Kung Fu Lineage?

[Jeff C.]

Dale, I wouldn't say they deserve an a$$ whuppin'; that is a little extreme. Besides, the average prospective student doesn't care one bit about rank or lineage of a potential instructor.

I have had plenty of stones hurled at me for not having "lineage." None of those stone-throwers have ever been on the mat with me, so I really don't care what some numbnuts says about my lack of "lineage." It really is a non-issue. It is a non-issue to the point where they don't deserve the time of day, let alone a whuppin'.

Jeff Cook

[Kyuusaku]

Knowing where what you are learning came from can be useful and informative (especially if you are interested in learning a particular style).

Lineage in Chinese thought can sometimes be a bit misleading, though, as its rules are in some ways more strict, but in some ways kind of random (for example, you are not actually part of a lineage unless you go through a "Baishi" ceremony; on the other hand, some people become "disciples" of a teacher even though that teacher is already dead (the ceremony is held by another disciple)). Other rules dictate where someone can be placed in a lineage (age, class, etc.).

Edward Cha

[Digi]

Knowing where what you are learning came from can be useful and informative (especially if you are interested in learning a particular style).

Lineage in Chinese thought can sometimes be a bit misleading, though, as its rules are in some ways more strict, but in some ways kind of random (for example, you are not actually part of a lineage unless you go through a "Baishi" ceremony; on the other hand, some people become "disciples" of a teacher even though that teacher is already dead (the ceremony is held by another disciple)). Other rules dictate where someone can be placed in a lineage (age, class, etc.).

Edward Cha

Didn't the student take a photo with his or her sifu in order to prove lineage as well?

[sean_stonehart]

Didn't the student take a photo with his or her sifu in order to prove lineage as well?

For most yes, for others it's a photo op to be used at a later date to their advantage for the unknowing.

F'rinstance... I could open a ninja training camp & use a pic of me & Steven Hayes or Hatsumi Sensei from the 94 Bujinkan Tai Kai here in Atlanta to suit my needs... or one of me & Jew Leong from San Fran's Hung Sing CLF school... or Ming Lum from San Fran's Chinese community for a "community approved" sticker... or any of a couple of hundred pics with people like that.

Photos are good... proper content of a photo is better... understanding that photos are not always what they seem is golden.

[Kyuusaku]

A photo is definitely not proof (I also have photos with various experts, but I have not entered their lineages or had a ceremony with any of them). Lots of people try to use such photos as proof, though, as Sean mentioned.

Ed

[Jeff Burger]

Photos
You could go to a seminar of a famous MAist and get your pic taken with them and call it your lineage.

Of course for a fee I have seen some of these guys autograph your black belt certificates.

[sean_stonehart]

Photos
You could go to a seminar of a famous MAist and get your pic taken with them and call it your lineage.

Of course for a fee I have seen some of these guys autograph your black belt certificates.

Yep and if you get their autograph with enough 000 behind the initial $$, you can autograph one they made up for themselves as well since you've now "got the rank" to do so and have summarily joined the Soke Dokey Good Ol' boys club.