The Moh "Temple" System is the style of Martial Arts that was trained, developed and taught by Grand Master O. E. Simon, the founder of "Simons Karate" and later "Temple Kung Fu Studios". Pesently all his schools have closed, but there are many people who still train and teach this style.
According to his book "The Law of The Fist", O. E. Simon states that Moh has its origins within Shaolin-Ssu and is possibly named after the master who created it... :idea:
There is much debate about this...
Is it in reference toTat Moh, who is also known as Bodhidharma?
Hello 47MartialMan,
Moh is the name of this particular form of Kempo.
We are primarily a percussive art (we hit more than we grapple).
Kempo means “Law of the Fist” although it can be interpreted as “Way of the Fist”.
Go here and learn about our history.
http://templekungforum.14.forumer.com/viewforum.php?f=1
To learn about specifics of the art, any of these threads will help.
http://templekungforum.14.forumer.com/viewforum.php?f=4
Go here and check out any of these threads to read about our past experts.
http://templekungforum.14.forumer.com/viewforum.php?f=17
It has ties to American Kenpo Karate which you can explore on these threads.
http://templekungforum.14.forumer.com/viewforum.php?f=16
You posted, “
Is it in reference toTat Moh, who is also known as Bodhidharma?”
Some say yes and some say no.
There is some controversy about us, go here to learn about it.
http://templekungforum.14.forumer.com/viewforum.php?f=1
Regards, MrE2Me2
Without prejudice
E&OE
Is it in reference toTat Moh, who is also known as Bodhidharma?
Interesting point, it is possible that is where the name came from.
47MartianMan, what is your MA backround?
MrE2Me2 - thanks for the links....
grasshopper -
I was born in the City of New Orleans, in the State of Louisiana, USA in 1955. I began training from being somewhat "forced" to it. Because of my environment and resulting attitude, I was aggressive. Around the age of 10, I was always getting into fights. There was no inclination to solve any dispute other than physical. I had many punishments from my parents. A friend of my mother told her martial arts was a great discipline. So unlike many others who seek out the physical application of martial arts first, I was set on the course of its discipline values. In 1965 out of behavioral problems, my mother, against my father’s motion, signed me in a Karate school. My father is Italian and in those days could not accept anything non-American/Italian and had many prejudices.
As stated, my mother was told by that friend that martial arts, with the proper instructor, could give me great discipline. Finding it odd that such a thing could do so. (As my years of physical training, I was on a quest for mental knowledge. This is what is known as the “Psychological Order of Surfeit”. Simply, if something is introduced in a disciplinary way, the desire for it is suppressed. (1)
Hence that what martial arts should do. It could be the main reason why the Chen monks art Shaolin Zi allowed renegade rebels teach within the temple sanctuary. I have many contacts, personal and correspondence with monks from many sects. The “Shaolin Fighting Monk” idea became more far-fetched. Thus it took me awhile to over come the denial.)
Anyway, back to my early years. I had trained with a martial art that was to become the oldest in the city. The style was Shotokan and the instructor was Sensei Takayuki Mikami. From 1966 to 1967 I had trained there but I was under the tutelage of one his assistants. Because of a change in residency and family finances, I had to discontinue. From 1968 to 1972, I had trained in Hapkido/Tae Kwon Do from a Korean Instructor named Charles Parks. Towards the later, I was training simultaneously with a local instructor, Edward Lee, whom was well-trained in a local Chinese family art (Lee Gah Kuyhn and Chuang Kuyhn). He was also popular with a local jJdo club. And he had training from a local, but private, Japanese Karate instructor. My best training era was with Mr. Lee from 1973 onward. Under his advice and knowing Charles Parks, it was agreed to still have me train in Hapkido/Tae Kwon Do. (Not to loose face, Charles Parks did train and work out with the Lee and Chuang Families)
Venerable and cultured older Chinese masters rarely refer to their martial arts as Gong Fu (Kung Fu). Using the terms Gah (Gar), Kuyhn(Kune), or Chuan. Ranking per belt or level is not material symbolic, but hierarchy per skill as a family title. You were an “older brother”, not by age, but by skill and time. It became incongruous and risible to see Karate Gi(s) with many patches, emblems, patterns and colors. Just as aberrant are kung Fu schools with color-ranking sashes. Sadly borrowing from Karate-based ranking instead of staying to authenticity.
Footnote: (1) A good motion picture that depicts this order is titled “Brewster Millions”.
I was so incorrigible, that I was kicked out of the first three, 3, martial art schools. I accidentally found a martial art instructor whom taught out of his residence. Because of this, his guidelines were easier to remain strict and un-yielding.
As I had advanced, so did my attitude. Fighting became less desirable. This instructor started to teach me philosophical lessons. Also, by his referral, I was allowed to visit his instructors, whom also taught only from their residence.
However, my environment at that time, would not allow me to completely change. Violence and physical conflict was always apparent in that environment.
I had decided to go to college, which going to college in a drinking town such as New Orleans, the bars were open 24/7, that environment was far from ideal.
After college, and marriage, it was time to take things to a better sense. A higher degree of intellect. I had changed my environment by moving and working in one far less violent. This had me change my attitude further about physical conflict/fighting.
As I had aged, I had finally realized what most of my instructors had been saying about the philosophical aspects of martial arts.
However I am becoming a scholar of martial art and military history, philosophy, and various religious theologies. (The later learning much about Buddhism-not to practice, but to understand. And woe, do I have some research on so-called "Fighting Monks")
I meet quarterly with Mr. Lee and Mr. Chuang.
(Being with them so long-I was requested to no longer call either "teacher". They would probably frown upon me using "Mr.")
Upon a higher level-meeting every three months is all that is needed.
These are review periods after given workout assignments.
I have a small following of students.
I conduct free public defense awareness seminars. (Notice how I stated "awareness". In my view, self defense or defense has a lot of mental and philosophical information that mere physical tactics cannot cover.)
For these seminars I invite outside people such as;
Attorneys - (To explain legal concepts of defense)
Psychologists - (To explain and understand assailants, victims, and violence)
LEOs - (To give account of street situations, encounters, and discussions)
By most accounts, my stats were interior. There wasn’t room and time for a fight to end up on the ground. I can see were LEOs would have to. Having to subdue a perp. BTW- I had observed a LEO trying to subdue a perp and before they could get to the ground, the perp punched the officer so hard, to KO and break his jaw. People stepped in. The LEO was taken off-guard by the smaller perp.
Also, you have to realize I was active with confrontations in the 60's-70's. By the 80's-90, bar room activity was high and such was not the case for ground fighting stats. Ground fighting stats may have to be linked to most outdoor confrontations. My stats on outdoor confrontations are from my experience, either observation or participation. There were others there to break it or disrupt it by others wanting to be involved. As far as "If a fight is interrupted, it may not be a fight at all"-a fight is any physical confrontation to do bodily harm. So I don’t agree with that. As with "so I wouldn't base my training on hoping someone interrupts my fight for my life". I agree completely. One should train in ALL aspects of fighting if one is to be effective. Some people who hold firmly to the "most fights end up on the ground" look to somewhat dismiss the idea of the need to block and strike.
The strange thing about fighting is that much of the population does not train nor fight.
I can't remember the last time, or any time my father, mother, sister, aunts, uncles, etc., had to train to fight or had been in a fight.
Why do these people of the large populace find it not necessary?
Old proverb;
Live by the Sword (gun); die by the Sword (gun).
So are we to assume that since martial artists are occupied by fighting, that their chances are greater being involved?
So with the choice, there is the consequence.
And with the consequence, you choose to seek advice on how to cure the injury.
So are we to assume that since martial artists are occupied by fighting, that their chances are greater being involved?
I would say there is perhaps some truth in those words...
Thank you for your openess
:)
Hmm... I grew up in a rough town and got in alot of fights growing up. I figured I was a "streetfighter" before I ever set foot in a studio.
My first instructor humbled me extremely fast which was difficult to believe. I would have thought my sheer "toughness" would carry me through any fight before that.
So as a martial artist I am now more aware of the levels of skill that exist for fighting. Having that awareness makes me less inclined to get into a fight.
I also seem to care alot less about proving to others that I am tough. That I am sure is partly to do with age, but also to do with having higher self esteem. "I" know the truth and that is all that truly matters.
I would say I could run away from a fight and feel wise rather than shameful. That is something the younger, untrained, and cocky version of myself could never do.
