MFH
You wrote <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote
The guy writes pretty well...
I respectfully disagree.
For those who are coming in new on this, the site in question is the following:
www.toudi-kempo.co.uk . Peruse it for a bit. Steve Morris intends to get your attention, and he will do that one way or another by the time you have read enough.
I personally found the writing to be incredibly tedious. As an example, take a look at this: <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote
Having over the last year conducted a number of seminars across the country through which I sought to introduce a radical alternative way of practicing and perceiving karate and at which with every new venue my depreciation of karate, its dead traditions, empty method and masters of deceit grew proportionally with each and every visit, it became clear to me that despite being applauded for my radical departure from current Okinawan and Japanese Karate and Kobujutsu practices by those seniors who attended these seminars-who openly declared that my power, skills and rationale of my method were far superior to those of their Okinawan and Japanese masters and that they had learnt more in the first twenty minutes under my instruction than they had under their respective masters in the last twenty or thirty years-none it seems was willing (as it first appeared) to commit themselves to my philosophy of natural movement response as they had been so willing to commit themselves to the perfection of those grotesque unnatural movement patterns of response that characterize modern Karate-do and Kobudo; or commit themselves to my guidance as they had so willingly and blindly committed themselves to the masters of Okinawa and Japan.
Folks this is
one sentence. Arrrrggghhhh! I know it is bad form on this forum to critique grammer and spelling. But this is his
Prepared statement, the opening line of his dialogue to the public. The poor fellow is badly in need of an editor. The content doesn't bother me anywhere near as much as the painful way he expresses himself.
Is this relevant? Perhaps it is. After consulting with a British fellow that Morris quotes on his page and I know pretty well, I come to find out that Steve is basically a nice guy who comes across very differently in the written form than he actually is in real life. And he doesn't seem to care. Whether you like it or not, know it or not, the medium very much can become a major part of the message.
VAN
I am in agreement with you that there are elements of what Mr. Morris says that are right on. The prejudices that he observed in the east are indeed there. The limits of understanding of kata and fighting from masters who
should know better is well known. The gap between martial theory and a life-and-death fight can be a giant chasm, especially for those who do not understand their system. Knowing you, I know
exactly why portions of his page appeal to you.
Taking the leap from all his blastings of the world (and assuming that "they" are all fools and don't know real bushido) to revoking all but Steve Morris as an instructor is...a
big leap of faith. He didn't sell me. In this vein, I am in complete agreement with Cecil. What's the difference between Steve Morris and any two-bit cult leader? Whenever I see these kinds of demands, it only makes me question the intentions and emotional status of the person who would make them. I could be completely wrong, but I don't care. Why would anyone worth seeing
need to make those demands?
TO ALL
One of my favorite quotes is from one of Lewis Carroll's "Alice" books. The following is a conversation between Alice and the Cheshire cat.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.
"I don't much care where--"said Alice.
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat.
"--so long as I get SOMEWHERE," Alice added as an explanation.
"Oh, you're sure to do that," said the Cat, "if you only walk long enough."<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Sometimes when I view writings of people like Steve Morris and Bruce Lee, this passage comes to mind. For most who go into martial arts and choose a dojo, they are like Alice. Most any place they end up would be just fine, as long as they get SOMEWHERE. To folks like Van and myself, we probably have a good idea where we want to go. And Van and I very well may end up choosing different paths. Good! For someone like Steve Morris or Bruce Lee, one wonders if perhaps the wrong path was chosen, like the typical male who refuses to stop and ask for directions and ends up getting "lost". And in doing so, perhaps one is quick to curse at the destination and/or the map (like a typical male) rather than accepting that maybe (God forbid)
you f***ed up.
In the end though, I have to accept my friend's endorsement of the guy and assume he'd be a great person to work with. But I certainly would never accept his written terms of engagement. I'd rather remain unenlightened.
That's OK....I already have too much to do and learn between here and my final destination. I'm only a mere mortal.
-- Bill
[This message has been edited by Bill Glasheen (edited 04-23-99).]