These titles (except for “Sigung”, “Sifu”, “Simo”, and “Sihing”) are esoteric and are rarely used nowadays. Some Western gwoons use them but few Chinese bother with them anymore. The titles “master” and “grandmaster” are not used by this gwoon as too many fraudulent practitioners claim them around the world. As there is no uniform yardstick, they have lost all meaning.
Chungsi (Jungsi) | Great master of a style e.g. Sifus Yuen Kay San; Sum Num; Cheung Bo; Leung Jan; Wong Wah Bo; Dai Fa Mien Kam etc |
Dai-gee or Moon-yan | Students, followers |
Moon-to | Disciples – specially selected students with a responsibility for carrying on the style – hand- picked students who meet certain criteria |
Sidai | Junior gung fu brother (i.e. one who started after you no matter how old they are) |
Sifu | Instructor |
Sigung | Sifu’s sifu |
Sihing | Senior gung fu brother (i.e. one who started before you no matter how old they are) |
Sijo | Founder of a system, sometimes it is sigung’s sifu e.g. Yuen Kay San; Leung Jan |
Sijuk | Student of your sidai |
Silo | Title for Sifu Zopa; refers to someone who is a scholar as well as a sifu – Sifu has five university degrees, for example, and has written extensively on Wing Chun so he is a proven scholar as well as a sifu; Yuen Kay San, being a lawyer, could also be referred to as “silo” |
Simo | Your sifu’s wife |
Simui | Junior gung fu sister (i.e. one who started after you no matter how old they are) |
Sipak | Your sifu’s sihing |
Sipakgung | Your sigung’s sihing |
Sisok | Sifu’s sidai |
Sisokgung | Sigung’s sidai |
Todai/Toyee | Student, disciple |
Tosuen | Sidai’s student |
Tungmoon | Fellow student |