A Moon Student is someone who reflects light. In other words, they faithfully reproduce what they have learned, often with impressive precision and accuracy. They can take a technique, a concept, or a system and present it exactly as it was given to them. Their strength lies in preserving the tradition. They become keepers of knowledge, maintaining the original forms and teachings so that they are not lost. This role is important. Every art, science, and discipline needs those who will protect and pass down what was built before. However, the Moon Student’s contribution typically stops at replication. They echo the light that was given to them; they reflect, but they do not generate new light themselves.
A Sun Student, by contrast, is someone who creates light. These are the individuals who take what they have learned and use it as a foundation for evolution. They are not content with simply preserving knowledge. They seek to understand it at a deeper level, to question it, to test it, and to transform it into something more. They innovate, refine, and push beyond the traditional boundaries that were handed to them. Their mindset is not one of rebellion, but one of exploration. They honor their foundations, but they recognize that growth demands movement beyond what already exists.
Examples of Sun Students are found across history. Bruce Lee, for instance, respected his traditional martial arts training but saw its limitations in a modern combative environment. He synthesized what worked and discarded what did not, forging a new path that would influence generations. Albert Einstein is another example. He built his understanding of the classical physics of his time but went beyond it to create theories that revolutionized how we understand the universe.
I also use this concept when Training or building instructors or selecting mentors. I often refer to these individuals as Sun Teachers. They are rare, but when you find one, they can become incredibly powerful catalysts for growth and transformation. A Sun Teacher does not simply teach you to memorize material or mimic techniques. They teach you how to think critically, how to question assumptions, how to problem-solve, and ultimately, how to create. They are not just passing down knowledge; they are forging new knowledge right alongside you.
Sun Teachers are usually found on the cutting edge of whatever industry or field they are involved in. They are often the ones willing to step outside of what is considered normal. They are not afraid to challenge the system, to question old dogmas, and to innovate. Because of this, they are frequently misunderstood. Many times, they are even shunned by their peers for daring to step outside the box. But when you study history, it becomes obvious that it is usually these very individuals who lead us to new discoveries, new methods, and new understandings.
Their courage to step beyond the familiar is exactly what makes them so valuable as teachers. They are not limited by the boundaries set by others. They are constantly evolving, and if you are fortunate enough to train under them, they will pull you into that process. They will not let you stay comfortable. They will push you to stretch yourself, to question what you know, and to take ownership of your own development.
In my opinion, a real mentor is not someone who simply hands you a map. A real mentor teaches you how to become a cartographer. They help you learn to draw your own maps, chart new territory, and lead yourself and others into unknown spaces. This is the mark of a true Sun Teacher. And if you are serious about your journey, these are the mentors you must seek out.
Because if you only ever learn to follow someone else’s light, you will always walk in their shadow. The Warrior’s Path demands that, at some point, you become the source of light yourself.
I often talk about how living mentors are the ultimate source of knowledge and learning. You can watch a video. You can read a book. But nothing compares to getting in the room with a true creator. Someone who is actively pushing the boundaries of their craft. Someone who is not just repeating what they have been taught but who is exploring, testing, innovating, and evolving. The energy, the nuances, and the depth you can absorb simply by being present with someone like that is something no recording or textbook will ever capture.
Unfortunately, we live in a learning culture that has become a “weekend certificate” culture. People show up, check a few boxes, grab a certificate for their wall, and consider themselves trained. This has led to a massive lowering of the standards in our educator culture. It has created a generation of instructors and so-called experts who have very shallow wells of knowledge. Surface level understanding has become the norm. Depth, wisdom, and true mastery have become harder to find.
This is why I often say that creative minds, true Sun Teachers, are becoming rarer and rarer. They are out there, but you have to dig to find them. You have to be willing to seek them out, to travel, to invest, and to humble yourself as a student in their presence. The saddest part is that most people do not even realize that this problem exists. They think they are learning deeply because they are used to a system that rewards shallow accomplishment. They do not know what it feels like to stand in front of a real expert, someone who makes you realize how much more there is to learn.
If you genuinely want to grow, if you truly want to pursue mastery, then you must prioritize finding real, living mentors.People with depth. People who embody what they teach, who live it every day. Being around those individuals will change you. It will reset your standards for what excellence looks like. It will push you in ways you did not even know were possible.
As instructors and leaders, our mission should be to move toward becoming Sun Students and, ultimately, Sun Teachers ourselves. Our purpose is not just to pass on information unchanged, like a vessel carrying water from one place to another. Our mission is to evolve it, sharpen it, refine it, and pass forward something even greater than what we received.To do this, we have to fundamentally change the way we think. It is not just about stacking techniques or memorizing methods. It is about changing our perspective.
Great teachers do not just teach you facts. They change the way you think. They alter the way you see the world, the way you process information, and the way you approach problems. They elevate you. That is the true impact of a mentor who operates at a high level. If we want to reach that level ourselves, we have to break free from the outdated model of education that has become so common today.
The traditional, accepted process of becoming an educator is not enough. Getting a certificate and hanging it on the wall does not make you a real teacher. It does not mean you have arrived. It does not mean you have nothing left to learn. A true high-level educator understands that mastery is a moving target. They continue to seek. They continue to dig deep. They research, ask questions, and never let themselves fall into the trap of thinking they know it all.
The best teachers are perpetual white belts. No matter how far they have come, they are always looking for more. Alwaysseeking new sources of knowledge. Always humble enough to learn from anyone, anywhere. It is a mindset that requires discipline, curiosity, and humility.
It reminds me of my teacher, Guro Dan Inosanto. Here is a man who has achieved legendary status, who has forgotten more about martial arts than most people will ever learn, and yet, in his late 80s, he still takes private lessons. He still researches. He is still looking for new teachers. That is the path. That is the example. The moment you think you have arrived, you have already started your decline.
The Path from Moon to Sun: A Necessary Evolution
It’s important to understand that being a Moon Student is not inherently a weakness; it’s a phase, and for most, it’s where the path begins. Many of us, myself included, started out in this role. We learned by imitation. We drilled the forms. We absorbed the teachings of those who came before us with reverence and discipline. That replication phase builds a strong foundation. It teaches structure, control, and respect for the lineage you’re stepping into. It tempers ego and instills the kind of humility every warrior needs.
But eventually, every serious student reaches a fork in the road. You either stay a reflector of someone else’s light, repeating movements and quoting philosophies like a script… or you evolve. You begin to ask questions. You start testing what you’ve been told against your own experience. You challenge your assumptions. That’s the beginning of your shift from Moon to Sun.
This evolution doesn’t mean abandoning tradition, it means honoring it by building on it. A warrior must remember that tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire. The original masters didn’t become great by copying someone else. They became great by forging their own understanding through trial and error, study, and boldness.
If you’re walking the Warrior’s Path, you don’t get to settle for mimicry. There comes a time when your reflection must become a creation. Because reflection without creation eventually leads to stagnation. And stagnation is the death of growth. You’ll plateau not because your body fails you, but because your mind never learned to lead. This entire concept and principle comes from our Warrior’s Path Program.
We need the Moon phase, it’s a necessary rite of passage. But we cannot live there forever. At some point, the student must rise and ask, “What do I believe? What do I know through experience, not just instruction?” That’s when the shift begins. That’s when you stop walking in someone else’s light and begin generating your own.
The transition from Moon to Sun is uncomfortable. It demands accountability. It asks you to take risks, to be misunderstood, to be wrong, and to keep pushing anyway. But that’s the journey. That’s where the wisdom is forged. You can stay in the comfort of repetition, or you can step into the fire and become a creator.
Metrics of a Sun Teacher: What to Look For
Recognizing a true Sun Teacher is not always easy, especially in a world full of certificates, curated social media profiles, and rehearsed authority. But there are clear signs you can look for if you know what to observe. A real Sun Teacher stands out not just for what they teach but for how they think, how they evolve, and how they empower others to grow beyond simple imitation.
First and foremost, a Sun Teacher honors their influences. They give credit where credit is due. They speak the names of their mentors with respect and share the lineage they came from. But they are not chained to those influences. They do not treat tradition as sacred dogma. Instead, they use it as a platform to explore, challenge, and grow. You’ll often hear them say things like, “This is how I was taught, but here’s what I’ve found through experience,” or “I used to do it this way, but I’ve since refined it.”
Sun Teachers are lab technicians. They test, update, and refine their material constantly. Their systems are alive. When you look at their work over time, you will notice changes, growth, and new insights woven into the foundation. Their teachings evolve because they themselves continue to evolve. They are not afraid to say, “I was wrong,” or “I’ve changed my mind.” That kind of humility is rare and is one of the most evident signs of what the world calls “mastery.”
Another key trait is transparency about what they do not know. A Sun Teacher doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. Instead, they say, “I don’t know, but I’m working on it,” or “That’s an area I want to explore more.” They understand that you don’t know what you don’t know, but they remain aware of that gap and actively seek to close it. They live as perpetual white belts, always curious, always open, and always in motion toward deeper knowledge and understanding.
You’ll also see that Sun Teachers do not trap themselves within a single system or methodology. They study beyond the boundaries of their original discipline. They explore parallel arts, science, psychology, history, philosophy, and whatever else they believe will help them understand more clearly. They do not limit their education to what is comfortable or convenient. They invest deeply in other disciplines and allow those perspectives to influence and improve their own.
Perhaps most importantly, Sun Teachers teach their students to think, not just to repeat. They do not build clones. They ask questions, encourage questions, and create environments where curiosity is welcomed. Their students are not followers. They are co-explorers. Sun Teachers build thinkers, not robots. They challenge their students to outgrow them, to develop their own voice, and to continue the evolutionary process.
And let’s be honest. Because they live this way, Sun Teachers are often misunderstood. They get shunned, criticized, and dismissed by those who cling to tradition or control. They step outside the status quo. They shake the cage. And for that reason, they may not be popular among the gatekeepers of whatever field they’re in. But if you’re paying attention, you’ll see the truth. They are the ones pushing the edge of the map. They are the ones creating new ground for others to stand on.
A Sun Teacher doesn’t just hand you information. They light a fire in you to think, create, and lead. If you’re lucky enough to find one, respect them, learn from them, and do everything you can to carry their torch forward.
Shift Your Perspective, Take Action, And Create Change
~ Sifu Alan ┃ www.sifualan.com ┃ www.civtaccoach.com┃www.prtinstructor.com
Sifu Alan Baker is a nationally respected authority in Defensive Tactics Program Development, High-Performance Coaching, and martial arts, with over 45 years of training experience across multiple systems. As a lifelong martial artist and tactical instructor, Alan has dedicated his career to creating practical, adaptable, and effective training systems for real-world application. He has worked extensively with law enforcement agencies, military units, and private security professionals, designing programs that emphasize scenario-based training, everyday carry (EDC) integration, and combative efficiency under pressure.
Alan’s client list includes elite organizations such as the Executive Protection Institute, Vehicle Dynamics Institute, The Warrior Poet Society, ALIVE Active Shooter Training, Tactical 21, and Retired Navy SEAL Jason Redman, among many others. He is the creator of both the C-Tac® (Civilian Tactical Training Association) and Protection Response Tactics (PRT) programs—two widely respected systems that provide realistic, principle-based training for civilians and professionals operating in high-risk environments.
In addition to his tactical and martial arts work, Alan is the founder of the Warrior’s Path Physical Culture Program, a holistic approach to strength, mobility, and long-term health rooted in traditional martial arts and the historic principles of physical culture. This program integrates breathwork, structural alignment, joint expansion, strength training, and mental discipline, offering a complete framework for building a resilient body and a powerful mindset. Drawing from his training in Chinese Kung Fu, Filipino Martial Arts, Indonesian Silat, Burmese systems, and more, Alan combines decades of experience into a method that is both modern and deeply rooted in timeless warrior traditions.
Alan is also the architect of multiple online video academies, giving students worldwide access to in-depth training in his systems, including Living Mechanics Jiu-Jitsu, C-Tac® Combatives, breathwork, functional mobility, and weapons integration. These platforms allow for structured, self-paced learning while connecting students to a growing global community of practitioners.
Beyond physical training, Alan is a sought-after Self-Leadership Coach, working with high performers, professionals, and individuals on personal growth journeys. His coaching emphasizes clarity, discipline, focus, and accountability, helping people break through mental limitations and align their daily actions with long-term goals. His work is built on the belief that true mastery begins with the ability to lead oneself first, and through that, to lead others more effectively.
Alan is also the author of three books that encapsulate his philosophy and approach: The Warrior’s Path, which outlines the mindset and habits necessary for self-leadership and personal mastery; The Universal Principles of Change, a practical guide for creating lasting transformation; and Morning Mastery, a structured approach to building a powerful daily routine grounded in physical culture and discipline.
To explore Alan’s books, digital academies, live training opportunities, or to inquire about seminars and speaking events, visit his official website and take the next step on your path toward strength, resilience, and mastery.