The Kai said:
absolutely agree with you. The seniors you speak of earned their ranks through decades of hard work and in their day they set the standard. It doesn't get any more legitimate than that. What I'm talking about are the ones with little training and little skill that go on award themselves high ranks or those that hand out rank like it's nothing. To me, that is disrespectful to those that trained hard with years of blood and sweat to get where they are. And that's why I believe it's better to be judged by what you can do or what you have done, not what belt happens to be sitting around your waist.
I probably got a little off the subject on my last post but this is a subject that always hits a nerve for me
I Guess i don't understand that you agree with this post yet back up this guy? 10 years to do what takes a normal man 30 years. Hanshi Juchnik has his faults, yet I have yet to hear of him meeting someone one time and raising them to 5th degree! (BTW he naever charged me for my tests).
Joe, I know you are ritfull proud and protective of your lineage, but by protecting yourself you also want use to believe this guy?
A lot has to do with the hot bed of martial arts that is Omaha Nebraska, Just think where will this guy be in 2 years, in 5 years?
You, Joe have done more to educate and promote Karazempo then to promote yourself, I respect you and look forward to reading your posts. I hope I have'nt hurt your feelings
BTW - It is a goog looking website
todd
No Todd, not at all (hurt feelings), I respect you and I definitely see where you're coming from. Thank you for the kind words, I appreciate that. I can agree with you but here's how I view it. Early on, very early on, I was pretty naive about things. I would hear things about a certain master (I'm saying this as a generic example which can apply to many in the arts) that he did this or that, self promoted himself and/or bought rank, gave rank, sold rank, lied, you know what I mean. So, I kind of get down on the guy in my own head and thought to hell with him and then hear of someone else who is unlike him, I'm told totally legit, he 'da man! As a little time goes by, sure enough, the stories fly about him: self promoted and/or bought rank, gave rank, sold rank, lied, blah, blah, blah. Down the line comes another, now this guy is the tops, no way can anyone cast doubt on any of his credentials and background! Time goes by and again............self promoted and/or bought rank, gave rank, sold rank, lied, etc. As the years went by, next came the videos for black belt, send your money in for your promotion and you get a certificate signed by the master suitable for framing. I open my big mouth and said well so & so would never do that and what happens? I pick up a mag or log on the net and master so & so has a video black belt program out! Go figure!
My point being Todd, if I fight and argue with everyone in the martial arts world who listens to the beat of a different drummer than I do, or we do then I will end up becoming overwelmed, burnt out and making a lot of unneccessary enemies and over what? The commercialism of the martial arts? It's not worth it. Everything today is based on the all mighty dollar whether guys like us agree with it or not, we are certainly not going to change it. Are their big egos in our business? Absolutely! Is there arrogance in our business? Absolutely! Criminal behavior? Yes, that goes without saying. There are members in the few organizations I belong to that are recognized by the leaders or founders of such organizations, I have respect for these people, they are my seniors and they treat me with respect in turn. Since they are my seniors, my position is to not second guess their decisions. As a police officer we don't take kindly to a rookie second guessing a veteran either, it's not proper protocol. If Sijo Gascon wishes to have my opinion on something, fine. I will be honest and up front with him. If not, I simply mind my own business and instead of letting negative energy eat away at me, I use positive energy to assist in making the organization move in a positive direction in an effort to bring its members closer together. I look at people and try to see their good points rather than any negativism, of course that only goes so far, there is a line I don't cross and when or if it happens I cut them off entirely. Now, that is a goal that is achievable, trying to change the politics and commercialism of the martial arts world is not achievable and is comparable to banging your head against a brick wall where only two things will happen, you'll either get a concussion or the wall will fall on you, lol. In reference to Hanshi Lou Angel, I have direct knowledge that he was questioned on Shihan Geary's promotion and his response was something to the affect of "you watch your store and I'll watch mine", he had a nice way of saying he has his reasons for doing what he does and everyone else should mind their own business. Yes, that is what he said, pretty much verbatim. Hanshi Lou Angel has been around a hell of a lot longer than I and his accomplishments have made him a legend in the martial arts world. I think that fact stands undisputed. Jeff Speakman performed some Goju he learned from Hanshi to honor him in 'The Perfect Weapon". I'm sure you'll agree he is very highly respected, an honorable man, a man of character and morals.........I decided to listen to this wise man and take him up on his advice. Sijo Sonny Gascon told me personally his only goal in promoting his organization is to bring all Karazenpo and extended family members together in a feeling of 'Ohana' (family) and that's it! Not to make money and get rich, not for ego and publicity but just to bring us all together into one big happy family where we can make friends, train, exchange ideas and simply socialize, a true brotherhood. If Sijo Gascon found it appropiate to promote Shihan Geary to 6th dan then as Hanshi Angel stated, that is his perrogative and proper protocol should be respected by Sijo's students as far as questioning his motives. Remember, the controversy of the promotions of Elvis Presley from Ed Parker and Kang Rhee? When Mr. Parker was asked about Elvis' ability in reference to his high degree rankings he simply stated something very close to this: Elvis was a good black belt and that's all that should matter and be said, for what degree of death are you after your dead? (I could find the direct quote but that's pretty close). That was Mr. Parker's way of handling it and I can respect that also. Take care my friend, with respect, "Joe"
:ultracool
