Hong Luck Kung Fu Forum Toronto ~ View topic - Sigung, Sifu, Sihing, Sidai, Sibak, Sisok

Sigung (?? pinyin shi gong) is the sifu's sifu in a Chinese martial art school. Si means teacher. Gung means grandfather.

Sifu or Shifu (??) means "Master" or "Teacher" in the Chinese Language. The term is most commonly used in martial art school. Si means teacher. Fu means father. Depending on which Chinese dialect the transliteration was based on, it may be spelled differently.

In Chinese martial art tradition, learning from a master does not make one his student automatically. The acceptance as a student is a very formal event, usually requires a ceremony called baisi (??). One can always address some master as sifu as a courtesy in greetings. But one cannot say a certain master is one's sifu without the formal admission ceremony. Only after a student is admitted formally, the sifu would pass all his knowledge. Only then, the student can be the carrier of the tradition to the next generation.

In most martial art schools, the master may teach many informal students. However, only the worthy few are admitted formally to carry the sifu's name forward. If a student misbehaves, the sifu can denounce the student and eliminate the student's name from the school.

In modern days, martial art schools are run as business. Informal students are numerous and many claim some famous masters as their sifu even though they have never been admitted formally nor received any in-depth training. In the past, using the sifu's name without permission was forbidden and considered a disgrace. The issue of formal lineage becomes a very controversial topic. For example, Yip Man probably had hundreds of informal students because of the open Wing Chun school he ran in Hong Kong. Some sources claimed that he only had eight formal students who were authorized to carry his name. Bruce Lee was one of the few lucky ones.

In a martial art school, the actual teaching is usually done by the more senior sihings. Only after the student has reached a certain level of skills, the sifu will start to get involved in more formal training.

Sihing (??) means senior fellow students in a Chinese martial art school. Si means teacher. Hing means elder brother. The seniority is not based on the student's age or level of skill, but on the chronological order of following a particular sifu. The master's first student is always the most senior shihing. The less senior students are called sidai among their peers.

Sidai (??) means junior fellow students in a Chinese martial art school. Si means teacher. Dai means younger brother. The seniority is not based on the student's age or level of skill, but on the chronological order of following a particular sifu. The master's first student is always the most senior sihing. The less senior students are called shidai among their peers.

Sibak (??) is the sihing of your teacher in a martial art school. Si means teacher. Bak means a uncle that is elder than the father.

Sisok (??) is the sidai of the teacher in a martial art school. Si means teacher. Sok means a uncle who is younger than the father