Thought for the day!

The man had studied martial arts for many years when he decided to seek the tutelage of the great Master. As he met with the Master for the first time, he told the old man of all his accomplishments and knowledge, leaving hardly a space for the Master to respond. As the prospective student kept talking, the teacher got up and gathered cups and a pot for tea. Again, the man kept talking of all he had learned, hoping to impress the teacher with his skill and understanding. The Master began to pour the tea, starting with his guest's cup. He poured very slowly, and when the liquid reached the top of the cup, he kept going. At first the student didn't say anything. When the tea began to cover the whole tray he couldn't stand it any longer.

"The cup is overfull. You must stop pouring!"

"This cup is like you. You are so full of the knowledge you have gained, you don't have room for any more. If I am to teach you anything, you must first empty your cup".

"If you understand,

Things are just as they are,

If you don't understand,

Things are just as they are."

"You never question the solutions. If you really question the solutions you will have to question the ones who have offered you those solutions. But sentimentality stands in the way of your rejecting not only the solutions, but those who have offered you the solutions. Questioning that requires a tremendous courage on your part. You can have the courage to climb the mountain, swim the lakes, go on a raft to the other side of the Atlantic or Pacific.

That any fool can do, but the courage to be on your own, to stand on your two solid feet, is something which cannot be given by somebody. You cannot free yourself of that burden by trying to develop that courage. If you are freed from the entire burden of the entire past of mankind, then what is left there is the courage."

Okay, so i've spent a large portion of the day looking at martial arts on Youtube and the rest of the net. I came across a Wing Chun page with some great quotes and training tips on. Here are just a few that stood out for me:

- Remain disciplined - Conduct yourself ethically as a martial artist.

- Love your fellow students - Be united and avoid conflicts.

- Retain what comes in, send off what retreats. Rush in on loss of hand contact.

- Do not be lax when your opponent is not advancing.

- There is no difference in who started to study first; the one who achieves accomplishment is first.

- Staying on the defensive too long will surely get you into trouble.

- Power is generated from the joints. Strength originates from the heels.

- Beware of brute strength when facing someone from the same style. Beware of the situation in a confrontation.

- A hand used for attack serves also to parry.

- Do not be too eager to strike. Do not be afraid to strike. One who is afraid of getting hit will finally be hit.