I used to travel a lot around the world installing equipment and training people on the machines we make. Sometimes you wind up in a place where there just isn't much to do, which is where I found myself one time. I walked downtown, this is outwest won't say where, and saw this Martial Arts studio, have always been interested in it but lacked a place to go to train and learn. So I asked what was up and the fellow there was a MASTER and gave me a phamplet that told his exploits as Police officer, Private Eye, in the CIA and other situations he has been in and his ranking of martial arts. Said there was a class that night if I wanted to come in and join for the session, $20. What the heck, better than watching tv in a lonely motel. Well the class went ok, really just matching up people's size and letting them spare or train on certain kata's. Not bad, not real impressed. I asked this Master guy if he taught the Bo or staff. He said sure, if I wanted a lesson to come by tomorrow, $30. Well since it was a personal lesson I could see that. Came back the next night, early, he walked with me to a coffee shop, telling of things he's done and where he's been, tough guy? I had mentioned that I liked butterfly knives and he brought his to teach me how to manipulate it. He slowly flipped over the top handle, then tried to grab it and hold it open, and said `There, how's that?' I thought he was kidding! I said uh, let me see, so I did what he did, about 100 times faster and he said `you picked that up quick', then showed him a bunch of other moves that just plain dazzled this guy, couldn't believe it, he wanted to know just what I was doing, but a student of his walked in and he said put it away till later. hmmmmmm....
Well this student was pretty good at what he knew, but the MASTER guy was reading from a book as he looked at how we stood to tell us how to do one of the basic katas with a bo. After I saw the book, it really hit me that this guy is lame! We finished and I left, feeling pretty cheated out of $30, but wiser?
Long way around the block, an Expert/Master is one that really KNOWS what he is talking about, not flashy showy kind of person, but a very competent one that can teach and knows his/her stuff.
Phew, sorry for the long disertation...
G2
ps
Thought I'd better clarify, I wasn't calling this guy a Master, that was what he called himself in his title, very humble eh?
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It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me,
it is the parts that I do understand.
Mark Twain
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[This message has been edited by Gary W. Graley (edited 25 September 1999).]
[This message has been edited by Gary W. Graley (edited 26 September 1999).]