B.K. Leishman and Energy Lake Studios Great article! Too bad, though, that it completely ignored B.K. Leishman and his Energy Lake Kung Fu Studios. I would really like to know about his relationship to GMS, Master McAndrews, and the others. It's obvious that the EL system is virtually identical, for the most part, with the TKF system.
grasshopper- 08-21-2006
Hi Yen Hui,
Too bad, though, that it completely ignored B.K. Leishman and his Energy Lake Kung Fu Studios. I would really like to know about his relationship to GMS, Master McAndrews
When I was in Toronto I heard of "Energy Lake Studios" but when I researched them recently on the net I could not find anything about them, I will admit I have only tried searching them once.
I definately wanted to add them to my list when I originally made it.
Send me any info you have on them and I will gladly incorporate it into my history.
Also it is hard to find much on Master McAndrews, it is mostly word of mouth.
Cheers
DrunkenMonkey- 08-21-2006
I remember when the movie "Dragon: the Bruce Lee Story" came out in theaters... I think that was back in '93.
When a friend and I came out of the theater, there were couple of young guys handing out coupons for a free kung fu lesson from Energy Lake studios. I also remember a kid from highschool who trained there, but I never did hear anything specific about it.
This sticks in my mind because it's the first time I thought about taking up martial arts. It was two years later that I started at <choke> Temple Kung Fu.
No point or anything - just a random annecdote :)
MrE2Me2- 08-21-2006
Hello Yen Hui,
Welcome to the forum.
I trained under both Brian Leishman and Phillip McAndrews.
I talked to a senior classmate from those days a few years ago.
His name and title; Master Roman Terlecki.
His link,
http://www.kungfubc.com/
According to what he said, Master McAndrews passed away a number of years ago.
He also said that Brian Leishman was teaching somewhere outside of Calgary.
Regards, MrE2Me2
cam- 08-21-2006
Hi Yen Hui, did you train at the Scar. E.L. studio by any chance?
Let me see if I can remember some of the instructors names... The two Head Instructors were Mr. Williams and mr. Richards( maybe you knew these guys Mystery), Mr. Mort, Mr choinard, Mr. Cuinanin(Spelling is probably wrong), they were at the Scar. location, Mr. Richards was at the west-end school (can't remember the name).
Yen Hui- 08-22-2006
Miscellaneous Details on B. Leishman and Energy Lake Kung-Fu
When I was in Toronto I heard of "Energy Lake Studios" but when I researched them recently on the net I could not find anything about them, I will admit I have only tried searching them once. I definately wanted to add them to my list when I originally made it. Send me any info you have on them and I will gladly incorporate it into my history. Also it is hard to find much on Master McAndrews, it is mostly word of mouth.
hi there grasshopper, MrE2Me2, cam (and you all!) ~
Thanks for the warm welcome! I wish I could offer you some substantial information on EL Studios, grasshopper, but I'm afraid I don't have much to offer. As far as I know, EL Studios no longer exists. If Mr. Leishman has re-opened business under a new name, as MrE2Me2 has intimated, that's news to me. I was under the impression he had formally retired from teaching back in the mid-late 90's. His wife wanted him to get out of the business. If he's back in, I'd like to find out more (just out of curiosity). I remember him as being a man of principle, deep conviction, and profound skill; despite whatever "nonsense" Simon and his disciples may have spread among their students.
Leishman's story is rather complicated, and I have no idea how true are the few pieces of the puzzle I'm privy to. I've never been able verify any of it, nor have I ever really tried, apart from occasionally searching the web in hope that someone will post an article about him, somewhat like grasshopper has done with GMS. Most of what I heard in the past I have forgotten, but it could probably be recovered under hypnosis, if there was ever a need to; though I do not anticipate ever having such a need to dig that deeply. If you want to corroborate anything I say, or expand on it, I would suggest you contact Mr. Satyen Raja @ http://www.warriorsage.com/meet.htm , one of Leishman's former Black Belt instructors.
Personally, I don't buy into Raja's current gig. When you see the website, I think you'll understand what I mean. It strikes me as "phoney" and highly "commercial" oriented. It is my opinion that truly enlightened teachers, who possess "authentic" knowledge of the Way, don't accept students on their ability to pay cash for their lessons. Teaching kung-fu techniques is a little different, I feel. You can rationalize charging a reasonable fee to a point, but after Black Belt, if the student shows potential for mastery, the lessons should be free, imo, so long as the disciple is willing to teach and help maintain and expand the student body.
As far as I can recall, Leishman did'nt believe in teaching the spiritual side of kung-fu to novices. He reserved those lessons for disciples in degree training. However, he was not totally opposed to giving members of the "Kung-Fu Club" a little taste in advance. The 'KFC' was viewed as a kind of middle ground between your regular student body and disciples continuing their training after Black Belt, in a more wholistic program, addressing the whole man, spirit, soul, and body. At any rate, I don't feel he (Leishman) would ever approve of Raja's method. He believed that false mental imagery was the main obstruction in a new student's path to success. He derived this "philosophy of education" from the I Ching, and in particular, Hexagram 4 - Youthful Folly. Consequently, his method was to disabuse the new student's mind, as quickly as possible, of all false imagery.
Mr. Raja's approach strikes me as the complete opposite. Nevertheless, he may have the ability to put you in contact with either Mr. Richer or Mr. Hodgkinson, both of whom were former chief instructors. These two (or even Satyen himself) are in a far better position than I to fill you in on the history of EL Studios, and perhaps corroborate some things I'm posting here. If Satyen is what he claims to be, I don't see any reason why he should object to such a proposal. The least he can do is e-mail them and tell them about this Forum. If they feel like it, they'll check it out. Anyway, before Leishman got married, he shared living accomodations with some of his first generation instructors. I'm sure these former "room-mates" could contribute several pieces to the puzzle, if they wanted to. Mario Costa is the name of one of those room-mates. Satyen might be able to help with the other names, if he is unwilling or unable to help put you in contact with either Richer or Hodgkinson.
The story regarding Leishman is a very long one, and as I say, I've forgotten most of what I heard. To begin, though, it is true that he never achieved the rank of 'Master' under Simon. I was told Simon personally tested and passed him for Black Belt; and while awarding it to Leishman, told him that he broke the record for achieving Black in the shortest time, of just under two years. As he was nearing completion of the next level, Leishman apparently fell out with Simon over McAndrew's elevation to the rank of 'Master'. He did not believe McAndrews earned such a promotion, not that I particularly wish to speak ill of the dead. May he rest in peace. At any rate, Leishman sparred with Master McAndrews often enough to form a fairly accurate opinion of his skill level.
Master Leishman was convinced that McAndrews was promoted because of his 'sub-servience' to GMS, and Leishman utterly loathed 'subservience' with a passion. Whenever he saw it in his own students, he tried to eradicate it immediately! After a while, he came to believe that wearing the red sash at the Studios inspired subservience in them, and so he stopped wearing it altogether. He acquired this particular more, or loathing for subservience, from the teaching of the I Ching, as well. Leishman was principally a man of one book, namely the I Ching. (I say 'was' since I've not seen the man in nearly 15 years; but I suspect he has not changed much, if any.) As there are several different interpretations of the I Ching, he was quite particular about which one was superior, and on the basis of his many years of experimental and practical study of several different interpretations, he came to believe the Baynes/Wilhelm edition was superior to them all.
The Wilhelm edition expounds a Neo-Confucian worldview and philosophy, formulated during the Sung Dynasty period. Neo-Confucianism is basically a synthesis of the Confucianism of Master Men, synthesized or fused with several elements of Taoist and Chan philosophy. However, even though he regarded this version of the I Ching as superior to all others, he did not think it was perfect. It was his belief that it contained errors, and these errors he attributed to a false Western 'intellectualism', on the part of Western scholarship, interpolations, and accretions. Thus, he discouraged 'intellectualism' among his disciples and instructors, saying that this was the wrong way to approach the study of kung-fu. And by 'intellectual' study he meant a study that was not squarely or firmly grounded in wholistic practice and application. He often said the 'intellectual' will rarely, if ever, achieve 'mastery' in the Fist-Art.
He often quoted from the I Ching when teaching his inner circle of disciples and instructors; having memorized practically every line in it, and thus possessed a very deep and profound understanding that was (is) anything but 'intellectual'. He virtually derived his entire kung-fu philosophy from it, and grounded it in the experimental and practical study of its teaching(s). However, it is not a text for the 'beginner', he often said, and thus would discourage them from taking it up; but if the higher belt levels wanted to dabble in it a bit, he would encourage them to restrict their study of it to the immediate task or lesson at hand. To deviate from this path, and attempt to go beyond the present moment in one's study of it, was to essentially become purely 'intellectual' or 'conceptual' in one's approach, and thus to super-impose one's own false mental imagings onto it. To do so, in his experience, would almost always result in obstruction and sure failure!
While he launched out on his own after Master McAndrews was awarded the rank of 'master', he did not break all ties with the inner circle, but continued full-time training 'outside' the Temple, with some key persons; one still inside the circle, plus one or two former insiders. From these he acquired a more complete knowledge of all the forms, (so I believe,) as well as testing procedures and requirements. He was about twenty years old when he broke with GMS, but continued training full-time for another five years, and at the age of 25, he arranged for himself to take the test for 5th degree. Among the things, I was told, that the test required of him, was that he sparr with 5 solid black belts, similtaneously. In the Temple, though, I was told there was a famous saying that "pure in heart would have the strength of ten tigers." And thus believing himself to be such a man, and in the event that some might later doubt the calibre or skill of the Black Belts enlisted for his test, he doubled their number, and took the test of 10 tigers, and successfully passed it. However, though he believed he defeated the 10 tigers, and thus proved the purity of his heart, he wore the red sash, and regarded himself a 6th degree master.
It was my feeling at the time, (though no one had told me this specifically,) that he accepted the rank of 6th degree in accord with the saying of Hexagram One: "Because he," the true master, "sees with great clarity causes and effects, he completes the six steps," or degrees "at the right time and mounts toward heaven on them at the right time, as though on six dragons;" in whom "the strength of the Creative and the mildness of the Receptive," or the powers of yin and yang "unite." True mastery, he would say, is not based on someone else, i.e. another master, for example, giving you a red sash; as in the case of Master McAndrews, he would say (and I mean no disrespect to the deceased by this); but rather is based on real achievement, and your own self-acceptance of that real achievement. Someone may strip you of a red sash, worn around your waist, but you can never be stripped of anything truly realized or attained within yourself. You are what you are, regardless of what anyone else might think or say. What matters, at the end of the day, is self-acceptance!
I regret that I've not been of more help to your history. I confess that I don't think about these things much these days, and this is what comes to mind after being out of it for nearly 15 years. If I spent more time thinking about it, more details might come back to me. I should add in conclusion, that like GMS, Leishman made it his habit to change the forms with each new generation of instructors; but nothing major. Sometimes he would expand them; sometimes he would contract them; but based on what I know of them, and what I saw in the few video clips on the zenshack website, and in 'Law of the Fist', there is no doubt in my mind that the EL system is essentially MOH Temple Kung-Fu. GMS can adjust things as much as he wants, but that's not going to change my mind on this one, I'm afraid.
I trained under both Brian Leishman and Phillip McAndrews. I talked to a senior classmate from those days a few years ago. His name and title; Master Roman Terlecki. His link, http://www.kungfubc.com/ According to what he said, Master McAndrews passed away a number of years ago. He also said that Brian Leishman was teaching somewhere outside of Calgary.
I am very sorry to hear of Master McAndrews' untimely demise. Did Master Terlecki give any details about the circumstances? Regarding Leishman, what rank was he when you trained under him, if you don't mind my asking? The last I heard, he had a National Training Centre just south of Banff, set-up in an old Victorian mansion; but then sold that in the 90's to a couple who made a bed and breakfast out of it. If he has'nt returned to teaching kung-fu, he should. There is no question in my mind about that being his clear and proper calling in life. If he did return to teaching, I suspect it was for the sake of his two children. I'm sure he wants to pass on to them everything he knows, so the school would be for their sakes, more than his own. I'm sure he could make a living at anything, but I'm equally sure that he's not about to send his kids to anyone else to learn the Fist-Art.
Btw, thanks for the link to Master Terlecki's website. If he was set up where I live, I might consider training again! Right now, my daughter is training with one of GMS's black belts from the mid 70's. His name is Glen E. Kwan, and you can see a photo of him @ http://www.soke.org/members.htm / He might have some history or old photos of GMS. I have never met the man in person, as the wife takes her and picks her up. However, I may make a point to drop in some day and introduce myself soon. When I do, I'll quiz him about GMS. This is the brief bio you'll find of him at the above link.
"In June of 1974, Hanshi Kwan achieved his 1st degree Black Belt in Chinese Kempo Karate. In 1974, Soke Kwan moved to Barrie, Ontario, and began teaching what has evolved into Genki-do Kempo Karate, incorporating Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and North American Freestyle Karate. Undoubtedly the evolution of Genkido Kempo was influenced by many of the teachers Soke Kwan trained with, including: Grandmaster Ed Parker (American Kenpo Karate), Soke Steve Reynolds (Jiu-jitsu-kai), Grandmaster Chuck Platten (Hapkido), Sensei Monty Guest (Chito-ryu), Soke Israel Segarra (Goju-kai), Prof. Wally Jay (Small Circle Jiu-jitsu), O’Sensei Harold Howard (Jiu-jitsu), Grandmaster Olaf Simon (Kempo), Grandmaster Denis R. Decker (Chi Ling Pai Kempo)."
... did you train at the Scar. E.L. studio by any chance? Let me see if I can remember some of the instructors names... The two Head Instructors were Mr. Williams and mr. Richards( maybe you knew these guys Mystery), Mr. Mort, Mr choinard, Mr. Cuinanin (Spelling is probably wrong), they were at the Scar. location, Mr. Richards was at the west-end school (can't remember the name).
Yes, I did train there a few times. In all, I trained briefly at three EL Studios in Ontario and two out West. When I first hooked up with EL in the 80's, there were two masters in the organization at the time: Leishman and someone else from the TKF organization. I stopped training for a while, and when I returned, the other guy was gone. Not really sure what happened, but I think I recall hearing something about him disappearing with all the cash. I was personally acquainted with most of the persons you've named, but never got to know any of them well. When I left the organization, I left for good and burnt all my bridges. I kept in touch with none of them, unfortunately.
Bob Richer was Master Leishman's first disciple and chief instructor before they had a falling out and Richer left the organization. Leishman was very strict with regard to what he allowed in the Studios, and insisted on maintaining a very tightly controlled "standardized" System. Richer achieved 3rd degree before he was given his walking papers. Just before he walked, though, there was some talk about him delving heavily into the art of Reiki and teaching it to some EL instructors and students. I think this might have contributed significantly to the fall-out. Leishman was a "purist" and had zero tolerance for any deviations from the Program as he laid it out for the Studios. Richer was replaced as chief instructor by Mr. Terry Hodgkinson, until he too had a falling out with Leishman, and eventually walked out the door. Does anyone see a pattern emerging here? I do, and that's part of the reason why I walked too!
grasshopper's article on GMS notes the respect (fear?) Chuck Norris' had of Simon's kick. There was a few similar stories floating around within the EL organization concerning Leishman's kick as well. I recall one concerning Mr. "Cuinanin" (the spelling is definitely incorrect, but we'll go with it for now). Manny is his first name, I think. Mr. Leishman was giving a lesson to his instructors, and sparring with each of them, one at a time while the others stood as witnesses (in the Great Floor Circle). "Cuinanin" had a good kick too, for his level. It was probably his best feature, and it caused his head to swell a little bit. Leishman hated haughtiness and high-mindedness and expected his instructors to know and keep their proper place around him; especially in the presence of others.
So, then, when it was "Cuinanin's" turn to put-up, he started to show-off like he was really a hot-shot and Leishman addressed the problem, in a manner very characteristic of him. He's known for humiliating smart-ass instructors and disciples in Seminars. He has drawn blood on a number of occasions, and even broken the ear-drum of one his top instructors, as a lesson. Anyway, he delivered a back-kick to "Cuinanin's" mid-section, which "Cuinanin" swears went straight through him and out the back side. It was the chi-force he felt, no doubt. And according to what I was told, the kick left a visible foot print bruise on "Cuinanin's" back, witnessed by everyone present. It sent him sailing through the air and he landed in a curled up fetal position, where he apparently remained for a long, long time, literally crying like a baby! Leishman just ignored him and proceeded teaching the rest of the lads, paying "Cuinanin" no attention, I believe. He eventually got up, but never stopped crying about it, for quite some time after. But did he really learn his lesson? I think not.
grasshopper- 08-22-2006
Wow Yen Hui,
Thanks for taking the time to write that great piece of missing TKF/ Moh Kempo history.
Very informative & appreciated.
Cheers
cam- 08-22-2006
Yah, that brings me back, the I-Ching connection....some of the same old bull___.
I don't argue the fact that he had good/very good skill but he had his own secrecy thing going as well. Somewhere along the way he had studied some baquazhang, he actually incorporated the tea-cup exercise into kenpo 2. Right where you did the bell-blocks on either side , he called it "serving the man" if memory serves. He also incorporated some of Ed Parker's philosophy into his style, read Infinite Insights into Kenpo and Ed Parker is talking about the co-ordinates of training, Leichman just added another co-ordinate, making it 4 instead of Parkers 3. I shelled out $1000.00 for that piece of rubbish!
Do you remember a Master Island? I think that was his name, he was apparently senior to Leishman?
And yes he did have incedible kicking ability!
MrE2Me2- 08-23-2006
Yen Hui,
I second Grasshopper in thanking you for that great piece.
I also found it very thought provoking.
The Edmonton history that I know is way different.
And with all due respect, I’m remembering a time from 29 years ago.
And it was before Phillip McAndrews died.
The Brian Leishman that I knew was completely and utterly loyal to Phillip McAndrews.
Devoted to him would not be too strong a word to use here.
Where Phillip led, Brian followed, period.
Phillip McAndrews was very unhappy when Brian Leishman was transferred to Calgary.
He actually said as much publicly.
Brian Leishman left Edmonton for Calgary just after he had received his first black belt.
He stayed in Calgary for all of two weeks and then he left for Ontario (or so Phillip said).
He fled.
A couple of years later, I was teaching in Surrey B.C. and I got a call.
It was from Brian Leishman and he was looking for Phillip.
He did not remember me but he was very insistent that he make contact with Phillip.
I lost track of what happened to him after that.
From the way you describe him in Ontario, he turned mean and controlling.
That isn’t at all surprising.
All of us from that era turned mean and controlling after a while.
Control and ferocity have their place and should be cultivated but…
It just became too easy to rule by force.
Too bad, really.
Regards, MrE2Me2
Without prejudice
E&OE
TKF_PHS- 08-23-2006
"serving the man"
That's a move? Sounds more like a phrase in a rap song. I love all the crappy names that are handed out for moves.
cam- 08-23-2006
Serving the man, yes it was a move, though it is used more of a exercise in Baqua from what I am aware of.
I never encountered any meanness from Leishman though he was strict, actually he usually had a big smile on his face. When he(Leishman) tested me for orange, it was actually a very quick test(1 hour), which really surprised me as when Mr. Richer tested me (and others) for yellow it was exhausting!
From what I remember, Leishman did wear the red sash but it was hidden under his uniform, only the tip of the sash was visible.
Some of his instructors went on to a place called Beyond Kung Fu in T.O., after that I know very little of except that E.L. is history.
As to the history of a Mr. Richer, when he left E.L., a training partner of mine from the beginning left with him for a while, a Jerry B.
Coincidentally a few months after I joined the Chen Taijiquan school I was re-acquainted with Jerry, he and I followed a very similar history as he as well went on to TKF and he was actually a big defender of Simon and the Moh style, that is until he had some experience with taiji, he has never looked back though he did post on one of those other anti-tkf forums for a short time.
cam- 08-23-2006
After thinking about Simon and Leishman, it's like they are kindred souls.
Simon made a mockery of Buddhism with his neo-chan nonsense and Leishman had his own far out ideas about Taoism. Leishman must have studied some Baquazhang after he left TKF, after all Baquazhang is based off the I-Ching, honestly I would sooner learn the interpretation of a Baqua master then off some anti-intellectual dilettante.
MrE2Me2- 08-24-2006
Hello Cam,
You posted,” I never encountered any meanness from Leishman though he was strict, actually he usually had a big smile on his face.”
I have not made myself clear here, so I’ll try again.
Brian Leishman was always charming when he worked with me.
But from what I have read, he broke an eardrum, drew blood etc.
I did as bad when trained and taught back in the day too.
I don’t do that anymore because my people don’t sign on for that.
Let me ask you some questions here.
Did Brian Leishman ever hold himself accountable for his actions?
Did these people he trained, understand and respect only violence?
How long would he have remained employed if he had done this at the Y.M.C.A.?
If I asked him these questions when we were alone, what would he do?
In my opinion, he and Olaf and a bunch of us from the old days were just bad.
No way around it, not even going to try.
I’m glad that the old days are gone.
There are better training methods available now.
It is up to us to find and implement them.
Regards, MrE2Me2
Without prejudice
E&OE
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