Why were techniques hidden from students by the masters?

Question

mr stocki aaron j and katana 172 gave most of the correct answers.

but there were other reasons as well.

the student was not the same race or social level as the master.

The chinese didn't teach all their methods to the okinawans and the okinawans didn't teach all theirs to the japanese .

bruce lee caught a lot of flack from the chinese community for teaching non chinese .

The best of their methods were hidden in kata so prying eyes and un trustworthy students would have to spend years trying to unravel the the code.

The "code" has been published and described many times in the last 10 years .It is not something you can read and have all your questions answered except for some basic ones that should have occured to you all along if you were doing kata for more than getting your next belt rank.It still needs lots of study.

It's true the 1st DAN is the true begginner.EVERYTHING BEFORE THAT IS MERELY INTEREST IN THE ART.

Answer 1

Because they weren't ready yet and would only hurt themselves.

Answer 2

I really don't believe that they were, only to certian individuals. I think it was a checks and balance system where you had to prove beyond a doubt that you were:

1) Loyal to your instructor, and would never turn your training against him

2) Not going to abuse what he showed you.

I also think that part of it was making the students study beyond what the instructor showed, and dig some of the secrets out themselves. I know sometimes my instructor merely introduces a concept, and it is up to us to figure out how it applies in kata for self defense, and whether it only works with certian moves or all of them.

I know it has pushed me to study more in depth then I would have had I simply been given every thing, and unfortunatly, I do not think that is the way most people want it today.

Answer 3

Too not hurt you

in aikido there is tons of art hidden

because you need too be like 2nd dan too do it

and you will hurt yourself bad

and there scared you could do a move wrong on someone and then you could hurt someone out in the world

Just in wait until you get into the higher rank  

Answer 4

They want to win. If they have to fight.

Answer 5

From what I've heard it's trust, ability, responsibility, and secrecy from enemy sources.

edit-

I do remember the strictness of teaching other races too, that was what I mean by enemy sources. Aside from the white (European Races) as they were thought inferior, and unable to learn.

Answer 6

Only bad sensei's keep information from their students. Everything should be thought in time.

Answer 7

Any teacher these days who actually knows the hidden techniques do teach them to their students.

Originally, the techniques were hidden in kata format to keep them from enemies(the Japanese), rivals and such.

During the karate-do era or as I call it - karate's "dark ages", the masters would not teach all students to protect the students as well as themselves from Japanese persecution. They knew that a younger student is prone to show off and if they performed Tichiki in front of the wrong person, It would bring problems to everyone associated with the master.

Of course, today - we have to weed out who is going to get the highest teaching and also you have to be careful what you give to the younger students.

Answer 8

Because the master doesn't want the student to kill him. If the student knows as much as the master, the student can easily turn against the master. So the master must know some techniques that can counter the student, if siad situation happens.

Answer 9

In what field are you referring to?

Whatever it was, I guess the answer is job security.

Answer 10

the techniques were hidden by the master in order for the students not to level with the masters.... because in time, the one who will fall the master will just be the student...

in other words, there must be a special techniques of the master that cannot be teach to the students.

Answer 11

it is because if everyone knew the secret techniques and you weren't ready for them everyone would use them against others and there would be millions of dead people all over the streets bloody and gross and stuff.  the Masters were wise enough to know this, and still are to this day.  we owe a lot to the masters, don't we.

these are the true and rightful answers straight from the masters lair.