hi Danny--
Stories are told on this and other forums that are centuries old. Six years isn't anything.
Robert W. Smith chose to publish his opinions. Some will like them, others will disagree, and still others won't care at all.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Mr.Smith's thoughts are out there and online and there is no taking them back.
I've been engaged in some personal research comparing Chinese and Japanese training methods in certain arts. In perusing through some notes and materials I've collected, I came across Mr. Amdur's reminiscence/opinion piece again. I also had a cup of coffee with an old friend of Mr. Draeger, and he confirmed details of Draeger's interactions with Wang Shujin and his interest in CIMAs . . . an interest that was not solely due to his friendship with Robert W. Smith. We have a number of folks on this forum who are interested in both JMAs and CMAs, and Mr. Draeger's experiences are quite relevant for them.
Finally, as to any perceived negativity of the piece towards Mr. Smith . . . well, if the piece had not been posted, then you would not have responded in such considerable detail . . . with thoughts and information that are much appreciated.
So thanks, Danny. And if you're a dad . . . Happy Father's Day to you, sir.
cheers,
Tom[/quote]
Tom,
It just seems that this discussion on Donn Draeger and the Chinese Martial Arts could have begun on a much more positive note rather than with the somewhat provocative statements you found from Ellis...but everyone is indeed entitled to their own opinions...
However, I'm not sure where Ellis may have gotten his somewhat skewed opinions on Mr. Smith (and I’d be curious to hear from him on this), but I honestly don't think they came from Donn Draeger!
Now regarding Draeger, besides, of course, hearing about him from his friend Robert Smith over the years, one of my oldest friends in the martial arts that I met in Taiwan in the 80’s had been a Shotokan (Kenkojuku) Karateka living in Tokyo in the late 60’s and early 70’s, and he also knew Draeger then.…
He’s told me how kind Draeger was to him, and how Draeger would go out of his way to help in any way he could. Draeger even opened the doors to other Japanese martial arts to him by introducing my friend to Shioda’s Yoshinkan Aikido at the Tokyo Police Academy, and to an Iaido sensei (whose name and Ryu-ha escapes me at the moment).
I also know a student of Draeger’s who was part of his Hawaii group in the late 70’s early 80’s. He tells a somewhat poignant story of Draeger’s last days and how he fought the cancer that killed him without a word of complaint, nor of admitting any resignation or submission to it!
Finally, for more than 10 years now, I have worked out weekly with a gentleman who not only knew Draeger in Japan in the 60’s and 70’s, but who was also the manuscript editor of Draegers book, “Weapons and Fighting Arts of the Indonesian Archipelago” (Rutland and Tokyo: Charles E. Tuttle, 1972). You’ll find his name in the acknowledgements.
Over the years he’s shared some great stories and memories of Draeger, and has some unique insights into Draeger’s views on martial arts.
I’ll see him tomorrow, and so I’ll ask if he can add any more to this discussion on Draeger’s views of Chinese martial arts that he may have picked up on over the years he knew him…
And also Tom, as a matter of fact, I am a Dad,…with a married son who trains primarily in BJJ, and a daughter who is in Beijing at the moment studying at Tsinghua University!
So “Thanks” for the Father’s Day wishes!
Danny