The Martial Arts Police
On March 1st, 2007 I received the following e-mail from the "Martial Arts Police":
Now I have no idea who the Martial Arts Police are, who they think they are, or what their intentions are, but I wrote them the following reply:
While I think my response is adequate I would just like to add a few more comments for anyone who really cares. (Comments relating to statements made on: Aikido Journal Forum.)
#1 - The last time I checked there are no copyright laws for martial arts terminology, so to say I’m charged with something is ludicrous. Martial artists throughout time have used other people’s information and terminology to express concepts and principles that they didn’t have their own name for.
In addition, it is not uncommon for martial artists to apply learnt knowledge from other sources, and add that knowledge to their curriculum. That’s how people get better. THEY LEARN NEW THINGS.
#2 - Richard Elias is absolutely correct that he helped me understand the concept of Back Pressure, as well as aiding in the clarity of many others. He has helped me a lot, so has John Lovato (so have other members of Don Angier’s school).
Similarly to what I said about Mr. Angier, Mr. Elias and Mr. Lovato have also helped me to better understand things I had already done to some extent. In many ways they opened my eyes about how detailed the techniques in the art I was taught actually are.
Their help has been invaluable, and I’m a better martial artist due to their efforts. However they are not the only source for the material I presented.
Of course based on the logic used on those forums, I also stole from Kano, since I often talk about Judo.
#3 – I will stress this point again: I gave Don credit time and time again for terminology in my essays. However, I have never been given a list Of Don Angier’s principles so I can’t comment on the similarities. In my system we have about 60 more principles I haven’t had a chance to write about yet.
I also have not been privy to detailed explanations of Don Angier’s principles, since I have never been a direct student of his, nor have even claimed to be one. At seminars he discusses various principles, but only on a superficial level. I wrote my explanations as I understand the principles from my experience and what I was taught by countless others, not just Don Angier alone.
Don Angier is extremely knowledgeable, but he not the only one with such information. Terminology maybe, but not content.
#4 – When I first met Mr. Angier I wrote him several times asking him about various elements and the principles he discussed during a seminar. In each letter I told him how I understood things, and his normal response was to tell me when I was right, or if I needed to explore things in more depth.
In other words, he was willing to help me explore my art, and help me further my education.
# 5- Mr. Elias asserts the techniques I use to illustrate the principles are from Don Angier. Be serious. I’ve never seen Don do Osotogari, and many of the techniques depicted are done in countless other styles. Most are very basic, and that was intentional. I tried to use techniques a variety of people could relate to.
Mr. Elias even states that they are technically different than what Don Angier teaches, and he is right, because I learned them from someone else. I’m not copying what the Yanagi Ryu practitioners do, but to be completely honest I have adjusted some of what I do thanks to their corrections.
Like I said, I try and learn from those I respect and who have the knowledge and skill to teach me. If that’s a crime, I’m guilty as charged.
#6 – I have never ever studied karate, nor have I claimed to be a samurai. I’ve even stated that my teacher would laugh when I referred to him as a samurai, which should be enough o dispel that myth.
#7 – Mr. Elias asserted I didn’t know how to tie a hakama. However the truth is I just tied it differently, like many jujutsu and Aikido practitioners do. When I was informed of the proper traditional method, I adopted it. Once again, when I was shown the proper way to do something I corrected my methods.
If that proves anything all, it proves is that when I’m shown that I’m doing something wrong or if I’m shown a better way to be effective I take full advantage of the information.
Indeed, it is the case that Mr. Elias did teach me how to fold the hakama correctly, a skill I’ll be the first to admit I lacked.
#8 – I do own a lot of videos Don Angier has produced. However, they are mainly on weaponry and do not go into any detailed information. Having been to enough of Don Angier’s seminars I know that there is no way to copy what he does without first hand instruction. His stuff is too detailed and technical to make it work if you don’t know what he is doing.
In other words, it would do absolutely no good to copy the stuff from his tapes, because it would be next to impossible to get the techniques to work properly. It would actually be more frustrating than fruitful.
Okay, that’s my statement, and that’s all I have to say on the matter. People are going to believe what they want to believe, no matter what. Enough said.
Gentlemen,
It is our duty to inform you that you and the Yachigusa Ryu are being discussed in a negative light on Aikido Journal and eBudo.
There are several people on these forums accusing you of being frauds and of stealing principles and techniques from Don Angier.
They are also saying that there was no such person as Mr Yachigusa.
http://www.aikidojournal.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10072
http://www.e-budo.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36607
You are hereby invited to join these forums in order to respond to these charges.
Sincerely,
The Martial Arts Police
Now I have no idea who the Martial Arts Police are, who they think they are, or what their intentions are, but I wrote them the following reply:
Dear Martial Arts Police,
Thanks for your e-mail. This is not the first time my school, and my reputation has been discussed. I've already addressed the comment on E-Budo once before, so has one of my senior students. I'm sure my reponses are still posted on that forum somewhere.
Like I've said many times, there is no verifiable proof to my teacher's claimed history. I don't know how much more clearly I can state that. I'm simply repeating what he told me as I understood it. I tell that to everyone, so I'm not trying to "hide" anything. I'm very up front with the lack of evidence. It bothers me just as much as everyone else.
As for stealing principles I haven't. All martial arts use the same principle. Science is science.
As for stealing them from Don Angier, who I have great respect for, I gave him credit numerous times for the terminology, and helping to understand them better. Clearly without his help, I would still be searching for a lot of ways to explain the things I do. I owe him a lot, and made sure to include that in my essays.
If I was stealing from Mr. Angier, as you say I'm "charged with," why would I mention his name at all?
I should also point out I've written to Don Angier for clarification on how I understood things, and benefited from his corrections.
If I am stealing as accused, then I am stealing from countless others who have also aided me in my understanding of the listed principles. The accusation that I obtained all the info I wrote about from a bunch of seminars is ridiculous. I wish it had been that simple.
Thank you for your invitation to join these forums, but experience tells me its not worth my time. People will believe what they want to believe, no matter what is said. I also have no desire to involve my self in pointless Internet wars.
Sincerely,
Gary Moro
Yachigusa Ryu Jutsu
While I think my response is adequate I would just like to add a few more comments for anyone who really cares. (Comments relating to statements made on: Aikido Journal Forum.)
#1 - The last time I checked there are no copyright laws for martial arts terminology, so to say I’m charged with something is ludicrous. Martial artists throughout time have used other people’s information and terminology to express concepts and principles that they didn’t have their own name for.
In addition, it is not uncommon for martial artists to apply learnt knowledge from other sources, and add that knowledge to their curriculum. That’s how people get better. THEY LEARN NEW THINGS.
#2 - Richard Elias is absolutely correct that he helped me understand the concept of Back Pressure, as well as aiding in the clarity of many others. He has helped me a lot, so has John Lovato (so have other members of Don Angier’s school).
Similarly to what I said about Mr. Angier, Mr. Elias and Mr. Lovato have also helped me to better understand things I had already done to some extent. In many ways they opened my eyes about how detailed the techniques in the art I was taught actually are.
Their help has been invaluable, and I’m a better martial artist due to their efforts. However they are not the only source for the material I presented.
Of course based on the logic used on those forums, I also stole from Kano, since I often talk about Judo.
#3 – I will stress this point again: I gave Don credit time and time again for terminology in my essays. However, I have never been given a list Of Don Angier’s principles so I can’t comment on the similarities. In my system we have about 60 more principles I haven’t had a chance to write about yet.
I also have not been privy to detailed explanations of Don Angier’s principles, since I have never been a direct student of his, nor have even claimed to be one. At seminars he discusses various principles, but only on a superficial level. I wrote my explanations as I understand the principles from my experience and what I was taught by countless others, not just Don Angier alone.
Don Angier is extremely knowledgeable, but he not the only one with such information. Terminology maybe, but not content.
#4 – When I first met Mr. Angier I wrote him several times asking him about various elements and the principles he discussed during a seminar. In each letter I told him how I understood things, and his normal response was to tell me when I was right, or if I needed to explore things in more depth.
In other words, he was willing to help me explore my art, and help me further my education.
# 5- Mr. Elias asserts the techniques I use to illustrate the principles are from Don Angier. Be serious. I’ve never seen Don do Osotogari, and many of the techniques depicted are done in countless other styles. Most are very basic, and that was intentional. I tried to use techniques a variety of people could relate to.
Mr. Elias even states that they are technically different than what Don Angier teaches, and he is right, because I learned them from someone else. I’m not copying what the Yanagi Ryu practitioners do, but to be completely honest I have adjusted some of what I do thanks to their corrections.
Like I said, I try and learn from those I respect and who have the knowledge and skill to teach me. If that’s a crime, I’m guilty as charged.
#6 – I have never ever studied karate, nor have I claimed to be a samurai. I’ve even stated that my teacher would laugh when I referred to him as a samurai, which should be enough o dispel that myth.
#7 – Mr. Elias asserted I didn’t know how to tie a hakama. However the truth is I just tied it differently, like many jujutsu and Aikido practitioners do. When I was informed of the proper traditional method, I adopted it. Once again, when I was shown the proper way to do something I corrected my methods.
If that proves anything all, it proves is that when I’m shown that I’m doing something wrong or if I’m shown a better way to be effective I take full advantage of the information.
Indeed, it is the case that Mr. Elias did teach me how to fold the hakama correctly, a skill I’ll be the first to admit I lacked.
#8 – I do own a lot of videos Don Angier has produced. However, they are mainly on weaponry and do not go into any detailed information. Having been to enough of Don Angier’s seminars I know that there is no way to copy what he does without first hand instruction. His stuff is too detailed and technical to make it work if you don’t know what he is doing.
In other words, it would do absolutely no good to copy the stuff from his tapes, because it would be next to impossible to get the techniques to work properly. It would actually be more frustrating than fruitful.
Okay, that’s my statement, and that’s all I have to say on the matter. People are going to believe what they want to believe, no matter what. Enough said.
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