Just to get the record straight....
Good Afternoon everyone, I have told Grasshopper that I would be staying out of this forum because I truly believe that the moderators such as Grasshopper and now Sifu Shawn and MrE2Me2 have done a fine job of moderating this site and it has for the most part been a forum of individuals that enjoy the Moh Temple style or would like to discuss it. There is of course nothing wrong with a good-hearted debate of techniques and personal options in martial arts train. After all, isn’t that what it’s all about? Finding what you like and making it work for you? I have mentioned to Grasshopper that I would of course be checking in on this site from time to time and hoped that it would not turn into the trash pit that we have seen in the past and that it would be kept on the up and up So do we monitor this site…yes, to a point. However, Geof Crossman and myself are quite busy trying to run additional companies along with restructuring the TKF Organization after all that has happen in the past few years. This is with a large help from the other Senior Members and Masters. Obviously, it doesn’t provide us much time to surf and online respond to questions and that is why we don’t. Plus we’re kinda face to face guys in our nature. A current member of our organization drew my attention to a comment made by “North”, whoever you are, today. It states the following from Page 5 of “Credentials”… “Simon gets played up alot at TKF and the uninformed take things at face value and believe it. The worst for me was a conversation with Swanstrom about 7-8 years ago when he was just a student in Edmonton south. He had just finnished visiting temple lands and had seen the plates that Simon was entrusted with by the Shaolin monks. (lol) He believed it completely. Even me at a gulible stage realized this seemed like a very flawed situation. I wonder if Simon started these stories about himself or if others somehow created them?” Well, Mr. North you are a liar. Yes, I’m not going to sugar coat that one for you pal…in case you missed it the first time ….Liar! The first time that I was at the Temple land was in 2003, so do the math. The plates that you talk about are in the downtown location to which I have been to previously, however these are not original plates…I repeat not “original plates”. That being said, neither Geof or myself have ever seen the “original plates” and we have always stated as much. Until we do we will not make such claims as we only tell others what we have seen or heard directly from the big guy. Now if you are confused and had some grand story was told to you by a misinformed junior instructor that has been here since coffee break and who was probably trying way too hard as most of them always did (that’s a compliment to those guys by the way) and you believed it all…well quote your comments accurately. Some of the stories about O.E. Simon that were puked out by some various people are ridiculous. The man is accomplished enough that you don’t need to add lib and the stories that we occasionally chose to tell are straight from the horses mouth or what we have personally witness…PERIOD! Over the past year we have seen a number of former students come back and I currently have a number of former chief instructors who are also back training in Edmonton. The stories that they can tell could fill another website let me tell you. Remember we have been here the longest (some over 25years) and have lived through all the crap with the rest of you. That again is why you have seen a change. When people tell their tales to Geof or myself we don’t deny their story - never will. Some times just when I think I’ve heard it all I get another whammer. That is why you have seem a massive change into how thing are done. We refer to it as the “new old way” of running things. New for some, and thankfully old for others. Yes, we have made changes on how the system should run based on our conversations with GMS and the advice that he has given. Who do you think came up with the idea of the Black Belt Board and Neo Ch’an/ Pai Hu Shih Council…and why? From a business stand point we have made the changes needed and if it works or fails it will be our responsibility. We will not attempt to use Grandmaster’s picture as a shield for the decisions we have made as grown men…and yup…you CAN quote me on that. We’re big boys and can take responsibility for our actions, plain and simple and that IS a new concept. If you want to blame GMS blame him for not having tighter rains on his team of horse for the last two decades. So once again Mr. North, if you are going to quote me get it straight. The days of us hiding in our studio are over. On that note, a personal tip of my hat to the moderators again. I think for the most part you guys have done a good job of keeping this forum to a place where people can share stories and techniques…thank you and keep up the good work! I also think that the people with a bunch of hateful agendas that have lords know what for motives have seen that and moved on, realizing that they can’t just spout of like they did on the last few forums, not to mention post pics and video of things that would make an pervert shudder. They have to conduct themselves as gentlemen or you’ll see that they do. This will be a single post as I see no need for any interference from us on a site with mature discussions from people on their love of martial arts train. I merely wanted to set the record straight when I’ve been personally taken out of context. So please just get your facts right when it comes to Geof, Myself or the other Senior TKF Members. On that note, feel free to call or stop into one of the location if you’re in our area. As I stated before, a lot of past members and former instructors who where told they could “never” train again for some political BS have and we have no problem welcoming them back home. …The tea and coffee pots are always on! You guys have the address I know. Take care and best wish in your training whatever that take you. DJ Swanstrom
Good Afternoon everyone, I have told Grasshopper that I would be staying out of this forum because I truly believe that the moderators such as Grasshopper and now Sifu Shawn and MrE2Me2 have done a fine job of moderating this site and it has for the most part been a forum of individuals that enjoy the Moh Temple style or would like to discuss it. There is of course nothing wrong with a good-hearted debate of techniques and personal options in martial arts train. After all, isn’t that what it’s all about? Finding what you like and making it work for you? I have mentioned to Grasshopper that I would of course be checking in on this site from time to time and hoped that it would not turn into the trash pit that we have seen in the past and that it would be kept on the up and up So do we monitor this site…yes, to a point. However, Geof Crossman and myself are quite busy trying to run additional companies along with restructuring the TKF Organization after all that has happen in the past few years. This is with a large help from the other Senior Members and Masters. Obviously, it doesn’t provide us much time to surf and online respond to questions and that is why we don’t. Plus we’re kinda face to face guys in our nature. A current member of our organization drew my attention to a comment made by “North”, whoever you are, today. It states the following from Page 5 of “Credentials”… “Simon gets played up alot at TKF and the uninformed take things at face value and believe it. The worst for me was a conversation with Swanstrom about 7-8 years ago when he was just a student in Edmonton south. He had just finnished visiting temple lands and had seen the plates that Simon was entrusted with by the Shaolin monks. (lol) He believed it completely. Even me at a gulible stage realized this seemed like a very flawed situation. I wonder if Simon started these stories about himself or if others somehow created them?” Well, Mr. North you are a liar. Yes, I’m not going to sugar coat that one for you pal…in case you missed it the first time ….Liar! The first time that I was at the Temple land was in 2003, so do the math. The plates that you talk about are in the downtown location to which I have been to previously, however these are not original plates…I repeat not “original plates”. That being said, neither Geof or myself have ever seen the “original plates” and we have always stated as much. Until we do we will not make such claims as we only tell others what we have seen or heard directly from the big guy. Now if you are confused and had some grand story was told to you by a misinformed junior instructor that has been here since coffee break and who was probably trying way too hard as most of them always did (that’s a compliment to those guys by the way) and you believed it all…well quote your comments accurately. Some of the stories about O.E. Simon that were puked out by some various people are ridiculous. The man is accomplished enough that you don’t need to add lib and the stories that we occasionally chose to tell are straight from the horses mouth or what we have personally witness…PERIOD! Over the past year we have seen a number of former students come back and I currently have a number of former chief instructors who are also back training in Edmonton. The stories that they can tell could fill another website let me tell you. Remember we have been here the longest (some over 25years) and have lived through all the crap with the rest of you. That again is why you have seen a change. When people tell their tales to Geof or myself we don’t deny their story - never will. Some times just when I think I’ve heard it all I get another whammer. That is why you have seem a massive change into how thing are done. We refer to it as the “new old way” of running things. New for some, and thankfully old for others. Yes, we have made changes on how the system should run based on our conversations with GMS and the advice that he has given. Who do you think came up with the idea of the Black Belt Board and Neo Ch’an/ Pai Hu Shih Council…and why? From a business stand point we have made the changes needed and if it works or fails it will be our responsibility. We will not attempt to use Grandmaster’s picture as a shield for the decisions we have made as grown men…and yup…you CAN quote me on that. We’re big boys and can take responsibility for our actions, plain and simple and that IS a new concept. If you want to blame GMS blame him for not having tighter rains on his team of horse for the last two decades. So once again Mr. North, if you are going to quote me get it straight. The days of us hiding in our studio are over. On that note, a personal tip of my hat to the moderators again. I think for the most part you guys have done a good job of keeping this forum to a place where people can share stories and techniques…thank you and keep up the good work! I also think that the people with a bunch of hateful agendas that have lords know what for motives have seen that and moved on, realizing that they can’t just spout of like they did on the last few forums, not to mention post pics and video of things that would make an pervert shudder. They have to conduct themselves as gentlemen or you’ll see that they do. This will be a single post as I see no need for any interference from us on a site with mature discussions from people on their love of martial arts train. I merely wanted to set the record straight when I’ve been personally taken out of context. So please just get your facts right when it comes to Geof, Myself or the other Senior TKF Members. On that note, feel free to call or stop into one of the location if you’re in our area. As I stated before, a lot of past members and former instructors who where told they could “never” train again for some political BS have and we have no problem welcoming them back home. …The tea and coffee pots are always on! You guys have the address I know. Take care and best wish in your training whatever that take you. DJ Swanstrom