a particular course or class. The syllabus for each level contains specific techniques and requirements that the instructors and students can use to achieve the ideals of the curriculum. Mastery of the curriculum is the student’s ultimate goal and the syllabus is a tool that can be used to achieve that goal. Class time and practice sessions should address the curriculum requirements of the school through mastering the techniques of the syllabus, but not exclusively, as a means to further progress toward achieving the curriculum ideal.

Syllabus

Silent River Kung Fu’s syllabus is structured such that the student will gradually master the curriculum ideals by mindfully applying themselves to the syllabus specifics. The student will earn their coloured stripe when they have mastered the curriculum ideal to their specific level. Once a student has earned all seven coloured stripes at their current rank, they should be ready to test for promotion to their next level.

Yellow Stripe - Vocabulary of Motion

When it comes to movement, the journey is more important than the destination. The art is found in how we move not what we have moved nor where we have moved it.

Specifics- Sparring, Drills, Combinations

White Stripe - 6 Harmonies

Every movement of a kung fu stylist should reflect the 6 harmonies. Externally, your hands should be harmonized with your feet, your elbows with your knees, and your shoulders with your hips. Internally, your sprit should be harmonized with your intent, your intent with your chi, and your chi with your strength.

Specifics- Forms (Lao Gar, Da Mu Hsing)

Red Stripe - Keystone Principles

Every style of kung fu is built upon a foundation of values that are the keystone principles upon which the style is based. These fundamentals are the most important skills required for mastery of the style. The expectation is that the student's mastery of the style's keystone principles will improve as they progress through the ranks.

Specifics- Foundation Skills (blocks, punches, kicks, stances)

Green Stripe - Lifestyle and Leadership

“Out of the Kwoon, and Into the World.” Kung fu is a discipline that transcends the training hall. A student’s life is their personal kwoon, therefore the concepts a student learns through their kung fu should be applied to all aspects of their life. Mindful living and basic awareness are important concepts that every student must master to realize the true benefits of the lifestyle. A student’s lifestyle should support their kung fu and conversely, their kung fu should support their lifestyle. Leaders are made, they are not born. Our Intelligent Curriculum teaches a student to humbly take their kung fu out of the kwoon and into the world through project based leadership training, experiential learning, and practicing empathy. Strong leadership skills empowers one to carve out the life they wish to live.

Specifics- Intelligent Curriculum Projects (school lead or individual)

Orange Stripe - Dynamic Control

The ability to execute a physical technique with control is what defines kung fu as an art. Execution without control devolves a refined and efficient movement into something coarse and disconnected. The skills one acquires through training are not effectively applicable without the internal and external controls required to use them. Weapons provide an extra dimension to training. Used properly they become natural extensions of the human body, magnifying force vectors and highlighting clarity of motion.

Specifics- Traditional Weapons

Blue Stripe - Traditional Tenets

Kung fu has survived for over two thousand years because it has sustained its relevance across cultural and societal boundaries and eras. The core values of the art are found in the traditional tenets that are at the foundation of the art. Lion Dance and Dragon Dance instil appreciation and respect for the traditional culture of kung fu and reinforce the philosophy and ideals that are the quintessence of the art.

Specifics- Lion Dance, Dragon Dance & Theory

Black Stripe - Wuxin - No Mind

Only through constant repetition will techniques flow naturally and effectively from the wuxin (no mind) state. By achieving wuxin, the student is able to transform their theoretical knowledge into applicable skill.

Specifics- Knowledge Applicability & Adaptability (applications and groundwork)

Khona Rybak

Are You Training in a Silo?

“The truth knocks on the door and you say, "Go away, I'm looking for the truth," and so it goes away. Puzzling.”  — Robert M. Pirsig (1928 - 2017), Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values

That is one of my favourite quotes from one of my favourite authors from one of my favourite books. As a Kung Fu instructor it resonates well with me.

I am blessed with many good, dedicated students. Discipline and effort are not a problem for them.  However, every student, no matter who they are, struggles with perspective when it comes to their learning.  That perspective problem is well-represented by the Robert Pirsig quote above in that often they are too busy trying to learn Kung Fu to actually learn Kung Fu. Often the lesson right in front of them is lost because they are too busy trying to learn.

With any course of study there is the core curriculum. That curriculum is the actual concepts that are being taught. At Silent River Kung Fu, that core curriculum consists of the following seven concepts: 6 Harmonies (how your body works together), Keystone Principles (core basics such as stances, kicks, blocks, and strikes), Vocabulary of Motion (how efficiently you move), Traditional Tenets (theory and understanding of purpose), Wude (character), Dynamic Control, and Wuxin (applicability of skill).  A syllabus is used to help convey the ideals of an intended curriculum.

Where students (and instructors) can go astray is when they become so focused on the syllabus, they can lose sight of the curriculum.  There is a big difference between learning a syllabus and learning a curriculum. Focusing on the curriculum gives intent to the lessons being taught with the tools of the syllabus. Without that intent, the lesson loses context when the student focuses solely on the syllabus. We refer to this as ‘silo training’. Silo training is training without intent and becomes a frantic dedication to learning specific techniques instead of synergetic concepts. In Kung Fu we must always strive to master our style, not a bunch of individual techniques.

When we are working to earn the curricular stripes for our rank, it is important that we understand that every drill and every concept an instructor teaches, applies to every stripe of the curriculum. Students who think 6 Harmony training is only happening when they practice their forms are silo training.

Recognize the value of every lesson and apply what you learn in each lesson to all your knowledge. Synergetic training is the only path to mastery.

Jeff Brinker