Robert Smith vs. GM Chang

[JessOBrien]

CJW, the story is in reference to the meeting between Wang Shu-Jin and Jack Dempsey, not Robert Smith.

The story is in Pa Kua Journal and on the net in various places.

-Jess O

[DeusTrismegistus]

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).

A good friend of mine in high school was 6'4" when he graduated but sprang up to 6'6" afterwards, his older sister was 6'2" when she graduated, his older brother was 6'9" when he graduated high school, and his father was 6'10", all white as snow. 7' doesn't necessarily mean tall tale, just probably.

[JoseFreitas]

I watched a K-1 fight yesterday night with a Korean guy touted at 2,18 m, which makes him, what, 6,13''? (Man Hop Choy, fought and lost to Badr the Moroccan Bad Boy).

[Finny]

Hong Man Choi - hehehe 6'13" would actually be 7'1", there being 12 inches in a foot.

[JoseFreitas]

Right!

Although, in a pedantic sort of way I might point out that 7'1'' is in fact 6'13''. 7'1'' just seems so much more impressive!

[Andy_S]

Wang met Dempsey?

R U sure of that?

There is a photo in Smith's last book of a famed boxer and boxing trainer (so famous I can't remember him) punching Wang in the tum - but it most certainly is not Dempsey.

[JessOBrien]

Hi Andy,

No,I am not sure of it, I've seen it in the books, but never asked Smith or anyone who may have been there about it. I just brought it up because a previous post mistook RW Smith for the pro boxer, when the story was obviously referencing the story about Dempsey.

-Jess O

[shawnsegler]

Not to derail things, but after watching that clip again, all I take away from it is that I sho nuff wouldn't want to get into fight with the little old monkey style guy.

S

[Dmitri]

I wonder, if one of those top Systema guys would punch him, what would happen? Would it create a horrible paradox and the Universe would collapse onto itself and everything would cease to be?

[C.J.Wang]

CJW, the story is in reference to the meeting between Wang Shu-Jin and Jack Dempsey, not Robert Smith.

The story is in Pa Kua Journal and on the net in various places.

-Jess O

I am aware of the rumor between Wang and Dempsey. There's no proof, however, that the two had actually met.

The story I was referring to was posted on Wang's Cheng-Ming Martial Arts Association website -- in Chinese only -- and it specifically indiciated the boxer's name as "Smith," which I believe is a case of both mistaken identity and Wang's students trying to glorify their teacher's exploit, turning "a westerner with boxing experience" into "a boxing world champion."

In the 60s when there was little exposure to western culture and westerners in the country, the Taiwanese tended to view all Caucasians with stereotype -- as people with big nose, blond hair, and blue eyes -- and categorize them mentally all in one group, which easily leaded to confusion.

I do know for a fact that when Joe Lewis came to Taiwan for an exhibition match in the 50s, Wang proposed a challenge where he'd let Lewis punch him in the belly and see what'd happen. Lewis never accpeted it.

[qiphlow]

I wonder, if one of those top Systema guys would punch him, what would happen? Would it create a horrible paradox and the Universe would collapse onto itself and everything would cease to be?

yes, were it not for the existence of the large hadron collider.

[Dmitri]

hadron collider

Dammit, I keep reading that as "hardon"... Where did I put that Dr. Freud's number...

[mixjourneyman]

hadron collider

Dammit, I keep reading that as "hardon"... Where did I put that Dr. Freud's number...

Holy shit, so do I, and I actually thought Jeff was joking and calling it a "hardon" collider.

[mixjourneyman]

But I guess thats not unusual, coming from me.

[qiphlow]

see, mix? if you'd have bent the crazy chick over the table like i suggested, you wouldn't have all this pent up energy.