Okay, researching and finding any hidden truths or delimas surrounding GM Robert Trias is my agenda, his legitimicies, his claims, his authenticity. I am not by any means trying to downgrade this gentlemen who is not alive to defend himself. And thier is an honor to him since he is at the head of the family tree of my Martial Arts lineage in what has been called American Karate or American TaeKwonDo since the early to mid 80's that I started my Martial Arts training.
I have somewhat a thick book I will not speak of its name for honor sake. However I have heard that Mr. Trias's claims that he makes are somewhat bogus, and somewhat made up. I dont know as to which orwhat to be clear. I just find he makes himself out to be this idol in martial arts society and yet he's not mentioned or talked about as much as some others ie. EdParker, , Jhoon Rhee, etc... of his same time period.
I know he was the founder of the USKA (united states karate assoc.) Phoenix Arizona, and he 'states' he opened the first karate school in the US in 1946, 1st tournament rules in 1946, 1st Karate Assoc, 1948 that many great martial artist belonged too, such as Bill Wallace, George Dillman, He held the first tournament in 1955, 1st, textbook in 1958, 1st training film 1959, 1st world tournament in 1963, and 1st poffesional tournament 1968. Anyone have any opinions or differences on these claims?
He trained with Master of Hsing Yi and shuri Toderyu, Tong Gee Hsing in Tulagi British Solomon Islands 1942. IN the latter part of WW2 it was seeking the conversion of the solomon islands. It was from master hsing yi that he recieved his first instructors degree. Later in the war Mr. Trias met Hoy Yuan Ping master of Kempo tode and jujitsu, who became his second teacher. He claims he was the first caucasion to learn chinese system of hsing yi.
He also claimed to be the Highest ranking caucasion in the world, and author of the best seller, "the hand is my sword".
He goes on and says. Karate was first introduced tothe USA by Master Trias in 1945. He opened the first dojo in the nation in 1946 in phoenix Az.
It goes on to say " it should be made perfectly clear that Master Trias, an American brought Karate to this country before any Japanese, or any other Orientals or caucasions". HMM! I have to raise some suspicion to that...
Now unbetold the story of the founding father of Karate in the city which i reside in, is Dave Forman their is a dave forman mentioned in this book however some beleive it is someone else. Not the guy that has believed to bring Karate here. And Others believe it was him. I have never met Master Forman however the stories I was told are to be held in high respect for the man. Some of his great students are Glenn Kenney, Ralph White, a Mr. Sparks.
The only thing that makes me wonder is Forman brought forth Karate in this town and yet he has had it titled American Taekwondo with forms of both korean and japanese structure. Some say he never made it passed sho dan level which is why in our system bassai sho is the highest kata. Thru the years since the 80's when I started some Korean forms like Chonji has been excluded from the system. I have also a background in Korean ChungDoKwan TKD and I studied a poomse called DoSan and one called won hyo. ANd in the system here the American TKD /Karate they use a kata called Toesan wich is the exact same form as wonhyo in the korean format, So it is confusing and its some of the reasoning behind why Im digging into this so deep. Im just trying to find something that makes since. My Teacher says since he has never heard or seen this WonHyo his only speculation is possibly since Dave Forman was in Korea and learnt from a Master Ik Lee that he possibly gotten things twisted such as names and such since it was during the war. I dont have any info on Mr. Forman other than that....
So these are alot of my reasonigs behind this long, long, and I apologize the length of this message.
Thanks,
Now let the masses speak.. I know somebody has something to say....wheather its to agree or disagree, this is why I brought forth this topic. Its not to disgrace, but to ponder and explore..