Levels of Mastery

初学徒弟 (Chuxue Todai) – Beginner Disciple
These students are either complete beginners with no sash, or those who have earned a Red, Yellow or Orange sash.

中间徒弟 (Zhongjian Todai) – Intermediate Disciple
These students have earned a Green, Purple or Blue sash.

高级徒弟 (Gaoji Todai) – Advanced Disciple
These students have earned a Brown Sash. There are three degrees of Brown Sash: the first has no stripe, the second has a white stripe on and the third has two.

终极徒弟 (Zhongji Todai) – Ultimate Disciple
These students have earned their Black Sash, and can choose to begin their Instructorship if they wish. Please note: the term “ultimate” can be contentious: by this we do not mean to infer that the practitioner is perfect and has finished their training. Rather, they have finished the first phase of their training. It is at this stage that greater opportunities begin to open up, as the foundation of their skill, knowledge and experience is firmly in place at this point. Black Sash is not the end, but rather the end of the beginning.

师叔 (Sisuk) – Junior (Student) Instructor
These students have begun their path to becoming Sifu: the Instructorship course. They hold a position of authority over and responsibility for all Todai under supervision.
(Please note: We choose the term Sisuk over the more traditionally usual Sihing because it relates to the person’s position within the class without reference to gender, which we find unnecessary.)

师父 (Sifu) – “Master” – Instructor
Sifu have successfully completed their training to become a Master. They hold a position of authority over and responsibility for all Sisuk and Todai. They teach independently, can submit recommendations for revisions of the EMA syllabus and other source material to a Sigung for approval, and administrate gradings. They can also administrate Instructorships with guidance from a Sigung.

师公 (Sigung) – “Master of Masters” – Chief Instructor
Sigung have guided one or more of their students to becoming a Sifu. They hold a position of authority over and responsibility for all Sifu as the head of the system.