ediation. The mastered steps or pieces meld together to create a masterpiece, with the student eventually becoming a master of the pieces; this is essentially why Muay Thai is a Martial Art. “Martial” meaning, relating to fighting or war. And “Art”, the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as a painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.
As quoted by Hundred Eyes in the motion picture, Marco Polo: One Hundred Eyes, The true meaning of Kung Fu is “Supreme Skill from Hard work”.
Hundred Eyes: “A great poet has reached Kung Fu. The painter, the calligrapher, they can be said to have Kung Fu. Even the cook, the one who sweeps steps, or a masterful servant, can have Kung Fu. Practice. Preparation. Endless repetition. Until your mind is weary, and your bones ache. Until you’re too tired to sweat. Too wasted to breathe.”
The seeds of mastery are discipline, dedication and determination, while courage or “heart” is the fertile soil; high confidence, belief in self and the opening of the heart are its sweet, juicy fruits.
There are many roads to mastery, but all of them require the same attributes, never-ending learning and the beginner’s mind. It’s the level of detail that separates the novice from the master. The master has a magnifying glass, seeing clearly all the intricate details of his craft and has developed the ability to consistently improve his performance, by teaching himself and others.
The novice or beginner tends to see confused, blurry images and so requires a master to guide him through. By practicing with presence or awareness, the beginner becomes more attuned to the
