School Philosophy - A short overview by Guru Jonathan O'Neill
Most
Pencak Silat schools are traditional in the spirit of their teaching, .
This Silat student pursue their particular art as a lifelong ambition that fosters good health, discipline, humility, a strong spirit, courage, a natural morality, wisdom and inner peace and equally important the capacity for self defense. Students can benefit from martial arts, from the basic breathing techniques and
Jurus etc etc... Our system has something for everyone.
You are expected to pay 100% attention at all times. Even though good friends are made here, we do not come to socialize. It's more the brotherhood of the Martial Artist, the underlying spirit that binds us in a common pursuit.Students in this system require three characteristics:
Desire. The student must want not only to achieve the physical rewards of martial training, but to accept the responsibilities that accompany the knowledge. A student's desire must be supported by patience,
Dedication. Success in martial arts training relies more on the regularity of practice and the passage of time, than any other factor. The student must be dedicated to attending classes, as well as maintaining a personal practice schedule, time permitting. Outside practice is necessary to achieve true progress. A
Juru/technique learned, a
Grading passed is a beginning, not an end, and should be thought of as a license to practice. It is said that a
Juru/technique is not "yours" until you have practiced it one thousand times.
Discipline. A
Silat student should be in control of setting goals and carrying them out, pushing their body's limits and developing new abilities are part of a martial artists plan for success. Discipline yourself to maintain your training schedule, whatever it may be, even if you are tired, because training is cumulative. In the real world, neither your opponents, nor any other form of stress will relent simply because you are tired. Only half of what martial artists achieve is physical, the other half is, of course, mental. Discipline fosters both physical and mental endurance ... crucial qualities for the martial artist.
