HONG KONG, July 20 (Xinhua) -- The man, the myth, the legend. Bruce Lee was all of these things and more. On July 20, 1973, the world lost one of its most iconic and influential figures when he passed away suddenly at the age of 32. Yet, 50 years later, his legacy lives on, larger than life and more resonant than ever.

Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2023-20-07

English Language Xinhua Article:

Feature: Enter the Dragon -- Bruce Lee's legacy still inspiring 50 years after his passing

Translator's Note: According to the HISTORY of the International Meibukan Goju Ryu Karate-Do Federation - during 1952 Miyagi Chojun gave permission for his leading disciple Mr. Yagi Akitoku [八木明德] (1912-2003) to establish his own Dojo! The following year (in 1953) Miyagi Chojun formally passed the 'robe' and 'belt' to Yagi Akitoku confirming his status as the lineage inheritor of the Goju Ryu Karate-Do lineage. Yagi Akitoku is also known as Yagi Meibukan - as 'Meibukan' (明布馆 - Ming Wu Guan) which translates as 'Bright' or 'Pure' 'Warrior Training Hall' - as this is the name he gave his first Dojo and the manner in which his lineage of Goju Ryu was referred to thereafter. Whilst researching the various histories of Goju Ryu preserved within the 'International Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate-Do Federation' (IOGKF) - I have never come across this man's name! Indeed, it was only whilst researching the history of 'Meibukan' on that Style's Hong Kong site (in preparation for translating this article) that I learned of Yagi Meibukan and the general attitude of respect that abounds for him amongst the martial arts community of China, Okinawa and Japan! I have 'Maria Manalastas' and her 2018 (Chinese language) article conveying her journey to Okinawa and her training in the Karate-Do of the MURASAKIMURA Dojo! She is a University student from the UK whose ancestry hails from the Philippines. As we have very close ties with the Filipino people - we welcome her interesting article - which I translate here! ACW (10.10.2022)

Hello everyone! I'm Maria from the Okinawa Holiday Hackers Editorial Department. It has been four months since I came to Okinawa, and now I am experiencing the Karate-Do Dojo in the kingdom of MURASAKIMURA. There I met Mr. Kinjo, Mr. Kevin and Mr. Florian! ​

Senior Instructor Kinjo (full name ‘金城 敬章’ - ‘Kinjo Hiroaki’) is the Head of the ‘International Meibukan Goju Ryu Karate-Do Federation’ - that is the ‘Bright Martial Training Hall’ which is said to be the ‘true’ and ‘genuine’ inheritor of Goju Ryu Karate-Do tradition as founded by Miyagi Chojun (1888-1953). The ‘Hard - Soft’ (Goju) Style of Karate-Do – as led by Kinjo Hiroaki is a member of the ‘Yomitan’ Branch of the ‘Daoist Alliance’.  ​

Mr. Kevin Chaplin and Mr. Florian Poupard are Technical Instructors associated with the Okinawa Traditional Kobayashi Ryu Karate-Do and Kobudo Federation and the World Shorin Ryu Society, passing on their knowledge of Karate-Do to the world. It is slightly bewildering to gain access to such expert teachers so easily! Mr. Kevin Chaplin, for instance, is British and started trained at just 12-years old – he earned his Black Belt at 24-years old! How long does it take to earn a Black Belt? Well, that all depends on motivation and circumstance.  ​

With regular training and a high standard of commitment coupled with excellent instruction – a Black Belt can be earned in three or four years – but it all depends. Some people like to take their time and progress slowly but surely – focusing on different skills and on overcoming various weaknesses or shortcomings. Sometimes, individuals have no interest in grading and spend years working-out at the back of the Dojo! I am told that an old Black Belt sometimes fades to ‘gray’ and that there are various types of Black Belt all the way up to ‘White Belt’ again – an honour rarely bestowed in Japan and Okinawa (and only then usually by the Japanese Government itself – as such an individual becomes a ‘National Treasure’)! This means the student has completed the entire circle of mind-body self-cultivation and is beyond grading! 
​
As the practice is barefoot – I do not need to wear trainers. Oh, I forgot to introduce myself! I am a student studying at a university in the UK. I am doing a one-year Internship in Okinawa, and I have been living in Okinawa, Japan since September 2017. Before coming to Okinawa, I thought about what I wanted to do, and thought of ‘Karate’ and ‘snorkelling’. Especially Karate for self-defence. The turbulent society here has granted me ‘opportunity’ and ‘result’! 

In the UK, I have also taken many Karate courses described as ‘Women's Self-Defence" - but no matter as they were all single-shot – and I have almost forgotten what I have learned before the next class. If you encounter an emergency, what skills should you use to deal with it? When asked this question I had no idea of the answer! I really want to learn about self-defence properly and to a greater depth. Even if it's just a little bit of good quality knowledge – such learning can make you feel more at ease! ​

When I was a child, I was often taught that ‘even at noon, never go out alone, and definitely go out with someone you know’, but this attitude did not teach us about self-defence, which made me feel very insecure as a child. When traveling alone from England to the unknown land of ‘Okinawa’, I decided to development my abilities and make the most of this time. After I asked Mr. Kinjo and Mr. Kevin who teach Karate-Do in MURASAKIMURA, they said that the techniques are different depending on the Karate-Do ‘Style’. I was surprised and found a more attractive side to Karate-Do than just self-defence. There are so many more and different elements than simply nullifying an attack! 
​
It may be an exaggeration to describe this, but through the principles of Karate-Do training - we can connect to our lives and discover our own true value! We become self-aware through the process of concentrating upon our body posture and movement – as well as upon being aware of our state of mind! Awareness in the mind ‘expands’ throughout the body and a general sense of ‘Wholeness’ develops!  

I am able to see things from a ‘Beginner’s’ perspective – even though I have a little bit of experience. Prior to coming to Okinawa I had no idea that Karate-Do has ‘different’ Styles!  Self-defence courses are very basic and do not bother with background information. The teachers charge a lot of money and spend a few hours showing the most basic movements. In the Dojo of MURASAKIMURA things are very different! Here, two ‘Styles’ share the training space harmoniously! This is the ‘Kobayashi Ryu’ Style (which moves sharply from left to right and right to left – whilst the ‘Goju Ryu’ Style uses big, circular movements which flow smoothly forward and back! In this Dojo the differences between Styles are respected and preserved – but this does not stop a positive interaction! ​

Although the MURASAKIMURA Dojo is very strict – it is also very welcoming, and thousands of people visit every year! This led to the development of the MURASAKIMURA Hotel which is not very far from the Dojo! We must enter the Dojo with respect by bowing at the door and walking calmly to our training spot on the Dojo floor. We then must sit down in the Japanese ‘Zen’ style and ‘meditate’ so that the mind and body ‘relaxes’ before the in-depth technical training begins. Leaving the stresses and tensions of the world ‘outside’ is a unique quality of ‘Karate-Do’ - and is certainly a cultural attribute I could not find in my home country of the Philippines! As training happens all through the day – the type of training varies depending upon the time of day (and the type of Yin-Yang energy in the air). After meditation we loosen the body from bottom to top and work on strengthening. After that there is technical practice, Kata and sparring, etc. Although basic agendas are followed – sometimes individual students have come for a particular type of training and the teacher(s) separate the class into appropriate groups.  

From the tips of the toes to the top of the head and to the tips of fingers – every part of the body was systematically trained so that the next day I was as stiff as a board and thought my body was going to fall apart! The instructors are happy to share a joke or have a laugh – but do not over-step the line of respect or the training will take an unexpected turn! Although this Dojo is open to the general public - ‘special’ classes also are given for disciples and students who are looking to achieve a very high level in Karate-Do! This training is different and not for the faint of heart – although we were not allowed to see any of it. We were told ‘stories’ by other students although the instructors said nothing. One of my favourite areas of Karate-Do is the weapons training! I had never seen this in the UK and absolutely love all the different implements! This was the area I requested extra training within. One of the stories is that an Okinawan King once banned weaponry amongst the population – and so all the Karate-Do weapons look like farming tools!  
​
Every part of the Dojo floor must be regularly cleaned and maintenanced. The Okinawans (who follow many Chinese customs) say it is an ‘honour’ to do this! To make this system work, everyone must be polite and well disciplined! There are many different training paths being pursued at any one time – and rarely are you left alone. I personally like it when large groups all move together – punching, kicking and blocking their way up and down the hall! It takes tenacity to enter the Karate-Do Dojo every day and voluntarily submit yourself to the hard discipline of Karate-Do training! Teacher Kevin seems to have some doubts about modern karate. Nowadays, many people just want to learn the skills that appear in the movies or the movements that can get high scores in the competition. However, compared with those who just want to get the first place, the number of learners who aim to get a Black Belt has gradually increased recently, and the teachers are also very happy because of this. ​

Original Chinese Language Source: ​

https://ohh.okinawa/zh/article/896/ ​

During May 1915, Miyagi Chojun and Nakamoto Hideyoshi (仲本英炤) - the latter also being a prominent Okinawan martial artist – travelled together to the Fuzhou area of China’s Fujian province! By this time – the Grand Master Ryo Ryo Ko – had long been deceased. As the ‘Chief Disciple’ of Higaonna Kanryo, however, Miyagi Chojun attempted to gain access to the surviving family and martial lineage descendants of ‘Master Liu’ (刘氏 - Liu Shi). This is described as Miyagi Chojun attempting to successfully ‘gain entry’ to the ‘Liu Gate’ (师门 - Liu Men) - despite Master Liu having been deceased for quite some time.  ​

Miyagi Chojun, however, discovered that most of the members of the ‘Liu’ family (and his martial ‘lineage’ disciples) had moved out of the Fuzhou area – due to warfare. Those still living in the area were elderly people of the same generation as Higaonna Kanryo. The Senior (elderly) ‘Liu’ disciple still remaining (and who could remember Higaonna Kanryo) led Miyagi Chojun (and his group) to the Tomb (墓 - Mu) of ‘Master Liu’ (ルールーコウ- Ryū Ryū Ko) so that the ritual of Confucian ‘respect’ (拜祭 - Bai Ji) could be correctly performed. After this duty was completed – Miyagi Chojun was then taken to the place where Higaonna Kanryo used to practice martial arts.  ​

During October 1915, Higaonna Kanryo gathered his students and disciples together in Okinawa and formally announced that ‘Miyagi Chojun’ was chosen as his official ‘lineage’ descendent and successor! Miyagi Chojun spent thirteen-years training under Master Higaonna Kanryo’s guidance (1902-1915). As the teaching of Higaonna Kanryo was so strict – Miyagi Chojun was the only student to train for such a long and sustained period of time! This made Miyagi Chojun the ‘Chief’ disciple amongst the many that trained – and the ‘Leading’ disciple of the Higaonna Naha-Te tradition! Miyagi Chojun remained entirely loyal to Higaonna Kanryo until his passing – and then preserved his memory without hesitation.  ​

During 1916, as the ‘lineage’ inheritor of Higaonna Kanryo – Miyagi Chojun experienced his first occasion of ‘hosting’ visitors from Fuzhou! These people were Chinese martial artists visiting Okinawa to pay their respect to the ‘lineage’ of Higaonna Kanryo (which had been transmitted from Fuzhou to Ryukyu). As ‘lineage’ inheritor – the respect expressed for Higaonna Kanryo (when not directed to his Tomb or living Higaonna family members) was directed toward Miyagi Chojun himself – who was responsible for all the arrangements of these visits.  ​

On July 2nd, 1917, Miyagi Chojun (accompanied by ‘Wu Xiangui’ [吳賢貴] as translator), left Okinawa to visit Fuzhou to carry-out further research into the local martial arts practiced there. This included the ‘六机手’ (Liu Ju Shou) or ‘Rokuki’ (‘Six Weaving Hands’) technique - which later evolved into the ‘Tensho’ (転掌) Kata – translating as ‘turning’, ‘evading’ or ‘entwining’ - ‘hands’. Miyagi Chojun also began to study the Chinese manual entitled ‘武备志’ (Wu Bei Zhi) or ‘Military Preparation Record’ at this time. He also started to develop various patterns of martial movements to assist students in their daily practice.  ​

Chinese Language Source: ​

​Dear Tony

Thank you for your emails - I am glad you have made very good connections and breakthroughs! Our cultural aspect is Hakka Chinese - and I wouldn't wish that on any one! Our gongfu is passed on within the Chan (陳) family lineage but young people today have no interest because the world has changed! I have a daughter who lives in Beijing - she mastered one element of our family style - and my two younger daughters are learning another element - but this is the internal aspect passed on between father and child.

As regards my partner - Gee - her family name is 'Yau' (邱 - Qiu) named after Confucius. Her family were servants of Confucius who possessed no surname (most ordinary Chinese people did not have surnames at that time and were not allowed to venerate their ancestors at family graves) - but so grateful was the Kong (孔) family for their loyalty and good behaviour that Confucius gave her family one of his first names - '丘' (Qiu) - to be used as their surname and they rose up in society as a consequence!

The Yongzheng Emperor (1677-1735 CE) during the Qing Dynasty, however, took exception to this and ordered that an 'ear' shape be added to the right-side of the surname - '邱' - to further distinguish her family from the Confucian name! Some people resisted whilst others conformed. My partner's family migrated into the Guangdong area (as Hakkas) and in Cantonese her name 'Qiu' is pronounced 'Yau'. When I spoke to her older relatives - they said that to obey the emperor without question is the essence of Confucian teaching - and not to obey is nothing but a betrayal of the trust Confucius placed in her family in the first place - so the right ear shape was added and has been retained (I believe it is two burial mounds placed on their side). Such is the history that shapes our present!


Thanks 


Adrian

Translator's Note: The earliest editions of this story appear on the Chinese language internet on December 30th, 2019. This story is then circulated around and through the Chinese language media for at least another six months to a year. There appears to be two dates that are distinct - but which are 'merged' - during the reporting of this story. The two dates are as follows:

a) 'September 16th, 1989' - when Lin Weigong made the official announcement that he had discovered the name of the Chinese Master of the 'Whooping Crane Fist' - that is 'Xie Chongxiang' (謝崇祥) [1852-1930]- also known as Xie Ru Ru (謝如如) and  'Ru Ru Ge' (如如哥) - who was the teacher of the Higaonna Kanryo [1853-1915] (from Okinawa) during the 19th century.

​b) 'June 9th, 1990' - a black marble "Monument of Achievement" was raised in the southwest corner of the Fuzhou New Sports Centre by the Japanese and Okinawa Karate Association in memory of the Chinese Master Xie Ru Ru (謝如如) also known as  'Ru Ru Ge' (如如哥) - the Chinese teacher of the Okinawan Master Higaonna Kanryo!

Therefore, the year '2019' marks the 30th Anniversary of the announcement of the discovery of 'Xie Chongxiang' (謝崇祥) - whilst the year '2020' marks the 30th Anniversary of the raising of the black marble stele - and I believe the confusion (and conflation) of these two dates is the reason 'why' the news story continues to be associated with two different years (2019 and 2020). As not all of the historical data is present in any one single text (as the authors assume their readership already possesses a working knowledge of the story at hand), I have borrowed from at least three versions and have weaved a coherent historical narrative together. There was around eight months between Lin Weigong's historical announcement - and the Japanese - Okinawan Karate Association (representing 'Goju Ryu') organising the fund raising, commissioning, construction and transportation of the black marble stele - which is inscribed using Japanese language ideograms. The primary pictures in this article feature the stele and are dated from 1990 and 2000. The main stone tablet (and supporting base stele) both commemorate - with great respect - the eternal friendship that exists between China and Japan.  This very close and fraternal relationship is embodied (and epitomised) through the creative (historical) interaction that took place between Xie Chongxiang and Higaonna Kanryo! May this interaction between the cultures of these two countries be forever fruitful! ACW (15.8.2022)

​In the summer of 1988, the relevant Departments of Okinawa Prefecture Government hosted a banquet in Fuzhou to thank the Deputy Secretary-General of the Fujian Provincial Government and Director of the Provincial Tourism Bureau - Nan Jiang (南江) - and other leaders including the well-known and respected senior academic - Lin Weigong - (Editor-in-Chief of People's History of the Fuzhou Local Chronicle Committee) who sought out the roots of the "Thirty-Six Surnames of Fujian People" in the Ryukyu country. He has made unremitting efforts and contributions to the search for roots and ancestors in Okinawa for many years. On September 16th, 1989, after months of arduous research, Lin Weigong made the breakthrough that everybody had been waiting for - that he had discovered the Chinese teacher of Higaonna Kanryo! This led to a great outpouring of enthusiasm and excitement in both Okinawa and Japan - culminating in the idea of constructing an engraved monument to honour the Chinese ancestor whose martial arts style eventually evolved into style of Goju Ryu Karate-Do in Okinawa! Therefore, on June 9th, 1990, in the southwest corner of the Fuzhou New Sports Centre, a solemn black marble "Monument of Achievement" was raised. It is a monument erected by the Japanese and Okinawa Karate Association in memory of the Chinese Master Xie Ru Ru (謝如如) also known as  'Ru Ru Ge' (如如哥) - the Chinese teacher of the Okinawan Master Higaonna Kanryo - who developed a style of Karate-Do - that evolved into 'Goju' (Hard-Soft) Ryu. His full name was 'Xie Chongxiang' (謝崇祥). 

The Chairman of Fujian Wushu Association Liu Zhonglu (刘中路) and Lin Weigong (林伟功) Cooperated to Publish a Report in "Chinese Wushu".

Wen Fushan (温附山) Vice Governor of Fujian Province - and VIP Leaders from All Walks of Life in China, Japan and Okinawa - Attended the Ceremony Took a Group Photograph in Front of the Monument.

The Name on the Tablet - Decided by the Historical Investigation team - is that of 'Ru Ru Ge' (如如哥) as the Martial Arts Master in Fujian Who Taught Higaonna Kanryo!

From the left in the front row of the photograph: Lin Weigong (林伟功), Lin Xuanzhi [林萱治] (former Deputy Director of the General Office of the Fuzhou Municipal Government and former Director of the Municipal Local Records Office), Fang Baoyan (方宝炎) (the Great Master of Whooping Crane Fist - 鸣鹤拳 [Ming He Quan]), Huang Qiquan [黄启权] (former director of the General Office of the Municipal Party Committee, Director of the Municipal Office of Local Affairs), Wen Fu Shan [温附山] (Vice Governor of Fujian Province), Head of the Japanese and Okinawan Delegation - Yuika Tokashiki (渡嘉敷唯贤​) - (President of the Japanese and Okinawan Karate Association). In the back row are the Directors and Deputy Directors of the Provincial Sports Commission, as well as leaders of relevant Departments and other members of the Japanese and Okinawan delegation.

Lin Weigong (林伟功) was hired as a Special Consultant by the Japanese and Okinawan Karate Association to investigate the origins of Goju Ryu Karate-Do in China. The picture shows the esteemed Presidemt - Yuika Tokashiki (渡嘉敷唯贤) and Lin Weigong - taking a photograph together in front of the monument.

The above pages  are written in Japanese script and list a number of 'names' of honourable Japanese people who have contributed finance, time and/or expertise to the arrangement, construction and raising of the stone monument(s). These names include Moriyoshi Niizaki, Tomoyoshi Nakayoshi, Chuichi Uehara, Takakatsu Nakamura, Yasuhide Gibo, Antetsu Takehara, Yuki Dochu, Nobuichi Ishii, Koji Sugimoto, Noriko Sugimoto, Maki Sugimoto, Masashi Deni, Hiromi Miyagi,,Koji Miyagi, Hyakuna Ason, Hanashiro Seimei, Onaha Tsutomu, Nakazato Masayuki, Gakiya Hiroshi,
Kamiesu Choho, Hirota Nakaima and Kosuke Kamiya, etc. 

Chinese Language Articles:

https://www.it610.com/article/1225060581883613184.htm

https://88db.com.hk/QnA/Lesson-Instruction/空手道與褔建南拳的歷史淵源-剛柔流空手道的創造人在福建/1867

https://www.xuehua.us/a/5ebf28f07b5409df8eabbe2f?lang=zh-cn

Selection of Important Extracts:

老故事|30多年前林伟功受福建省政府之命为日本刚柔流空手道寻根

老故事|30多年前林伟功受福建省政府之命为日本刚柔流空手道寻根1988年夏，日本冲绳县有关部门在福州设宴感谢福建省政府副秘书长兼省旅游局局长南江等领导及为琉球国“闽人三十六姓”寻根的总查证人林伟功（福州市方志委人物志主编）等多年为冲绳寻根觅祖作出不懈努力及所做的贡献。

1989年9月16日，有關專家再次對謝如如是否做了進一步的論證，最後一致認為：謝如如(宗祥)確系日本沖繩剛柔流祖師東恩納寬量當年在福州所拜的中國武術師傅，並於1990年6月9日在福州市新體育中心西南角，矗立著一座莊嚴肅穆的黑色大理石“顯彰碑”，是日本沖繩空手道總會為紀念日本空手道剛柔流祖師東恩納寬量的中國師傅謝如如而立的紀念碑。這是中日武術界傳統中有源流方面影響的明證。

席上日方高野代表在再次致谢之余，提出希望请南江秘书长再安排林伟功主编将寻找日本刚柔流空手道中国鼻祖担当起来，南江秘书长给予接受，并让林伟功主编正式接受任务。宴后，在市方志办主任林萱治、黄启权的支持下，林伟功开展了艰辛的调查论证，发表了报告，并在副省长温附山的主持下通过论证会，确认福建省鸣鹤拳一代宗师谢如如是日本刚柔流鼻祖东恩纳•宽量的师傅，1989年取得圆满成功，并在省体育中心建立了显彰碑。

It is a peculiar reality that a number of Westerners practice Chinese martial arts to make money – whilst denigrating a) the Chinese people b) Chinese culture and c) the ‘right’ (both ‘moral’ and ‘legal’) of the Chinese people to decide to their own destiny and political system! As someone of Anglo-Chinese extraction (and who lives within the UK Chinese community), I have even witnessed Westerners travel to Mainland China to study at university or at a Gongfu College – only to return to the West with Certificates and Teaching Qualifications after having experienced a fully enjoyable and productive visit – only to continue to hold and express anti-China racist views when in the presence of their fellow Westerners! This also occurs after these individuals have experienced generous reductions in their flight and accommodation costs, reductions in their education fees and benefitting from ‘free’ student travel whilst living in China! Who pays for all this? Certainly not the Western countries from where these people originate – but rather the average Chinese–taxpayer through their hard-earned pay-cheques!  ​

Through the agency of US anti-intellectualism, many lies are told about China in the West and this is why the average Westerner remains both ‘ignorant’ and ‘racist’. China is a ‘Socialist’ country – which means its form of democracy is much more inclusive, regular and empowering to the average Chinese citizen than its Western counter-part. The Chinese people are working hard to build a Socialist society. Throughout the 20th century, the Chinese people fought against the tyranny of Chinese feudalism, Japanese and Western imperialism – and they did this successfully through the auspices of the Communist Party of China CPC)! Chinese people were killed in their millions by the Chinese Imperial (Qing) Government (from 1644 until its overthrow in 1911), by the corrupt Western-backed ‘Nationalist Government’ (192-1949), the Western imperialists (for hundreds of years until 1949) and the Japanese Imperial Kwantung Army (destroyed by the Soviet Red Army in 1945). It is the CPC that has built a strong China out of these ruins and saved the Chinese people from further pain and suffering at the hands of others!  ​

Through the Chinese ‘Socialist’ education system, it is the CPC which teaches that ALL foreigners should be treated with respect and financially assisted whilst visiting China! It is interesting, therefore, that on a website I help to administer regarding the practice of Chinese Ch’an Buddhism (which is flourishing within ‘Communist’ China) I receive the following communication affixed to the bottom of a blog post I made (this response has no relevance to the topic): 

By: Howard Johnson ([email protected]) Commented On: Seated Transforma... Date Commented: 07/03/20 03:26PM  

Howard Johnson said:  

Some good information in this blog but why the promotion of communism ? You do realise that this murderous ideology is responsible at least 100 million deaths.  

Commenter IP: 46.69.52.108 

Interestingly, a reader can tell the far-right political affiliation of a Westerner who nevertheless presents himself as an authority upon ‘Xingyi’ and ‘Tongbei’ whilst expressing disinformed rhetoric that only appears upon right-wing websites and within fascistic literature! By way of contrast to this the above nonsense – as no one in Russia or China believe that any ‘mass’ killings occurred that were perpetuated by the CPC – a recent academic report in the US states that since 1945 to now (excluding WWII), the US military has killed or murdered between 20-30 million people around the world in defence of its own capitalist system!  ​

Many of these murders were perpetuated within Asia and involved US capitalist soldiers killing Asians within Communist countries. Furthermore, during the US (capitalist) invasion of the USSR (1918-1921) - the US, UK, Germany and their (capitalist) allies killed hundreds of thousands (perhaps millions) of Russians who were fighting for Socialism! Eventually, the US military was defeated by the Soviet Red Army and was forced to retreat. Another academic report states that when European (capitalists) settled the America – by around 1610 some 60 million indigenous Indians had been cleared from their ancestral lands and murdered! If we add the killings associated with WWI and WWII we do, indeed, approach the figure of ‘100 million’ documented deaths – but all committed by representatives of the capitalist system – and often aimed at ‘Communists’ whilst NOT being committed by Communists! If United Nations (UN) records are checked - the average reader will discover the true extent of far-right, racist lying as contained in Howard Johnson’s supposed ‘factual comment – as absolutely NO official or reliable records exist that ‘prove’ that any massacres ever happened in any Communist country! This is the triumph of ‘fact’ over US ‘anti-intellectualism’! ​

References: 
US Military Murdered 20-30 Million Since 1945 
https://www.voltairenet.org/article204021.html 
European Colonisation of the Americas Killed 60 Million 
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277379118307261 
WWI Deaths – 21 million (23 million Wounded) 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I_casualties 
WWII Deaths – 75 million Deaths 
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-hccc-worldhistory2/chapter/casualties-of-world-war-ii/ 
Russian Civil War Deaths – 10 million Deaths 
https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/highest-death-toll-from-a-civil-war ​

In the West, Asian martial arts have been thoroughly commercialised and converted from a battlefield spiritual art – into a vehicle for making money. The instructors ‘sell’ their knowledge to classes of students – with an emphasis upon a very narrow definition of ‘self-defence’ (in the UK, many such teachers attempt to relate to their students by assuming they are in a pub on a Saturday night – and another drinker ‘starts looking at your bird’ and such other laughable narratives! In other words, the ancient martial arts of the East are taught to students in the contemporary West as a method to ‘defend’ themselves from attacks from other Westerners in a social (leisure) setting! Teachers of this type tend to cultivate a ‘cult of personality’ mentality throughout their school, which suggests that their art contains some sought of ‘mystical’ core that grants invincibility to each practitioner, and certain defeat to all those who are unlucky to confront it! ​

Ironically, I have been shown evidence of so-called ‘contracts’ signed by students when setting-up their monthly bank payments to the instructor. In the small print a disclaimer reads ‘The ‘student’ acknowledges that the movements taught are for guidance only, a may not be effective in any position of ‘self-defence’ - and that the instructor has no liability whatsoever for the well-being of the student.’ A lawyer-friend of mine advises that such contracts and ‘clauses’ are common-place nowadays in the martial arts scene which tends to target large classes of young children – where the training is sold to parents as ‘play’! The teachers do not care about the psychological, physical or spiritual well-being of their students, as the individuals concerned exist only to generate income and pay the bills. ​

In the expensive leisure centres, for example, the martial arts are sold as ego-trips for well-off and very rich! These people like to pretend that for the duration of the lessons they are legitimate martial arts fighters, when in reality the classes are designed around retaining their comfort levels in an air-conditioned room, with movements that do not go beyond a light cardiovascular workout. Each lesson is a self-contained episode as there is no guarantee that the ‘clients’ will be back next week! There is no continuation, but only the repeating of the myth of a deficient self-empowerment that occurs within one of the safest and crime-free environments on earth! The teacher must alter everything and change whatever the clients want changed to keep their attention levels up and to keep them coming back for more (whilst paying the ridiculous membership fees)! ​

Should a student progress in their martial arts practice and attend long enough for the teacher to take their presence seriously, he or she may well be considered suitable for participating in martial sports. This is a safe type of combat within which neither of the participants actually hit one another – but purposely throw-out their arms and legs to empty air in the direction of the opponent! He who throws enough such techniques is declared the ‘winner’ and the instructor’s school receives all the kudos for this success (hence the interest shown in the student by the teacher). Then there are the mixed martial artists who roll around on the floor in one-on-one bouts – each trying to ‘submit’ the other. In some versions, kicking and punching is also allowed during ‘stand-up’ periods to excite the fee-paying crowd! Although presented as the ‘best’ type of martial arts, modern militaries do not use this type of fighting simply because it does not work in reality (on the battlefield).  ​

Legitimate Asian martial arts do exist. They exist in Asia and they exist in the West but they are well-hidden behind the thick blanket of highly commercialised martial arts. If a sincere student genuinely seeks-out a proper martial arts teacher, it is highly likely that they will be drawn into something very similar to what is described above. In fact, given the current conditions, such a scenario is virtually inevitable. In such a situation it is better to make the best of what is on offer in the outside whilst retaining you own inner freedom. It is a matter of bidding your time until you encounter what you are really looking for. Until that time, adaptability is the key to ongoing development. Understanding a situation does not mean that you have to be in conflict with it. It is better to remain quiet and meaning onto a situation and breathe new life into it. Traditional Chinese martial arts do exist, but they are difficult to find and even more difficult to enter! 
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子曰：“不愤不启，不悱不发。举一隅不以三隅反，则不复也。” 孔子「论语」7.8： 

The Master said: If a student is not suitably eager to receive genuine knowledge, then I will not eagerly expound genuine knowledge. If a student does not express suitable urgency to receive genuine knowledge, then I will not urgently explain genuine knowledge. If I hold-up one corner and the student does not respectfully bring me the other three corners, then all interaction with that student immediately comes to an end. — Confucius, Analects 7.8  
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My above translation is exactly how an ethnic Chinese person understands this saying of the Sage known in the West as ‘Confucius’. Indeed, all interaction – even within modern China – which involves a transference of knowledge from some ‘who Knows' to someone who ‘does not know’ is premised on this short paragraph. The agency of ‘silence’ is a time where a student can re-set their mind and body to begin the interaction yet again - until the circuit is complete and the knowledge flows efficiently from teacher to student. ACW (6.6.2021) ​

I was recently asked (by a prominent [British] Muay Thai practitioner) to write a short text about the cultural differences between ‘Western’ Thai Boxers when compared with ethnic ‘Thai’ Muay Thai counter-parts. He was particularly interested in the different cultural patterns of ‘effort’ that are in effect in the Thai Boxing ring in Thailand. He explained to me that he knows full well that many dedicated and very respectful Westerners travel to Thailand to compete in ethnic Thai Boxing competitions (not ‘adjusted’ to the sensitivities of the international community) - and as soon as they step-off the aeroplane suffer the beginnings of a psychological collapse and the development of tremendous feelings of doubt!  ​

Furthermore, despite bravery and stoicism – as soon as the ‘smiling’ Muay Thai Warriors the ring and being the traditional ‘Ram Muay Wai Kru’ - an ancient ritual of respect that praise the Hindu God – Rama – as well as the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha – a very strong sense of ‘alienation’ manifests. This sense of ‘cultural’ distinction is made even more pronounced as the Thai practitioner also ‘praises’ his or her family ancestors, parents, teachers and fellow students, etc. Perhaps this is one of its main purposes. This ‘dance’ is in fact a ‘secret’ martial art that only true Muay Thai Masters know how to interpret and use in combat. Muay Thai Masters have told me that it is a Thai manifestation of ‘internal’ martial art similar to the Taijiquan of China – which is often performed nowadays to ‘music’ as is the ‘Ram Muay’ (this is the shortened title my ethnic Thai friends us who live in the Warwick area of the UK).  ​

I have had the privilege to train in the UK with students of Master Sken and Master Toddy over the years – despite never meeting these two experts in person. When some of these practitioners have passed through Sutton (South London) - they have come into our gongfu training hall on Sunday mornings and we have worked together. They have always been respectful, tough and very dedicated. Other than this contact with Muay Thai, my family frequent the Buddhapadipa Temple in Wimbledon, and on occasion, the Forest Hermitage (Wat Santidhamma) in Warwickshire – both of which serve the British ethnic Thai population and the Theravada Buddhism they practice. Years ago, when I lived in Hereford, I sparred full-on with ethnic Thai visitors and I was impressed with their ‘relaxed’ attitude and ‘fierce’ manifestation when fighting! I was inspired by how they live and breathe Buddhism first and foremost – and throw punches and kicks only after they have learned the Buddha’s Teaching fully! This is why I often seek-out special Theravada Bhikkhus living in the Buddhist temples in the UK. Unlike in the Thai villages and forests – this is not a common occurrence in the UK – but occasionally I get lucky! ​

The deep-rooted foundation of Muay Thai – or ‘Thai Boxing’ - do not lie in the brightly and well-funded gymnasia of the modern Thai city, but exist in the poorest areas of the jungles and the remotest of Thai villages. Depending on where the art is still practiced, Muay Thai is often linked to an ancient local Buddhist Temple – with esteemed Buddhist bhikkhus (monks) acting as the instructors and preservers of the tradition. The cultural basis of Muay Thai represents the psychological and physical reality of what it historically means to be born ‘Thai’. Thai Boxing is form of ritual veneration for the Buddha, the Dhamma and Sangha – as well as the King of Thailand, the government and the Thai people. As a consequence, Muay Thai has no other purpose in its most traditional form. ​

Muay Thai is much more than preparing a fighter to compete in the modern ring. Muay Thai is a fully-fledged medieval military art designed to train Asian infantrymen as they advance into battle escorting battle-elephants (the infantry ‘protects’ the vulnerable underbellies of the elephant from enemy attack, etc). The male and female warriors are psychologically and physically ‘toughened’ so to produce effective and hardened soldiers fit to fight in prolonged hand-to-hand engagements on the battlefield. Through harsh and brutal training all day long – the mind is ‘calmed’ and ‘purified’ so that all greed, hatred and delusion are uprooted and eradicated in accordance with the Buddhist Vinaya Discipline. This is why a Muay Thai warrior is a ‘Buddhist’ warrior to venerates and applied the Buddha’s Teachings (‘Dhamma’) in every facet of his or her life. This activity is regulated by the educated eyes of the Sangha (or the ‘community of ordained Buddhist monks’).  
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We Take Refuge in the Buddha! 
We Take Refuge in the Dhamma! 
We Take Refuge in the Sangha!  
We Take Refuge in the Triple Gem! ​

This is the ritualistic vow that every Muay Thai warrior repeats with a total and complete devotion early every morning as they rise from their simple straw mat which they use as a ‘bed’. After toileting and drinking a little water – the daily training begins by running two or three miles at a steady pace around the temple and local villages. The pace is slow but steady. Speed is not the purpose – but rather stamina, strength and endurance. Rubbing the shins and fore-arms with wooden rolling-pin type devices slowly develops into the anatomical weapons being sharply ‘struck’ by these heavy objects (at the advanced level – this includes striking different parts of the skull). This leads to rope-work (or ‘skipping) to work-up a sweat before body-conditioning begins. ​

After working on the strengthening of the bones it is time to strengthen the muscles, tendons and ligaments. Different Masters use different types of sit-ups, squat-kicks, back-raises, press-ups and loosening and stretching exercises. Relaxation coupled with strength and endurance is emphasised. All this voluntary suffering is designed to ‘burn-off’ the bad Kamma produced in the endless previous lives that have been lived by these Buddhist warriors. Next is the technique of striking, blocking, kicking, punching, head-butting and elbowing, etc. This includes groin-kicking and how to defend against groin-attacks. Devastating knee-attacks delivered at various (and unpredictable angles) are used to break ribs and paralyse the diaphragm of an opponent. This progresses to many different kinds of pad-work and bag-striking. Some bags are full of sand and others of small stones and the fighters must learn to punch and kick each with no injury or loss of stamina or will-power.  ​

This leads to various forms of ‘sparring’ in the ring either with or without gloves. Nowadays, even the most traditional Muay Thai training temples usually ‘wrap’ the fighter’s hands early in the morning – although there are some traditional ‘hand-toughening’ exercises that involve punching trees, blocks of wood and various other objects. The hands are then treated with special (traditional) medicine. As violence is prohibited within Buddhism – greed. Hatred and delusion must be uprooted through long hours of seated mediation (usually in the evenings) and the reading of the Buddha’s Suttas. This distinctly ‘Buddhist’ training is the true foundation of Muay Thai and is the hidden conditioning ingredient to all the martial technique that this art involves.  ​

Most people outside of Thailand only encounter the kick-boxing element of Muay Thai performed in a modern boxing ring. Traditional Muay Thai is fought on a raised stone disc or dais (after each performs a ritualised martial dance to the Hindu God Rama and the and the Buddha) Fighters have their hands wrapped by a thin and course rope (not Western bandage-wraps). Sometimes the hand-wraps are dip in a type of glue and then dipped into broken-glass – depending on the purpose of the fight. A rattan ring is worn around the top of the head as a form of skull-protection from the powerful round-kicks delivered with bare-feet, etc.  For the King of Thailand, not only are his most trusted bodyguards all advanced Muay Thai warriors – but at least two specialise in the technique of double-swordsmanship incase a traditional ‘beheading’ is required of a convicted criminal.  ​

As the Muay Thai warriors hold the status of ordained Buddhist monks – all are ‘celibate’ whilst they live and train in the Muay Thai Temple. There is no mixing with females allowed and certainly no girlfriends, or wives, etc. When not engaged in the actual physical training of Muay Thai – such a warrior-monk is expected to engage in studying the Buddhist Suttas, meditating, cleaning the temple and humbly serving the monks, etc. As they start training and fighting as young as 5 or 6-years old, a Muay Thai fighter could well in excess of two-hundred fights by the time he or she is 25-years old! Unless a Muay Thai fighter ‘retires’ and leaves his or her status as a Buddhist warrior monk – there can be no relationships with the opposite sex allowed.  ​

Muay Thai is an ancient martial art that has been adapted to the modern, Western-boxing ring very well. I am of the opinion that it is one of the best all-round striking, grappling and throwing martial arts in the world today, that has retained its deep spiritual roots in modern times. Westerners, by comparison, possess a psychology and physicality that is all incorrect for Muay Thai. They do not possess the deep Thai cultural connection to the Buddha or to Buddhist culture. They have no understanding of Buddhism or any respect for the Dhamma, the Sangha or the Thai King. They know nothing about quietening the mind and uprooting greed, hatred and delusion. They think and move like a Western-boxer from a Judeo-Christian culture that has ‘secularised’.  ​

This mentality is shot-through with the capitalist ideology and a one-sided effort defeats a multisided foundation. Westerners place all their and determination in the wrong place (as can be seen from the above video). When confronted with the best Muay Thai Masters – they incorrectly believe that if they just try harder – their inappropriate manifestation will somehow ‘work’ despite never working in the past during similar situations. They employ a lateral determination against the ‘deep’ and ‘profound’ training of a celibate Muay Thai warrior monk – as this is the case – why should they win? Why should this disrespectful and entirely incorrect interpretation of the Asian martial art of Muay Thai be allowed to succeed? This is where Western notions of ‘effort’ fall flat on their face – with no sympathy from me! ​