Author: Richard Hackworth
A student, who had trained diligently for many years with an old and very traditional master, wanted to become a teacher. The old master was known for being very demanding, and very few students ever passed the final test to receive the transmission scroll (credential needed to teach). When the day of the test finally arrived, the student was very nervous. He took a deep breath and began stretching his shoulders.
“That is not necessary,” said the master. “Your test consists of only one question upon which hinges your fate.”
The student was clearly puzzled. His teacher continued. “The question is this: You have an adversary who is many miles away and it will take a journey of three days in order to fight him. What is the one most important thing you must be sure of before you fight with him?”
“That is not necessary,” said the master. “Your test consists of only one question upon which hinges your fate.”
The student was clearly puzzled. His teacher continued. “The question is this: You have an adversary who is many miles away and it will take a journey of three days in order to fight him. What is the one most important thing you must be sure of before you fight with him?”
The young man thought for only a moment. “I know the answer, master. It lies behind all that you have shown us and is the fundamental teaching. The one most important thing I must be sure of before I fight my adversary is that the three day journey must be his."
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We always love to hear from our readers. Please leave your thoughts and comments below and share this link with your friends. We are working hard to put Unity in the Martial Arts Community.
 | Richard Hackworth is the Publisher and Warrior Marketing columnist for World Martial Arts Magazine. He is a multi-arts Grand Masters who's martial arts career spans four decades. He began working with World Martial Arts Magazine in Korea in 1986 and has been a constant supporter of spreading the traditional martial arts message world wide. He is the founder and President of the Korean Hapkido Federation Haemukwan, an organization for traditional authentic Hapkido. You can friend him at http://www.facebook.com/worldmartialartsmedia |
