Good afternoon.
There is only one thing more special in Chinese Kung Fu than being accepted as a private student and that is being accepted as a to-dai (‘son’). As a serious martial artist, there is no higher accolade....
So what is the difference between a private student and a to-dai? In fact, being accepted as a to-dai is one step further on from being a private student. It is when a master and student are so close, and the bond between them is so strong, that the student is no longer just a student but is accepted as that person’s son (or daughter). There has to be a spiritual ‘connection’ between them. Regardless of whether you see or even speak to the other person, this connection is always there. This Wing Tsun spiritual teaching also talks about ‘chat sing’; those people who are born to Wing Tsun. Needless to say, the acceptance of a to-dai is a most rare occurrence.
Traditionally (although not necessarily) the acceptance of a to-dai takes place at a Chinese tea ceremony. My Sifu was the only non-Chinese student to be accepted by Grandmaster Leung Ting (although, interesting, the Hungarians are known as ‘Honorary Chinese’ due to their Huno roots and origin from near China in the 9th and 11th Century. These roots are still strong as can be seen by a study of Hungarian culture – and also from the physical appearance of some of the Hungarians). As destiny would have it, not only am I my Sifu’s first (and only) student outside Eastern Europe but I was latter accepted as his to-dai.
When you start your martial art journey becoming a to-dai is something you hardly dare to dream about it is so far away. However, little by little if you pass the ‘tests’ of the art this dream can become a reality and your path can take you to extraordinary places...
Sifu