On Mastery and the Four Attributes of Yang (the Creative)
With regard to the true nature of kung-fu 'mastery', Grandmaster Frank DeMari has posted the following (@ http://www.kungfu.org/chang.shtml ):- "A traditional Chinese expression enumerates four levels a kung fu practitioner must pass through to reach the highest expertise. The first level is tan (courage), a brave, fearless spirit; second, lit (power) , which refers to the development of strength in muscles, tendons, and sinews. The third is kung fu (hard work) which means applying the dedication and perseverance necessary to learn. And finally there is ye (art), the expression of the very highest level, in which all techniques can be used effectively and effortlessly, demonstrating complete mastery of a style." Now, the above summary observation(s) strike me as having their basis in Hexagram (Principle) One of the I Ching; which articulates the Chinese philosophy or teaching of 'mastery', imo. According to Wilhelm's edition, the Master manifests four cardinal attributes: justice, perseverance, success, and sublimity. Courage correlates with justice, power with perseverance, hard work with success, and art with the sublime. Thus:- level 1 = courage = justice level 2 = power = perseverance level 3 = hard work = success level 4 = art = the sublime Grandmaster DeMari has also posted a two-part article/essay on the Definition of 'a True Master', which can be accessed at the following links:- Part I @ http://www.kungfu.org/messagegm16a.shtml Part II @ http://www.kungfu.org/messagegm16b.shtml

I wonder if Grand Master Simon has achieved Level 1. Any comments?

To all, (You know, when I want to rile my wife, I have a sure fire method. I’ll turn to her, adopt a sanctimonious face, and say,” OBEY!!!” She just laughs and sticks her tongue out at me.) Why does everyone here think it is the secretary who is to blame (alone)? Why does no one every see that the biz was so much like a dance studio? Comments? Regards, MrE2Me2 Without prejudice E&OE

Grasshopper - that was a funny post, thanks. MrE - I'm not sure what you're getting at with the secretary comment... but I've been lazy about reading the back-posts :) Obey - Nice. Have you tried 'Honour' and seen what the reaction is? :wink:

Hi MrE2ME2, It's not the secrecy that is the issue. It is the lies. If it was just on or two exagerations about his past that would be one thing, But as Drunken Monkey pointed out there are not just a few minor claims that Olaf has made... Let's just stick to the one I have referanced... Guardian of the original Temple Plates given to him by a cousin of Fu Yen? Although I don't know the full history on this - the likelyhood that a white German guy would be the keeper of these plates and have them on dispaly in a storefront in small town BC is almost preposterous. First I think the Chinese government would be lobbying heavily to get these back if they were the real deal. Secondy any asshole could throw a rock through the window and steal them considering how priceless they would be.... "Oh wait, those are only copies, the real ones are locked in Olafs safe" a Supervisor says.... Apparently the real truth is that these plates are fakes of a fake, they never existed. The Temple Cauldron is a Shaolin "fable", a myth that people in the west started to believe as fact, and like everything Olaf has done, he took a piece of little known history and twisted it around to make it part of his own. That is a huge fabrication, one that even he can't talk his way out of. I personally don't know that any of this is 100% true, but it would explain why no-one from the Chinese Governmnet is calling the Simons. They are probably laughing their buts off. Now Head Office in GF is up for sale and the urn is long gone. I still have picture of it when it was on display, maybe I should post it. Unfortunately for a long time I believed it was real, so did a lot of other people. Like most teachers I also helped perpetuate that crap which is why I am particulairly annoyed by it. What a bunch of mindless saps we all were. :?: Not anymore.

Hello Drunken Monkey, I have documentation that states the following; Doreen June Simon Nee Urness, 1. She was the President of Simon Kung fu Studios Vancouver Ltd. in 1972. 2. She was the owner of 9 shares of the aforementioned company in1972. 3. She was also the Business Manager in 1972. 1a. Olaf Simon has signed here as the Secretary of Simon Kung Fu Studios in 1972. 2a. He is listed here as the owner of one share of this company in 1972. 3a. He is also listed as the Executive Officer of this company in 1972.. Without prejudice E&OE Yes, I have tried “Honour” L.O.L.! But only when I have a running start. The one that gets to her, as well, is the line from traditional vows. “The wife shall be subservient to the husband”. That is such a load but she is a good sport about it. Besides, she gets her own back regularly. Regards, MrE2Me2

Grasshopper - I couldn't have said it better myself. Go figure we'd agree on something! :wink: I just this moment posted a separate discussion based around the myths and stories of Simon that were spread among the students as fact... one of my examples was that nonsense about the Shaolin urns! In fact I remember one instructor assuring us that Simon bore the scars, until he showed up at a KF Club wearing a short-sleeved shirt. I was still totally on board with TKF at the time, and watching that instructor skulk around, embarrassed about his mistake, was a demoralizing thing. Before long, people were questioning everything, and that was the beginning of the end. That's when the forums started, the house of cards blew down, and the rest is all sad history...

Hello Grasshopper, I see that we posted over one another. Oh…Wait…I’m…Having…An…Independent…Thought! L.O.L.! I think that he started telling things and it got carried away. And let’s face it, what was told sold well! As I posted here to Temple Brotherhood. http://templekungforum.14.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=30&start=25 Something’s sell well, even when they aren’t accurate And it can be about any art. But I think the time has come to clear the air here. And that is what we are doing. Regards, MrE2Me2 (As an aside, when my people get to green belt we have them adopt a special title. We refer to them as Kwai Chang insert-first-name-here. Grasshopper = Kwai Chang insert-first-name-here.) Without prejudice E&OE

MrE - I understand now - thanks. I was always under the impression that June was a real force behind the scenes. While Olaf always managed a bit of gruff charisma, the TKF employees always seemed subdued and uncomfortable around her graciousness Nanlao. ...subservient... hmm - that's one I'd probably stay away from :)

Hello Grasshopper, Uh… I didn’t mean to imply you were a green belt. I meant that you use a nic about the same character from the same T.V. show that I use. “Kwai Chang Bob”, I almost used this one, instead. Regards, MrE2Me2

Hello Drunken Monkey, About "subservient", I always know where that line of good sense is. Then I take a running jump past it. Regards, MrE2Me2

"Then I take a running jump past it." Now that's having confidence in your training! 8)

Either that or it is a psychotic reaction. L.O.L.!

I remember one instructor assuring us that Simon bore the scars bwahahahahahahahahahahahaha :lol: make the pain stop. Don't blame Olaf for that one, I never heard that Blame some over zealous instructor hehe, even they can be accused of getting carried away and building on some of those crazy myths... lol I'm still chuckling, just when you thought you had heard it all....!! PS, No worries MrE2ME2. i chose my name implying the fact that when it comes to the MA path, I still have a long way to go.... and that I watch too many movies damn rice paper...

I read Margittes book. She said plenty of very kind things about Olaf. She didn't say Olaf learned from a magazine, she said they both learned from a magazine together. She said she was the Jr. Instructor. She didn't even add any little attacks about parting ways because of anything negative. It was all extremely polite. She also said that Olaf and herself learned the concept of blocking and striking at the same time from Bruce Lee and before that time they had no concept of that but instead would block THEN strike. It was their first exposure to Kung Fu. If Olaf had trained with a Shaolin monk and remembered the instruction then he would have remembered that much I am sure. The monks block and strike at the same time very often. Anyhow on another note I took Piano lessons and playedfootball for years as a child. I don't remember the plays I memorized and used over and over in football nor do I recall any songs on the piano. What is the likelyhood that Olaf would recall his Kung Fu training properly after so many years of atrophy? Or did he go out and train religeously throughout his life? Somehow I have doubts about that. Just use common sense and figure out for yourself what seems most likely. As to what is a "master?" I wonder why it matters so much. A person is either skilled or not skilled. They are either a good teacher or a bad teacher. And of course the shades of grey. I think TKF created a mysticism about masters and their supernatural skill. I have met self proclaimed masters with very poor skill. Their students still believed in them. I don't think I would ever call myself a master. It seems to be a path of egotism I wish to avoid. Teacher is good enough for me. ;)