Grandmaster (Martial Arts)

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The term Grandmaster in the martial arts world is the pinnacle title for some martial art styles. There are multiple meanings behind the term grandmaster depending on the lineage of the master, the style he or she practices and the method in which the grandmaster title is bestowed or claimed. In Chinese systems the modern translation of Standard Bearer is also used for the term grandmaster and representitive of the style.

In traditional systems each style has only one grandmaster who is the head or father figure o the entire style and acts as the overseer and example to all the style's adherents. It is the grandmasters duty to see that the style continues on intact to the next generation of students and masters as well as look deeply into the style itself for anything that can be strengthened in any way. As the grandmaster it is them only who has the authority to change the styles format for future generations legitimately. Usually the grandmaster from one generation to the next is a prized disciple of the last grandmaster who has trained and mastered all the styles aspects including fighting techniques, theory and philosophy and is publicly named the next grandmaster upon the current ones retirement. In various systems there are different traditions regarding this passing on of the title some of which include a match between the successor and former heads of the style onm order to demonstrate the new grandmasters grasp of the style and his skill in its use.

A second use of the title is Tai Si Gong (Chinese) which literally translates to grandfather or masters, master. This dates back to the family systems of martial arts where the Sifu or Sensei is the master and father figure of the students. The grandfather then is the generation beyond that and to the present students would be known as grandfather. This of course refers to a level of skill and wisdom for the grandmaster however is not the same as being THE grandmaster of a style.

Some more modern grandmasters claim the title is earned simply by them having promoted a student to master level, thus rewarding themselves and their accomplishment as an instructor with a higher level title. This is similar to the familiel system as described above but is not the same.