How big is your "us"

[TuhonBill]

The following is an article I did for the Winter 2000 issue of the PTI newsletter. I’m posting it here to serve as a sort of mission statement about my views on posting on martial art internet forums and looking at life in general.






HOW BIG IS YOUR "US"?


By Tuhon Bill McGrath





Yesterday I celebrated my 40th birthday. I did what I guess is normal at such a milestone in a person's life. I looked back over my life, on what I did right, what I did wrong and, hopefully, what I learned from these experiences.


When I started training in the Pekiti-Tirsia system I was 14 years old. It very quickly became a major part of my life. You know how it's not unusual for boys that age to get REALLY involved in a sport or hobby to the point of getting fanatical about it. In that fanaticism it was easy to have an "us vs. them" mentality. When arguing cars or sci-fi movies this is no big thing, but I think we can take it too far in the martial arts. I think this may be an instinctive holdover from millennia of tribal living, where those in the tribe were "us" and all
those outside the tribe were potential enemies and therefore "them." Or maybe it's a psychological defensive mechanism as the vast majority of mammalian species have an aversion to killing members of their own species, so humans must think of anyone they might potentially have to fight not as a human, an "us", but as a non-human, a "them."

In any event, after seeing so many other students coming to Pekiti-Tirsia after having black belts in other martial arts and hearing them say how they wished they had started with Pekiti, I thought that Pekiti-Tirsia was the only martial art worth studying and really the only endeavor worth doing for any real man. My "us" back then was all Pekiti-Tirsia practitioners and their families and my "them" was everyone else on the planet. When I was 17 Tuhon Gaje met Penchak Silat instructor EddieJaffri and had us train with him. Now my "us" had to expand as Tuhon Gaje had glowing things to say about Penchak in general and Eddie taught us not one but four different styles of this art. My "us" now included Pekiti and Penchak people. I still considered other styles of FMA in the "them" category at this time. Partly because I might have to fight them in a tournament, and partly from the influence of Tuhon Gaje, who had that remnant tribalism common to his generation of Eskrimadors that looked upon all other Eskrimadors (especially those from a province not their own) as a potential enemy and therefore a "them". This began to change for me after I taught my first solo seminar at
another FMA school in California in 1979. For the next 6 years I traveled around the country conducting follow up seminars behind Tuhon Gaje at a number of different martial art schools. My "us" began to expand as I began to gain respect for the quality of other arts and their instructors. Starting first with those who trained under Guro Inosanto, then Filipino martial arts in general, then Thai Boxing, then S. E. Asian martial arts, then Chinese martial arts, I finally came to the conclusion that every martial art had something to offer if you found the right person to present it.

My "us" had expanded to all martial artists of quality, but this was really still a very parochial attitude. My attitude began to change in 1986 when I became a NY state court officer. My first assignment out from the academy was to Brooklyn Criminal Court, where for the first few months new guys like myself were assigned to the bull pen taking prisoners before the judge for arraignment proceedings and returning them to the jail facilities. In my first month I had to deal with such prisoners as a male prostitute arrested for orally sodomizing his own two year old daughter and a drug dealer caught red handed (pun intended) dumping the dismembered and bagged body parts of his rival into a dumpster. Since then I have had to guard any number of murderers, rapists and drug dealers during their trials. I have had to guard in court members of a drug gang who literally wiped out the entire family of a rival, down to a two year old girl, and still had to try and remain emotionally detached. This week, at the courtroom where I am currently assigned the defendant was convicted of orally and anally sodomizing his girlfriend's six-year-old daughter. On his taped confession played aloud in the courtroom he said that the little girl was really the one to blame because she "came on" to him. It's cases like these that helped me clarify my definition of who should really fall into the "us" and "them" categories.

Now if you wouldn't mind a personal question, just how big is your "us"?


If you believe that, if you are ever to use your martial arts training in a life and death situation it will not be in a "to the death" duel with another martial artist, but will be with a human predator intent on harming you or your loved ones, then I invite you to redefine your current definitions for "us" and "them". It is far too easy to get into petty squabbles over "my teacher is a better" (fill in the blank ... "fighter", "instructor" or my personal favorite for foolishness "historian") than your teacher". As if the gang of home invaders; whose game plan is to duct tape you to a chair while they gang rape your wife before slitting both your throats, gives a rat's ass who your teacher was or who he learned from or what the "correct" name for your art really is. The only thing that will impress a member of that gang will be when you make one of his important body parts stop functioning or when everything suddenly goes black.

I have been told by several Filipinos that the way the Spanish were able to conquer such a wide area of the Philippines was by going to island "A" and telling the inhabitants "Hey guys, we are going to make war on your enemies over on island "B". Want to join in?" And the Filipinos of island "A" would help the Spanish make war on the Filipinos of island "B". Of course you can guess what the Spanish did the following month. "Hey guys on island "C" we are going to make war on your enemies on island "A". Want to join in..."


I would suggest that if your current definition of "them" includes any other law abiding person (including law abiding martial artists of another style) then you really have not met the real "them" and are wasting time and energy guarding against the wrong enemy.


Regards, Tuhon Bill McGrath

[puntadas]

my us is huge Bill! ...anytime.

[Danny T]

Well that's all fine and good but My Instructor is Bigger than your instructor!!!

Oh, uhh..., You Are My Instructor!

Uh, nevermind.

Danny

[Haku]

My us is so big it don't even stink.

[Brian R. VanCise]

Nice article Bill!

[Ray Smith]

Reminds me of thet Pink Floyd song "us and Them"

Ray Smith

[PG Michael B]

I love this article, it should be mandatory reading for all martial artists. To me, my US is consumed by ALL. I do not find myself nor my art of choice superior to anyone else's beliefs, ways or methods, whether they be a practitioner or not. I simply see my self as a man who loves what he does, who chose martial arts as his passion (hell I can't golf and I look stupid in tennis shorts so MA was it). It all comes down to respect for others. Now to those miscreant blood suckers that Tuhon Bill described...yep that is what we will face in reality, some ding dong hell bent on gutting you for your truck keys and 30 bucks, or any other scenario of stupidity you can think of. I have never in my 28 years of practicing martial arts had a duel on the street. I have been a bouncer, a body guard etc...and it just doesn't go down that way. Good people (martialists included) do not go out and try to hurt other people. Life is just too valuable for that. The THEM do that nonsense, the predators of men do that shite....and by all means it is open season if they come knocking on my door...Master Ching Ching Pow taught me that...peace..and once again GREAT ARTICLE!

[Ron Kosakowski]

My ol' lady says men always exagerate how big their "us" is. I hope she isn't talking about me when she says that! ;)

[Jack Latorre]

Of the many good articles in the PTI newsletter so far, this particular one is my favorite. When I first read it to my wife, she began to understand a bit better why I train, and why I slap my forehead when I read/hear/see the false divsions that some folks tend to make in regards to ANYTHING, in particular martial arts.

[lhommedieu]

A few years ago I bought a big house with my wife and daughter in a nice suburban neighborhood, and started enjoying the peace and quiet in my back yard in the afternoons and on the weekends - until about a year later when my next door neighbors started playing their music on an almost constant basis. The house next door was a rental and was used by a landscaper in charge of a small crew of hispanic workers. Parties would start after the work day was over, and the music would usually spill out whatever car had pulled in closest to the group of men who had congregated that day.

I like the traditional Mexican music that they played, but Mexican hip-hop is not my to my taste - and I don't think that I should be subjected to anyone's music on a constant basis. I started asking over the fence that they quiet down , and came over to their property a few times to make the same request. The results were usually just temporary, and after a couple of months I was usually seething inside whenever the music started up. One night I went over with a large wrench in my back pocket and made my usual request to a group of men that I didn't recognize who were drinking beer around a small fire. Something definitely didn't seem right and the hairs on the back of my neck started to stand up. When I got home I realized that I could have easily gotten into something over my head - not that it probably would have happened, but that it could have. A prison term for manslaughter was definitely not the result for which I was aiming.

From that point on I called the police and made a complaint whenever the noise got too loud, and guess what? - the parties stopped happening. One night a young man stopped over at the house and asked if we would mind if they threw a birthday party for his daughter: I said "of course I wouldn't mind - just try to keep it down late at night because it's a school night." He agreed and the "them" had become "us."

I'm sure that everyone has had similar experiences wherein your dealings with a "them" are exacerbated by feelings of anger and frustration (I've a few in my lifetime). My confrontation with a group of men late that night occurred because I "personalized" the issue (made it an "us" vs. "them") instead of thinking it through calmly and rationally.

It's not easy to stay calm when asking unreasonable people to behave reasonably, but the sooner you recognize the neighbor or average citizen who p**ses you off is not in the same category as the kind of animal Tuhon Bill describes in his post above, the sooner you realize why training in a martial art like Pekiti Tirsia should include a moral compass as part of the tool set. Someone does not deserve a pikal thrust to the eyes just because he cuts in front of you in a line or behaves in a similarly inconsiderate manner. By the same token, someone putting your life, or someone in your family's life, at risk, has to be stopped - immediately and without hesitation. Training in Pekiti or some other quality martial art is very good for that as well.

Best,

Steve

[Rich Parsons]

Bill,

When I was little my world included everyone. I thought everyone was good and belonged. The them just did not exist.

I later had a neighbor break into our house and steal from us. So now there was an us and them.

Later my grandmother stated I knew too much about science and could not have any faith in any religion. Another Us and Them. I then realized that if you took the intersection of all the religions that believe they were the best and only right one and that others would be excluded from the benefits of a good afterlife, I realized that everyone was not going to have a good afterlife. I turned from religion, not from my own spirituality and decided to walk my own path.

This has guided me since those early days. I do no exclude people, but if you choose to exclude yourself or you choose to harm me or those near me, which I believe to be an action of exclusion on their part, there is an us and them again.

In my martial arts training, I started in the FMA's. those I started with, one had only trained FMA and the rest all had some other art as well. So, I took my open mind and listened to what they had to say, and would study and watch other arts even if it was just to see how they moved.

But, then I saw some Koreans come into a tournament and start taking it over, even though they were not the highest rank there. They moved it all around and when anyone complained, they just started speaking in Korean and if you could not answer they walked away from you. So, I walked up and requested my money back to watch the event. So did many others. But I saw this discrimination, this Not US by them. I as a THEM as I was not Korean.

I later realized that many in the PI did not study nor train in the FMA's. I have talked with some ex-patriots of the PI and they either thought Karate or TKD was the national art. I have had both men and women get mad at me, for having trained in it and or knowing about that part of their culture as they did not.

A recent post on the Escrima Digest had the words, "Pure Blooded". They were implying that if you were not of Filipino decent and training in the PI then your were not good enough and a fraud or fake. Once again I am a THEM.

So, while even today I walk through my path of life and try to live my life for me, I keep running into those who want to make me a THEM. I can try to accept them into my US, and I try to be accepted into their US, but what I find is that as long as I am drinking their kool-aid all is well with them. But if I drink some Lemonade instead, it all becomes wrong and I am a THEM again.

I do like your article.

I respect your point of view and experience.

I am confused by the racism/discrimination/US vs THEM from the Filipino's. My Balintawak instructor invited me to some cultural events within the Filipino community. He was proud to have his students there, (those that could make it). We were glad to expand our US. Many would come up and pay respect to our instructor as he was also a respected volunteer in the community. He would introduce us, but the looks they gave us for not being Filipino were obvious to us, as they did it behind his back. We just smiled and continued to support our instructor in the manner we thought best. Well over time, some even asked him if he would be able to teach again, and he would tell them to train with me, when I was present. I could see that they were not happy with me, or that they would have to learn from a non Filipino.

Where I am going with this, though Bill is that, even though I let me actions and skills speak for me, and I try not to exclude people unless they have excluded themselves. How do you increase your US, with those that continue to exclude you and others? How much time and effort should one put into trying to please them or gain their acceptance? For you see, if I continue to walk my path and they choose not join me, even though I offer my hand, and will walk with them and change my path so it fits our path, it is not their path. So, I seem to be excluding people and limiting my US, but I have no idea on how to address them. I know I cannot please everyone. I just looking for your point of view, so I can ponder upon it and maybe increase my US.

Thanks

[Guro Dave Gould]

Rich Parsons,

Awesome post! I too am an indefinite "them" by the actions of my Pilipino peers. Starting from my Pekiti-Tirsia days in the early 80`s through to the mid 90`s and through my Lameco Eskrima days from 1992 until now.

I have always gotten the sense that I did not "belong" as I was not Pilipino but rather of Anglo-Saxon decent. It used to bother me alot because I always worked hard and tried to "belong" but the idea was never receptive on the Pilipino side of the equation. So I quit trying to be something that I can not be and concentrated on being the best pilipino Warrior Art Practioner that I can be of Anglo-Saxon decent.

I have come to the conclusion that I will never be Pilipino and if people canot accept me for who I am then that is their problem. There are only a few of us first generation students of Edgar G. Sulite who were not of Pilipino decent which made all of us drastically stand out in a sea of Pilipinos. Some of my Pilipino brothers accepted me as I was and later on I learned that others did not because I was Anglo-Saxon.

Edgar G. Sulite always treated me with the utmost respect and made me feel welcome into his family which is why I am still in servitude to him in propagating his legacy of Lameco Eskrima to those world wide that seek out his knowledge. Other wise I am now indifferent to the whole pilipino - non-pilipino issue. As I judge you on how you move and how effective you are in combat and not on your bloodline or DNA markers.

My apologies to you Tuhon Bill for commenting here in the Pekiti-Tirsia forum as I am no longer Pekiti-tirsia but after reading Rich Parsons post I just had to respond as I have been dealing with the same thing for decades in training the Pilipino Warrior Arts both here in the states as well as in the philippines.

Actually something concerning you made me just make up my mind to not continue trying to be Pilipino but to force my Pilipino peers to accept me for who I am; Anglo-Saxon. In 1996 when I was training with Tuhon Gaje in Mambukal, Negos Occidental, Visayas you became a point of reference illustrated by Tuhon Gaje. He was upset that you were referring to yourself and using the title of "Tuhon" and according to him and those around him since you were "white" you could not obtain that bloodrite only given to Masters of Pilipino decent.

This made me think as up until then you were sort of like a demi-god in Pekiti tirsia circles and then all of a sudden you could just be thrown away as if you never existed because of your ethnicity and at that time you had a less than smooth relationship with your teacher. This really made my mind up that I never would be accepted for much more than a "white" guy and so I moved on...

Train well,

Guro Dave Gould.

[lhommedieu]

Rich and Dave,

According to the logic given above I'd have to be Hawai'ian to practice Kajukenbo and born in Shanxi province to practice Xing Yi Quan. What's next? Born in the Catskills to practice flyfishing? My Oregonian brother-in-law is going to be disappointed although I doubt that the steelhead will know the difference.

I'm sure that all the Tisoy's out there are gratified to learn that they are only qualified to learn half an art.

I propose to found and teach a new art called "Muggle Eskrima" in the near-future. Non-muggles are welcome to join as long as they promise to keep their feet on the ground.

Best,

Steve

[wes tasker]

Bill,

Where I am going with this, though Bill is that, even though I let me actions and skills speak for me, and I try not to exclude people unless they have excluded themselves. How do you increase your US, with those that continue to exclude you and others? How much time and effort should one put into trying to please them or gain their acceptance? For you see, if I continue to walk my path and they choose not join me, even though I offer my hand, and will walk with them and change my path so it fits our path, it is not their path. So, I seem to be excluding people and limiting my US, but I have no idea on how to address them. I know I cannot please everyone. I just looking for your point of view, so I can ponder upon it and maybe increase my US.

Thanks

Obviously I am not Tuhon Bill, but if I may....... I think that your point (although very, valid in its own right) is actually outside of the realm of what Tuhon Bill was posting about. You are speaking about a more exact "Us" that gets along, has mutual recognition etc. I believe in Tuhon Bill's excellent article he is speaking more globally in regards to "Us" being anybody not intent on doing you harm, regardless if they like you or not, and "Them" being those that actually pose a threat.

As I stated at the onset - I believe your point is very valid, but does not quite belong in what Tuhon Bill was writing about. Besides being an Anglo Saxin practicing Filipino and Chinese arts, I know how both you and Guro Dave Gould feel as I was the only non-Arab who worked in an Arabic book and music store for years........

I believe Tuhon Bill's article was addressing the stylistic prejudices, challenges, and bravado that you see amongst practitioners. Racial acceptance etc. I believe is another topic (although worthy...) all together.

Just my .02 worth....

-wes tasker

[Rich Parsons]

Obviously I am not Tuhon Bill, but if I may....... I think that your point (although very, valid in its own right) is actually outside of the realm of what Tuhon Bill was posting about. You are speaking about a more exact "Us" that gets along, has mutual recognition etc. I believe in Tuhon Bill's excellent article he is speaking more globally in regards to "Us" being anybody not intent on doing you harm, regardless if they like you or not, and "Them" being those that actually pose a threat.

As I stated at the onset - I believe your point is very valid, but does not quite belong in what Tuhon Bill was writing about. Besides being an Anglo Saxin practicing Filipino and Chinese arts, I know how both you and Guro Dave Gould feel as I was the only non-Arab who worked in an Arabic book and music store for years........

I believe Tuhon Bill's article was addressing the stylistic prejudices, challenges, and bravado that you see amongst practitioners. Racial acceptance etc. I believe is another topic (although worthy...) all together.

Just my .02 worth....

-wes tasker


Wes,

My apologies, I never meant to take anything away from the original article. I was only looking to get some insight and information.

Thank you

[wes tasker]

Wes,

My apologies, I never meant to take anything away from the original article. I was only looking to get some insight and information.

Thank you

Mr. Parsons-

Please, no apologies necesary. You did not in any way take away from what Tuhon Bill wrote. I just feel your excellent points are a matter different from what Tuhon Bill was trying to get across in his article. Thank you.

-wes

[wes tasker]

Rich and Dave,


I propose to found and teach a new art called "Muggle Eskrima" in the near-future. Non-muggles are welcome to join as long as they promise to keep their feet on the ground.

Best,

Steve

Which brings up how the non-muggles would use footwork during a Quidditch match...

-wes

[Brock]

I was at an event were Dr. Remy Presas Jr was teaching, and he said something to the effect of there were 2 types of people that practiced FMA those that are Pilipino by birth and those that are Pilipino by choice (to give an example of the latter he pointed to the whitest person in the room)



Which brings up how the non-muggles would use footwork during a Quidditch match...

-wes

I don't know but I bet Mithrandir could whup the whole lot of 'em and still best a Balrog.

[wes tasker]

I don't know but I bet Mithrandir could whup the whole lot of 'em and still best a Balrog.

I agree on that count - as long as the Balrog wasn't Gothmog (the one who killed Feanor at Mithrim in the battle of Dagor-nuin-Giliath).... OK, geek mode off.....

-wes

[PG Michael B]

When it is all said and done ...folks is folks..some good some bad..fill your life with the good, shite can the bad and simply drive on.

Treat folks like you want to be treated..leave the judging to the good lord and simply live. I think Glass Houses have something to do with this, huh?

My grandaddy always said "some folks are just a good ass kicking away from being decent human beings"...LOL..pretty damn true!

[TuhonBill]

When it is all said and done ...folks is folks..some good some bad..fill your life with the good, shite can the bad and simply drive on.

Treat folks like you want to be treated..leave the judging to the good lord and simply live. I think Glass Houses have something to do with this, huh?

My grandaddy always said "some folks are just a good ass kicking away from being decent human beings"...LOL..pretty damn true!


I was going to comment on the whole racism thing, but Mike's post so perfectly hits the nail on the head that I'll just say Amen to that and call it a day.

Regards,
Tuhon Bill McGrath

[Captain Jack Sparrow]

"Me, we."



-Muhammad Ali
(Supposedly the shortest quote in the English language delivered at a Harvard graduation.)"

[Rich Parsons]

Rich Parsons,

Awesome post! I too am an indefinite "them" by the actions of my Pilipino peers. Starting from my Pekiti-Tirsia days in the early 80`s through to the mid 90`s and through my Lameco Eskrima days from 1992 until now.

I have always gotten the sense that I did not "belong" as I was not Pilipino but rather of Anglo-Saxon decent. It used to bother me alot because I always worked hard and tried to "belong" but the idea was never receptive on the Pilipino side of the equation. So I quit trying to be something that I can not be and concentrated on being the best pilipino Warrior Art Practioner that I can be of Anglo-Saxon decent.

I have come to the conclusion that I will never be Pilipino and if people canot accept me for who I am then that is their problem. There are only a few of us first generation students of Edgar G. Sulite who were not of Pilipino decent which made all of us drastically stand out in a sea of Pilipinos. Some of my Pilipino brothers accepted me as I was and later on I learned that others did not because I was Anglo-Saxon.

Edgar G. Sulite always treated me with the utmost respect and made me feel welcome into his family which is why I am still in servitude to him in propagating his legacy of Lameco Eskrima to those world wide that seek out his knowledge. Other wise I am now indifferent to the whole pilipino - non-pilipino issue. As I judge you on how you move and how effective you are in combat and not on your bloodline or DNA markers.

My apologies to you Tuhon Bill for commenting here in the Pekiti-Tirsia forum as I am no longer Pekiti-tirsia but after reading Rich Parsons post I just had to respond as I have been dealing with the same thing for decades in training the Pilipino Warrior Arts both here in the states as well as in the philippines.

Actually something concerning you made me just make up my mind to not continue trying to be Pilipino but to force my Pilipino peers to accept me for who I am; Anglo-Saxon. In 1996 when I was training with Tuhon Gaje in Mambukal, Negos Occidental, Visayas you became a point of reference illustrated by Tuhon Gaje. He was upset that you were referring to yourself and using the title of "Tuhon" and according to him and those around him since you were "white" you could not obtain that bloodrite only given to Masters of Pilipino decent.

This made me think as up until then you were sort of like a demi-god in Pekiti tirsia circles and then all of a sudden you could just be thrown away as if you never existed because of your ethnicity and at that time you had a less than smooth relationship with your teacher. This really made my mind up that I never would be accepted for much more than a "white" guy and so I moved on...

Train well,

Guro Dave Gould.


Dave,

I have been in the FMA community since the mid 1980's. I understand your comments and I agree one cannot be what one is not.

Thanks

[Rich Parsons]

Rich and Dave,

According to the logic given above I'd have to be Hawai'ian to practice Kajukenbo and born in Shanxi province to practice Xing Yi Quan. What's next? Born in the Catskills to practice flyfishing? My Oregonian brother-in-law is going to be disappointed although I doubt that the steelhead will know the difference.

I'm sure that all the Tisoy's out there are gratified to learn that they are only qualified to learn half an art.

I propose to found and teach a new art called "Muggle Eskrima" in the near-future. Non-muggles are welcome to join as long as they promise to keep their feet on the ground.

Best,

Steve

Steve,

Muggle Escrima (* I will trade mark the "C" version you can trade mark the "K" version ;) *) is a great name.

I understand what you are saying. Some have even stated I should just call what I do Native American Arts as I have some where between 1/32nd and 1/64th Native American Indian heritage. Of course I had a relative destroy the documents as in their time it was not a good thing to have that type of stuff just laying around. :( But, as that would be not only a falsehood it would also be an insult and discredit those who taught me. So, I will not use ME or Muggle Escrima instead, when I am trying to make a point. Of course I wil try to give you credit when I can remember. :D

Thanks

[Rich Parsons]

Mr. Parsons-

Please, no apologies necesary. You did not in any way take away from what Tuhon Bill wrote. I just feel your excellent points are a matter different from what Tuhon Bill was trying to get across in his article. Thank you.

-wes

Wes,

Please it is Rich. Even if you are mad or upset with me. But I understand the formality of using the last name. I say thank you but, please just call me Rich. Unless it is my turn to buy the round of beer, in which case you can yell Hey Rich it is your turn. :)

Thanks

Rich

[Makata]

Dear Tuhon Bill,

I love your essay, sir.
It is eloquent, and truly heartfelt.

Maraming salamat.

Gumagalang,
Lester S.

[kruzada]

Greetings Tuhon Bill! It's been a long time since the Katrina Seminar. I hope all is well with you and your group.

This is a really great article. You should publish it in Black Belt magazine or submit it to their letters page.

-Rich Acosta

[TuhonBill]

Hi Rich,

It's already been published. It appeared (in a slightly sanitized form) in Inside Kung-Fu magazine around 4 or 5 months after it appeared in the PTI newsletter.

Regards,
Tuhon Bill McGrath

[kruzada]

Hi Rich,

It's already been published. It appeared (in a slightly sanitized form) in Inside Kung-Fu magazine around 4 or 5 months after it appeared in the PTI newsletter.

That's great, Congratulations! Inside Kung Fu seems very receptive to publishing material from the FMA community.

I am organizing an FMA Gathering in NYC for late August. It would be an honor to have you teach PTI, if you are available. I'm going to invite Guro Rob Mulligan as well.

-Rich

[Doc D]

HELLO !!!!!
I rarely hop on FMA forum . I teach/train silat methods ,predominately, but do a bit of Pekiti here and there with various teachers. You ( Tuhon McGrath ) once wrote a nice article for a magazine titled "Us vs Them", I believe . It has been up on the wall of whatever school site I've had since it was first published.....because it cuts right to the truth of how many martial artists need to "readjust " their worldview of other martial artists and their place in a greater "martial arts community". I'm not sure if the article above followed that article in the magazine or preceded it ,but I've always enjoyed both.

We as martial artists for, all our predjudices and politics ,are really training to protect ourselves and our families from the "bad guys"...however you define them. If you're not in the "bad guy " camp , I really view you as being on my side....just another guy trying to live a safe , peaceful ,happy life ,unmolested by "the bad guys" . With that in mind, if you are not training in one of my silat systems , what does it matter? If you train BJJ, PTK , JKD etc, it really shouldn't bother me. I have a bit of a military back ground . Warriors have a right to a little pride in their ability ....a sense of secure confidence that allows them to function. However , military units and whole Armies to not survive by assuming their enemies are morons and soundly discounting their abilities. If you insist on not regarding other martial artists as being with you rather than against you, rather than disrespecting all other arts, perhaps you need to take a page from the world of the professional combatants...the military. I see this a lot...." If you don't train in ( My style) you are deluded and training in pure garbage"....paraphrased ,of course. The military has people that research and study the strategies and tactics of others....and ( as in OPFOR) they have people that train and execute those methods . This is all a nod that the other side .....or another Army's military tactics and applications could very well hand them a sound defeat. No army wins by saying every other army is a band of incompetent idiots. ( this is off topic perhaps....but food for thought).

At any rate......That article has always been on my wall. I have on several occasions even over heard my senior students and assistants reference Tuhon McGrath and that short but important article. So often the martial arts magazines don't have much worth reading , but this was not the case with that particular issue.

Just Saying "Hi"

Doc Dority
Dallas Tx
(oops.....read the whole thread after reading and responding to your article.....I see the time line now)