The Master - Disciple Relationship

By Sensei Charlaine Engelhardt


As I studied World Religions at the University of Findlay last semester, this particular subject caught my attention. There is a stark contrast of human relationships in Zen Buddhism and Christianity. I would like to share with you what I discovered.

In ancient times, martial artists trained with a martial arts master in an apprenticeship system. A boy would seek an audience with the master to request the privilege of being under his tutilage. Just because he asked didn’t mean that he signed a contract to make payments faithfully during the contract time period. He would be sent away to come and ask later or be given tasks to complete before he could come back again. This could go on for two or three years. Only the diligent, persistent young man would be accepted to study the skills of the great master. While training, he would be expected to perform chores to “pay “ for his room, board, and training. Many of these chores would be related to the skills and the philosophy that would be yet to come. Upon completion of training, the young man, now adult status would be put to a test to see the final product of the years of hard work and perseverence. He was a 1st Dan-a man.

All during the training, the master would teach his pupil spiritual insights through general conversations and koans, or seemingly preposterous riddles. Such a koan, for example, might be like this: “Master, who am I?” The master would reply with a slap across the face and say, “Whom did this hurt?” * Then the pupil would be sent to meditate upon this question. The goal of such questions was to bring the student away from concrete concepts to a step further in Enlightenment by bringing him to the experiential. This type of training could be physically painful. Submission to the master was expected. Extreme strict control and discipline kept this submission, but it was also part of his journey to Ultimate Reality. Being struck with sticks during some meditative exercises was to also help toughen the body to be able to endure strikes in combat. The base philosophies were Zen Buddhism and Taoism. Humility and gentle quietness contrasted with fierce strength and determination are hallmarks of traditional martial arts instruction in many schools today. The local dojo, or training hall, in America today is similar, but not totally the same to the religious training hall, meditation center, and shrine all rolled into one. We have visited such schools with the kamiza at the front of the school and a black belt, old and tattered, hanging on the wall in the midst of the shrine-like facia. Homage is paid both to the Sensei and to the kamiza with the black belt. Zazen bowing, on the knees, hands on the floor forming a triangular shape, and face down to the floor between the hands. The higher the belt rank, the greater respect established for the teacher. To leave the teacher in order to train under someone else is considered great disrespect to the former master and the ranking status taken away for the previous training, as if the training had never taken place.

Family trees within karate systems are important to the traditional martial artist. Much like an apprentice in the 1700-1800’s in America, whom you trained under made a difference in what kind of quality and dedication could be expected. At the top is the Grandmaster (O-Sensei) or founder of the system. Under him are masters who the Grandmaster had carefully selected to pass on valuable and distinct techniques and teachings. They are also the ones who have a close and deep relationship with the Grandmaster. Under these are Senseis who have the stamp of approval of the Grandmaster of the particular master’s quality of instruction. These Senseis have students under them as well and seek the approval of their Masters and the Grandmaster. It is a “family tree” because of the deep father-son like relationships built within. To dishonor one’s master would also dishonor one’s own family.

But for the Christian, Zen and Taoism are not compatible with God’s word. Many Christians struggle with their martial arts training and relationships within their secular training as well as practicing their Christian faith in light of biblical teaching. Is the master-disciple relationship described above appropriate for the Christian martial artist? What can be kept and what should be discarded? How can Christian martial artists stay firmly grounded in Christ but still be seen as viable martial artists, worthy of respect in the general martial arts world? Not easily answered, but one can come to his or her conclusions by looking at discipleship as described in the Bible.

Christian martial artists have only one Master who is Jesus Christ. Regardless of our rank, whether instructor or student, our allegiance, obedience, and total submission is to Jesus. (Luke 5:1-11, 27-28) No human being deserves that level of dedication. There is a level of submission and dedication to be given to an instructor, however (Matthew 10:24, 25). The knowledge, experience, and call of God to the teacher gives him or her the authority over the student. It cannot be the other way around. The student must submit himself/herself to the teacher for instruction and guidance. This places the student in a vulnerable position. If the instructor is egocentric and abusive, then the student will experience humiliation and frustration. If the instructor is a caring, serving person then the student will be encouraged and enabled to complete his/her goals. That is with the understanding that the student is cooperative in this learning relationship.

Teachers have the primary responsibility to their relationship with God. If they pray, study the Scriptures, and spend time in the fellowship of other Christians, they will grow stronger in faith. One must be obedient Christ. Those who are obedient will show where they place their faith and trust. One will also be able to stay clear of sinful practices. Their style of leadership as instructors will be of firm, but caring guidance to their students. They will continually point others to our Master and instruct them to obey Christ’s teachings. The student will be uplifted and encouraged rather than downtrodden or hardened. (John 15:8, 8:12, 16:13) They will be a servant as Christ instructed his disciples at the Lord’s Supper when Jesus washed the feet of the disciples.(John 13:1-20).

The appropriate relationship between an instructor and student is to serve Christ and to train others to serve Him. Physical training is simply another discipline. Guiding students in faith in Christ is a greater responsibility than teaching a front punch or spinning side kick. Teaching students that all people have value because they were made in God’s image is as foreign concept to the Eastern mindset. We must train our students to seek God’s truth and not Nirvana, righteousness and not emptiness of the mind, to build the Kingdom of God and not to become one with the Universe. Paul exemplifies Christian mentorship with Timothy and Titus in his letters of instruction to these young pastors. They were being trained to point their congregations to Christ and a life of obedience to Him. That is our job, too.

Jesus had a large group of disciples, but only twelve were privileged to special private training for apostleship (Luke 5:12-17, selection of the 12; Matthew 16:5-28, 17:1-13, 24:1-26:5; Luke 9:18-27, 21-22:2, Christ instructing the 12). Of those twelve, three-Peter, James, and John- were treated to special retreats on the mountain. They didn’t always understand what they saw and heard, but Jesus lovingly guided them anyway. Not all of an instructor’s students will get the same treatment and instruction. Many will not accept the instruction or be called to leadership. Christian martial arts instructors need to recognize the gifts, talents, and abilities of those called to leadership and train them further in a closer mentorship. Of this smaller group, only a very select few will actually serve Christ under the instructor’s direction. Others will start schools of their own, but keep close contact for continued mentorship. Prayerful discernment is of utmost importance. This has nothing to do with entrusting our most dangerous, lethal techniques to a select few. It has everything to do with the equipping of the saints for the service which our all-knowing God has selected to point yet others to our true Master.

*Martial Arts Explorer p.m. 83-86, quotation..

copyrighted 1999 Charlaine Engelhardt all rights reserved

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