by Andy_S on Sun Nov 09, 2008 9:02 pm
SNIP
That's something that has always puzzled me: Is it that hard to do a bit of research before stating an opinion about some historical fact?. Or at least to check twice before giving an opinion?.
This thread got very far and the matter would have been solved by going to the book and checking out.
SNIP
Erm, yes, I did that on the first page of the thread....
I am equally mystified by those who claim that Smith dissed Draeger. I have read Smith's comments on Draeger in "Martial Musings" and it is clear that he had tremendous respect for him. Yes, he does criticize Draeger's writing style, but read Draeger's stuff and it is difficult not to agree: it is flat and semi-academic in style. (Which is not to say that it does not contain useful info)
As for whether or not one should read Smith:
As a stylist, he is the best writer on Asian martial arts that I am aware of. Period. (Some like David Lowry, but I have always felt his cross-cultural frames of reference were narrow compared to Smith, and Smith maintains a critical eye, wherewas Lowry has a tendency to write in reverential terms. But to each his own.) Moreover, he studied with many of the greats when the Western world barely knew what CMA were, and approached this material from a strong background in Japanese and Western MA. I'd recommend "Masters and Methods" to anyone, along with his early books on HsingI and Bagua, though "Martial Musings" is, as noted above, uneven (but still entertaining and informative).
I would also recommend "John F Gilbey's" "Secret Fighting Arts of the World" for a bit of fun, too. (JFG was Smith's nomme de plume when he was feeling mischievous.)
Jess:
Given Smith's longevity, his experiences, his published works, who his teachers were and his long, long years in CMA and IMA - why did you not interview him for your work, if you don't mind my asking?
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