Classical Chinese Martial Ethics (Wu De)

As of late, I’ve heard many people discuss ethics in the traditional or classical martial arts and it made me realise that I should share my ideas on this issue for the benefit of my own students and colleagues. Too often, we do not formulate a comprehensive overview of important matters. I hope this article can perhaps be starting point for such an endeavor. Furthermore, with the participation of respected colleagues, we can succeed in agreeing upon a what is martial ethics and precisely what behaviors should be encouraged.

As I am a Chinese martial arts practitioner, my experience is based exclusively on concepts in those arts. In the orient, a great deal of knowledge travelled from India eastward to China and subsequently, Japan, Korea and other areas. Consequently, I suspect that many concepts and accepted behaviors in Chinese martial arts would have their parallels in the martial arts of other cultures.

Please note that the term “old school” could as far as I am concerned, be replaced by terms such as “classical” or “traditional” in relation to wushu styles. I understand that some people may argue that there may be differences in meaning between the terms, but I simply mean to refer to martial art systems that have changed little in the last 100 years and whose main raison d’être was self-defence.

Most classical martial arts systems share many common cultural concepts. Furthermore, these arts are also part of very specific sub-cultures in their respective societies. In most sub-cultures, there are agreed to rules of behavior and etiquette that are shared amongst different individuals and organizations.  For example, members of motorcycle clubs may have certain rules of behavior that many in the public are not familiar with. Members of law enforcement and branches of the military may also have behaviors different than the norm or the dominant culture. What may be odd or in poor taste in one sub-culture might be acceptable in another.

In this article, I will share what I learned from my own “old school” teachers and what I have understood from my experiences. I do not claim to understand all intricacies involved especially when these relate to a culture other than the one I was born into. This being said, I believe I have gained good insight in my 43 years studying traditional kung fu and as a closed-door disciple of a rather clannish Chinese family martial arts system.

In classical Chinese martial arts, the concept of wu de (martial ethics) is generally emphasized as an integral part of the body of knowledge. This knowledge is generally taught by the head instructor as that person tends to set the standards of proper behavior. Students are generally a reflection of their teachers and, as such, most often conform so as to fit in.

Most schools write down the essentials of correct behavior in a series of rules. These rules give students a good indication of the ways they should behave. These are useful but may not necessarily impart a complete understanding of the issue at hand. Regardless, following these rules permits students to follow an appropriate code of conduct. Following the proper respectful rules of behavior avoids many unnecessary problems, arguments and other negative events. Furthermore, having the right mind and behavior opens many doors for student and teacher alike.

I would suggest that wu de is principally about showing respect. One needs to show respect to everyone including people of other clans, societies and subcultures. One also needs to show respect for their teachers, classmates and clan ancestors. Finally, one also needs to show self respect and behave accordingly.

It is generally agreed that a Shifu (teacher/father) should teach or at least try to teach proper li mao or manners as soon as possible or even before teaching the combative aspects of the art. This permits new students to learn what is appropriate and what is not. We have already noted that in the past, school rules (often in the form of poems or sayings) were used to impart basic knowledge. This method of transmission remains popular today with dojo’s and wushu guans having school rules displayed for all.

Over time, serious students could become privy to more and more knowledge in relation to what constitutes proper behavior in the martial arts community. The famous saying “wu lin yi jia” (In the martial forest, we are one family), exemplifies the idea that we are all part of one large community. It’s use amongst members of different clans illustrates their proper understanding of what relations between different schools and systems should be.

Manners are not the same as proper behavior, but they are essential, nonetheless. Showing proper manners indicates that one has respect for others and is therefore worthy of similar consideration. Keep in mind that in many subcultures especially those that deal in violence, a lack of respect can lead to very grave consequences. In the past, it was therefore essential to make sure members of a given group knew how to behave. I believe it still is. As a Caucasian practitioner in formerly closed systems, I know for a fact that the good manners my teachers taught me served well in many instances. For instance, in 2019 I was able to spend some time with a very senior master of my style who did not know me personally as I only come to the Orient once every few years. Since I really wanted to get to know him, my teacher arranged that I was seated next to him at a banquet. As I made every effort to show respect and proper li mao (manners) at the dinner table, I could see his surprise and delight at my efforts. This clearly opened the door for enthralling conversation. I was able to ask technical questions and for his precious advice. Being able to talk to him made for a truly memorable evening. By having been taught what were proper formal table manners, I was able to show respect for an elder and consequently he was able to in turn feel comfortable with me. A few years later, I had the rare opportunity to spend and entire afternoon with the then 96 year old master and learned a great deal.

Teachers should also explain to their students that the rules of behavior also apply outside of the school walls and to members of other martial arts schools. On several occasions, I have seen students refer to their teachers as master or Shifu and then talk to another instructor of another clan and address him by his given name. That is very poor manners and reflects badly on the students and their own instructors who apparently did not teach proper etiquette.

Perhaps one feels they are superior to another because of skill level or age, yet to show this is rude and shows a definite lack of wu de. Even if one believes another’s prowess to be lesser or their art not as comprehensive, one must show respect nonetheless. That person worked hard for their title and achievements and deserves recognition. Besides, acting otherwise shows a lack of maturity, humility and worst, martial ethics. It simply reflects badly upon the person with the superiority complex. My own teacher Shifu Lee Joo-Chian of Flying Crane fame, always showed respect and made sure I understood how and why he did so. In the end, being arrogant and loud just shows those in the know that you are insecure and/or simply not worth their time. It is no way to behave.

Another essential element of the martial code of ethics is obviously to avoid combat and to avoid injuring or killing others when possible. In my White Crane style, we always say “take a step back” so as to avoid disagreements. We also teach to give “3 chances” before embarking upon a violent path.  Why? Well, avoiding violence is generally a good idea. It is easy to start trouble, yet often not so easy to stop the dispute. All violence has unintended consequences and, in the end, if it can be avoided, it should be.

This lesson about violence needs to be shared with our students especially the younger ones who may be more apt to be rash. Furthermore, individual instructors are well within their rights to withhold too dangerous content from immature students. Doing so is in fact, ethically correct. For example, if one teaches a dangerous drill to an immature student, odds are serious injury could occur in class. Worse, if dangerous techniques are taught to an angry and violent individual, innocents may get hurt or killed. In China’s feudal past, instructors could have been held responsible for their student’s violence. In the modern era, it remains important to have people reflect upon under which circumstances is it acceptable to fight and as to the consequences of such choices.

Bravado and bragging are also to be avoided. Students need to be taught that it is immature to brag and that braggers are rarely skilled. Besides, bragging can get you into a great deal of trouble. It is best to be avoided.

Showing respect to our elders and teachers is also an important aspect in most cultures and this is also the case in classical martial culture. Interestingly, many people can act in a very disrespectful manner without realizing they are doing so or even intending to do so. For instance, when a student is obsessed with constantly learning new things, he is in effect showing his lack of maturity in relation to actual combat, his greed for more and more and his lack of faith in his teacher’s judgement. Teachers often will ask you where your interest lie when the time is right. So it is acceptable to hint at your particular interests, but it is rude and frankly counterproductive to always seek to accumulate quantity over quality. In my own experience, I never asked my teacher to teach me anything. Rather, I made it clear that I greatly valued his determination as to what I should practice. In the end, I improved considerably and, over the years, he made it clear that since I had mastered the essentials, I could ask him anything and he would be glad to share it. So trusting your teacher is also an important way to show respect. If I may, do make sure he or she is qualified and ethical before you choose to follow a teacher, Shifu or guru. That is simply common sense!

As teachers, we must strive to develop ourselves to he best of our abilities as we are to be examples of proper behavior and are often emulated by students looking for guidance in life. Instructors have a moral responsibility to ensure that students are training in a safe and healthy environment. They should also try to be patient and caring with their students. I also believe that they should teach how letting go of one’s ego is useful.

Perhaps due to old Confucian ideas of teacher/student hierarchy, some teachers are not keen on having students surpass their skills. I would argue (as my own master did) that teachers should want their students to surpass their own personal skills.  Sadly, this is not always the case. I fact, we often see teachers get jealous of their student’s skills. That is very unfortunate and, in my opinion, shows a lack of personal development. After all, what parent would be upset by his child’s success? Several famous Classical sayings allude to this. For example, “ching chou yu lan, sheung yu lan” is a famous saying that suggest that students can exceed their teacher’s skills through hard work and that this is a good thing.

I believe that not genuinely wanting our students to surpass our skill level is a very bad attitude which does great harm to the arts. If a teacher shares only 90% of his art, 5 generations later there is little left of the fighting skills that had made the art fearsome. This scenario has occurred often and has greatly contributed to the watering down of so many martial traditions.

Teachers and practitioners alike should also adhere to a sense of “fair play” in their all their daily dealings with others. Such proper behavior is especially needed in instances like competitions. It is imperative that they make every effort to be completely impartial when judging. Interestingly, sometimes in their efforts to be impartial they can actually be too hard on their own student’s performances. Sadly, there are occasionally instances of implicit bias or even blatant favoritism. Such instances become stains on the individual’s character and upon the arts in general.

As for students, they should follow the school rules, the teachers example, and train hard. Training hard shows respect for oneself and the teacher. They should also cultivate their manners. It is widely known amongst masters that those with the best manners tend to be superior martial artist.

It is simply another aspect of what we do. Being loyal to a teacher and art is also part of the moral code. Of course, it is easy to be loyal when its convenient and less so when it is not. People should not forget who helped them along the way.

Students should also arrive to class on time and use proper titles. Doing so is also a sign of respect. In Chinese society, once someone is your teacher, you should address that person respectfully and use the proper title for their position for the rest of your life. In Chinese martial arts, titles such a Shifu (master in a semi feudal master disciple sense), Laoshi (literally teacher), Lao sing sang (older sir), Jiao lien (coach) all have similar meanings with slightly different connotations.

Another important point to know is that one should never publicly argue with one’s mentor. If there seems to an issue of contention, choose a good time to politely bring it up in private and ask for clarifications. Often, we misinterpret the actions of others because we do not have all the facts. Putting people “on the spot” is rude and can threaten the relationship. Best to take a step back, reflect on the situation and bring up the issue at a later date. This is true in many instances in life. Don’t act brashly as it is difficult to undue what has ben said or done in anger.

Both teachers and students must strive to keep their minds and bodies clean and free from wanton desires and unhealthy habits. Excessive lustful thoughts, gambling, and other addictions are all to be avoided as they lead to problems and are distractions form your true journey in life.

In the end, I believe following an ethical code involves having “class”. Act politely, selflessly and with moral rectitude and you are exemplifying the martial way. The code of Wu de remains an important part of our shared cultural heritage and serves an important function in society. Although it has been modified and altered over time, the general concept remains true to this day.

About the author

Shifu Bernard is a closed-door disciple of Grandmaster Lee Joo-Chian (1958-2020), the official heir of the Flying Crane branch tradition and an internationally renowned White Crane Kung Fu expert. He is the leading representative of the Flying Crane style internationally and is in charge of the style’s propagation.

In 1993, Shifu Bernard wrote the first English language book on Fukien White Crane Kung Fu. Ten years later, he wrote a second work entitled Shaolin White Crane Kung Fu: A Rare Art Revealed. In the following years, Shifu Bernard also produced a series of DVDs featuring the style’s Grandmaster Lee Joo-Chian and has helped with the creation of this work. He has now completed his 3rd work on the style entitled “Authentic white crane kung fu”.

 In 1989, Shifu was elected vice-president of the Eastern Canada Chinese Martial Arts Federation. Between 1994 and 2014 he was the federation’s president. In these capacities, he has played a prominent role in promoting traditional Chinese martial arts in Eastern Canada and has had the opportunity to meet and befriend many great martial artists from different styles and backgrounds. Although he does possess a master's degree in political science, he has decided to consecrate most of his time to the study and dissemination of authentic traditional Chinese martial arts.