Originally Posted by kejia nu ren
i think this is a very important topic that is being discussed, and feel that it's beneficial to see how people approach discipleship, traditionalism vs. commercialism, and closed door teaching in different ways.
I was recommended a book by a co-worker called "Living the Martial Way" by Forrest Morgan. I'm just getting to the end of it now, and although the book is written from the experiences of someone who was trained in the Korean and Japanese arts, the principles and themes he writes of are universal to all martial arts (most of the fundamentals stemming from TCMA anyways). I found the book to be very thorough and applicable for students who may not understand what studying a martial art should entail (not only physical training, but mental training and character building). It doesn't specifically focus on discipleship, but there is a chapter on the teacher/student relationship, and certain conflicts that may arise from this delicate bond.
I enjoyed the book and would recommend any student serious about "living the martial way" to pick it up...for teachers who may have difficulty gettin their point across with students, they may want to make it suggested reading. Just some thoughts.