Robert Smith vs. GM Chang

[mixjourneyman]

you guys getting lost in each other's eyes?

lol.

Contrary to popular belief, I am not that way inclined.

[nianfong]

hahaha just "go fishing" together and get it over with already

[Bill]

Is Robert Smith still alive and kicking ? If he is, then can someone email him and ask him directly about this ?

[JessOBrien]

Mr. Smith replied to every letter I've ever sent him. He's likely to reply to yours as well. You can send it in care of his publisher and they'll forward it.

-Jess O

[Bill]

That's good.
In that case John Wang should take it up with him directly, instead of attacking Smith here this forum.

[JAB]

Big surprise that the shit slinging was not well researched prior! One would think one would read the actual text one is talking about!
Ahhhhhhhh, the Chinese martial arts.

Jake

[Felipe Bidó]

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.

[qiphlow]

true, but the thread would have also been far less entertaining.

[Bhassler]

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.

Easy for you to say now, Mr. Bido, but let us not forget what you said in 1987: "Reasearch is for sissies, I ain't never gonna research nothin'!"

I remember it very clearly, since I was there (you didn't see me, I was hiding behind a tree). I swear it's the truth....

[Andy_S]

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?

[JessOBrien]

I never got out to N Carolina, and he doesn't travel much. Would have loved to interview him, that would have been a real highlight. In a way though he pretty much covered what he wanted to in Martial Musings, so I'm not sure how much I could get out of him anyways. I had over 150 people on my list to interview, and still never got to meet most of them.

Anyone out by Mr. Smith should give it a shot though, and publish it in a mag or on the net. Would love to hear more about his experiences in 1950's Taiwan.

-Jess O

[Chanchu]

Wonder is Mr Smith knows of any other western people who started a serious study of CMA in the 50's?

Must have been some other people...

[C.J.Wang]

Is Robert Smith really 198cm (6-foot-6)? I kind of doubt it.

In Taiwan, I read an article written by Wang Shu-Jin's student who said that Smith was a "world heavyweight boxing champion who couldn't budge Wang with his powerful punches."

With every re-telling of the stories, Robert Smith seems to get bigger, heavier, and tougher.......

[edededed]

Ha ha... That may be true... There is a limit, though (probably about 6'6", actually, which is sort of about the limit for big Caucasians in general - 7' and you have an overly-obvious tall tale).

[cerebus]

I don't think Smith was that big. In pics he always looks around average height. Now Draeger's friend John Bluming on the other hand... he was a big dude...