Burton and this forum

[Anonymous]

Hello everybody

I just wanted to take the time to say what a great place this is to come and learn, interact, and grow with eachother.  From time to time i drop in on other forums, spirituality, martial arts, wilderness survival etc.   I find many times especially in religion and martial arts, that if anything is questioned, be it about a practice, a art, a teacher, a training method etc, the poster is immediatley attacked.   The forum members get very defensive about what they do, their teachers, their beliefs.   They hold to them so tightly, almost as if they are brainwashed at times.   I have watched many boards and the way people are treated is unbelievable at times.   Even the instructors and high ranking students act like schoolyard kids ganging up on a poster if they even ask a question that might not blindly follow what their art or teacher is preaching.   Recently i was apart of a conversation on the Sayoc Kali forums, it was amazing to me how so many of the teachers, high ranking students, and even newbies banded togather in such a defensive way.   They then recant and say that its only because many people have not experienced their art first hand and that the poster was responded to by people that have first hand knowledge not defensive statements.   Anyways it really turned me off, i have wanted to get more involved with some of the Sayoc material but from everything i have seen, and the people i have ran into on message boards as well as in real life, i get this very uneasy negative impression, especially of the higher ranking students and teachers.   I know that some of the material is good, but damn, i dont want to be apart of anything where people come across that way.   I dunno, what do you guys think, i mean i want to continue to grow as a martial artist but not at the expense of an art that produces such individuals.   Am i talking crazy here, what do you guys think?   Anyhow, i have stopped going on all the other boards that i used to because it makes me sad how fellow martial artists treat eachother, how they argue over petty things, and how it almost always turns into something other than what the forum was orginally meant to be.   Burton, i am so glad you have this place for us to come and exchange ideas without feeling like we are going to be attacked for the slightest infraction.   Thank you and all the other forum members for continuing to demonstrate how true martial artists conduct themselves.  

Michael

[Inirie]

I second that. Everyone has been really nice even when answering my beginner questions and correcting my misconceptions. Ive learned so much here.

Also, Kudos to Burton and the administrators of this board for saying that they would simply delete any negative posts left by ignorant people instead of "knuckling up" verbally.

Thank you all!
Reggie Velasco

[TANK21]

This forum has displayed some captivating posts and I feel compelled many times to join in and put in my 2 cents. The way they do it is by exploring reality drills that few athletes explore. There were older forums that had this concept down to a tee, but lately kind of faded away. Then I discovered this forum and read some of the many excellent articles Burt has written. Absolutely awesome. I don't think anyone will find a better representation of Jeet  Kune Do than what you're free to read here.

If the sayoc kali or any other forum discussed drills and tips to improve one's knife fighting as well as this forum then by all means join in. If they're more interested in politics, lineage and how great they are and how inferior everyone else is then leave. Simple.

But, out of curiousity I did check out the sayoc forum (I love FMA!) and found some interesting stuff. It was mostly seminar announcements and how to get started in this art. The moderator Guro Steve L. seems courteous to beginners. But what you read and what you actually see can be quite different. In other words if you really want to know if people can "walk the walk, not just talk the talk" you're going to have to actually train with them. Don't let a few derogatory remarks in a forum dissuade you from learning a martial art that may have some hidden gems in it. Because you'll never know unless you try.

On a side note, I've had the opportunity to train with a Sayoc instructor, Jeff Chung, and he was funny, honest and intent on making sure we knew his stuff. My buddy and I came late to his seminar and Jeff stayed to train us during  the lunch break to make sure we got his first drilll "3 of 9" down. So, there's one Sayoc instructor I highly recommend.

Peace.

[Burton]

There was a pretty good martial artist who said "Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, add what is specifically your own."   Who was that guy?   I suggest you do that with all martial arts resources, including our forum.  
   JKDU and this forum is about being honest about improving our martial arts efficiency in a real self-defense situation.  If someone says something contrary to our way of thinking, we should first examine that comment to see if they are right!   Then we test it out and see what kind of consistent results we get over time.  Most of all, we should have fun with the process!

[Peter Ruvolo]

Burton,

Hey it's Pete. Remember me?? I used to go to the Hermosa Beach school before you married the beautifull Sarah and moved away to paradise. Anyway, I moved back to florida in 2000 and got married myself. I've got a little JKD'r now to take care of too.  I have tried to email you a few times to see what you have been up to but I may have an old address or something. I am glad to see you are doing well and still doing your thing.

Is the Hermosa Beach school still open? What ever happened to Bobby & Brenda. Send them my regards if you ever see them!

-Pete

[Burton]

Hi Pete!
   I do remember you.  The Hermosa Beach school has been closed down for a few years, but things are certainly hopping in Hawaii and many other JKDU locations around the world.  I hope all is well with you and your family.   Aloha!

[Peter Ruvolo]

Aloha, It is nice to be able to communicate with you here with out the hastle of timezones and expensive phone bills! This was a great idea and very generous of you to offer this kind of service. I am not surprised though you always were a generous and sincere guy.
I treasure the short time spent with you and all that you taught me.

If you are ever in florida please look me up! My contact info is in your forum database. It will be a while before I can go to hawaii.

regards,

Pete

[Burton]

I'll do that Pete.  Aloha!