Originally posted by gozanryu
[BNo Matt, I dont speak for the Senseii.[/B]
It is "sensei" with only one "i" in Romaji... Just a note, FYI. Take it or leave it...
I speak for me. I am not, in the purvey of this discussion, in anyones "camp".
I understand that you speak for yourself, but you are a student of the person in question, and a black belt to boot. That places you firmly in the position of supporting your teacher and his claims (because to do otherwise would cause you to have to call into question a number of things, potentially).
My position is simple, no matter how complicated you (i am sure it is that attorney thing) try to make it.
I'm not an attorney. Never said nor implied that I was. I am a military paralegal (says so in my profile), that's all.
The accused has more supporting evidence than you do. Period. You have nothing but heresay (did i spell that right?)
But you see, Mr. Phelps is
not the accused, but the prosecution... He has made a certain claim, an allegation, and it then becomes his burden to provide proof. All I have to do is poke holes in the story to bring reasonable doubt... The burden of evidence is not on me to disprove his claims, in the same manner in which it is not the defense's requirement to disprove, necessarily, the claims of the prosecution - merely to cause the jury to believe that the prosecution failed in providing sufficient evidence to substantiate their allegations...
I see, and understand your argument. I do not off-handedly discount it. I am suggesting that there is that chance that the Man is exactly who he says he is as far as his claims are concerned.
And you will note, upon further review of my previous comments, that I stated that he would be able to substantiate that claim. I really, truly would hate to see yet another brick in the overall wall of the martial arts community come out because it was weak and useless... We have enough people making asses of themselves publicly by claiming to be the sole inheritor to ancient, long dead, Egyptian/Mayan/Atlantean martial traditions, we really don't need former veterans, alleged former Government employees, making themselves into something larger than life and then falling flat when asked to prove it. I get tired of seeing so many fakes and frauds... The romantic part of me yearns to see more legitimate wise men from the tops of misty mountains. But the reality is that those who claim such things are nearly 100% of the time trying to bullshido somebody...
Sure, there's a chance he is who he claims. He can help to prove that very easily. But the burden is his, not mine, to provide such proof.
He has reasonably supported his position. You have not. In my opinion it is upon you to now support your opinions with fact.
No, he really hasn't. He has made unsubstantiated claims (i.e. military service without dates of said service; claims to high ranking in multiple martial arts without providing times spent in training in those arts, etc.), nothing more. If the prosecuting attorney walked into court and made his argument that "Mr. X killed Mr. Y, and you have to believe me," but failed to provide motive, method and opportunity, he has no case... Similarly, allegations have been made but not supported. All I asked for was a timeline. If Mr. Phelps could provide a timeline that seemed to support his claims, I would be far more inclined to believe he is what he says he is. Failing that, I have to stand by my defense that his story is simply too farfetched to believe.
It is also my opinion that it is of interest your aggression and disdain on this subject. It seems adolescent of you to question my opinion because I have only been registered on this board for a couple of days. Does that somehow mitigate my opinion on this subject?
It doesn't mitigate the veracity of your opinion, however it does call into question the motivation for same. You show up immediately after questions are posed, defending your teacher, as have so many others on this board and elsewhere. It is a common cyber-tactic of questionable teachers, that has been so done to death that it is anticipated and expected. I am
not saying that this is in fact what you are doing, simply that the appearance of your presence can be interpreted in that manner.
Matt, you are a educated man. You are VERY passionate about this subject. I stipulate to that. If you stow your arrogance and attitude, spend some time re-reading the posts, I think it will be apparent to you the "bent" you have put in this discussion.
I don't remember offering arrogance and attitude. The "bent" of this thread is simply one of disbelief awaiting proof. If you consider it arrogant that I would scoff at claims that I have heard in books, movies, TV dramas and elsewhere, all known to be larger than life, then so be it. Not really my problem.
As for questioning how this history fits in with questioning his martial background, this history is offered hand in hand with his martial biography, thereby implying that
he is offering it part and parcel as support for his martial background. He could have just as easily said nothing about his SEAL and CIA background and simply said "I trained with the Saito family from XXXX to XXXX and am ranked as XXX. I trained with Bow Sim Mark from XXXX to XXXX and am ranked as XXX." But that appears to have been insufficient for his purposes. I immediately see red flags thrown up whenever
anyone cites their military experience alongside their martial training. They are not mutually inclusive, nor are they mutually supportive. They should stand separately, or not at all...
Gambarimasu.
:asian: