I Declare

Watching the recent tai chi gradings and listening to the students make their declaration at the end of it made me think about the words of the declaration.

When we are reading this declaration it would be so easy in the excitement of the moment to not fully take on board what it means.

It’s about Wude:    Wu – Martial Art and De – Integrity

Wude can be defined as martial morals or a code of conduct and is practiced by showing respect for ourselves, the Masters, the Art and our fellow students.

When a new student enters the Golden Lion Academy generally they have not heard of Wude.  We learn over time that Wude is bound up in the principles that are listed and displayed on the wall as the Eight Qualities of the Golden Lion Academy:

• Respect
• Loyalty
• Tolerance
• Perseverance
• Patience
• Dignity
• Humility
• Honour

Other examples of how we put Wude into practice include addressing the instructors by their title, saluting when entering or leaving the training floor and at the start and end of class or if leaving class unexpectedly.  Wude is also about having respect for class rules. Wude is demonstrated by the practice of these Eight Qualities.

For grading students, the declaration we make after a grading exam is a reminder and confirmation of our understanding of Wude and a declaration that we will put it in to practice.

We declare that we will endeavour to attain and uphold the moral and spiritual qualities required to the highest expression of our martial art.  We also declare that we will practice loyalty and respect to the Academy, the masters and fellow students. Our declaration confirms that we will seek dignity, honour and humility and be respectful and tolerant toward other martial arts and martial artists.

Wude is expressed in the Code of Conduct of the Golden Lion Academy by encouraging students to cultivate character, tolerance and honesty. We are also encouraged to conduct ourselves in a righteous and honourable way.  The respect of others is earned through our Wude not our Tai Chi. It is a fundamental attitude that we should maintain at all times.  It is not something we leave behind each time we leave the training floor.  We take it with us.

Norma Edge, Berwick Tai Chi gradiings student