Are you inside the Red Velvet Rope?
I was introduced to this idea by Dr Andrew Fell (our affiliated Chiropractor) from a text he was reading called Book Yourself Solid by Michael Port.
In his book, Mr Port, talks about attracting the right type of clientele to your business. In fact, he says only accept who you perceive as the ideal clients. He calls them your ‘red velvet rope’ clients. As in the exclusive club that only lets those VIP’s with the right attributes through the red velvet rope to the front door.
This got me thinking what is a red velvet rope student. Am I one for my Sifu? And are you one for your Sifu?
These are some of the attributes I think red velvet rope students should have :
a) Train consistently to continually improve their technique and move on to the next level.
b) Be punctual to class, to external events, with requests for information.
c) Understand and follow the moral codes of our school and martial arts in general. Be strong enough, disciplined enough to take them on and live by them. Some are simple and straight forward, others are not. These include –
i) Our Motto – Zyun Chan, Zyun Si, Zyun Gau Faan/Hok Yan, Hok Yi, Hok Gung Fu
ii) Mou Dak – Morality of Mind and Deed
iii) The Kwoon Code of Conduct
d) Be in a clean, tidy uniform.
e) Be up to date with all required fees.
f) Support the continued functioning and growth of the Kwoon.
g) Show care for their fellow members.
h) Help the evolution and spread of the art.
i) Be interested in self development for the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of their life.
j) Be interested in a better community and participating to help it become one.
k) They want the whole art, listen and hear; look and see, keep the tongue silent when necessary. Empty your cup every time. I do not know how many white belt seminars I have been to in 24 years, and how many times has my Sifu revealed more depth in the lower levels of White, and also up to brown.
l) Face pressure, adversity, and changing circumstances in the club and in their life with the tenacity and will power of a martial artist.
m) Don’t say one thing but do another.
Sure, their will always be students who train from a more casual perspective, looking at the arts as a hobby or past time. And that is absolutely fine. Everyone should accept their level of commitment, pace of development, depth of connection to fellow students and their Sifu, but realise that they will differ from the progress, evolution, and relationships of ‘red velvet rope’ students.