Wow. ****in hell, I just saw the new forum/library. Amazing man. But probably a lot of people don't know about it! Can you make a big message in the old forum saying we should go to the new one? And would it be possible to move the current 'other martial arts' discussion to the new one since we're in the middle of it?
Thanks, great job
Dave
Following current issue copied from Forum Archive
So what do people think about these guys? I noticed their on the cover of this months Black Belt Magazine. Their speaking about there "VAST" knowledge of shaolin weapons, and they state they are the FIRST American Shaolin disciples. So what do people think?
Tsingtao
I don't know what to think about them except if they're trying to gain profit from this then I hope they get what they want. But in truth there have been several foreigners to the temple (over the past 25 years)that have left with discipleship.
At first it wasn't that widespread, but now it seems to be an often occurence.As far as their knowledge, your guess is as good as mine.
Just remember, all true shaolin disciples are devoid of material needs. Especially fame and fortune.
By the way, your beer is good.
Han MacLeod
I saw the article.
It sucked.
They are under Guolin, so why not go to him directly for info, why go to karate/hybrid disciples? I feel like these guys are a snub.
$$$$$.
Not Yongxin's brightest move, in my opinion.
Arhat
Can you get this article on the net?
Lipster001
Arhat,
What do you mean they are under Guolin? Can you clarify that statement? Do you mean they train under him? Its too bad.... their only in it for personal gain. I can't believe Yongxin would have anything to do with them, given there track record.
Does anyone know how the other monks/disciples feel about them?
Lipster
I don't know if its on line but if its not, its not worth putting up. The article did suck but what else would you expect from that magazine.
Tsingtao
Well, all I know is from what I have read in BB, and heard from others, and in one BB article DeMasco said he trained with Guolin. He went to Shaolin a few years back and there he 'demonstrated' his Shaolin kempo and revealed or understood Shaolin so well that Yong Xin proclaimed him as an 'ambassador,' and 'Shaolin Grandmaster' as follows:
"During Steve DeMasco's 1997 visit to China, Head Abbot Shi Yongxin of the Shaolin Temple, presented Grand Master DeMasco with a signed and stamped certificate that recognized him as a Grand Master in the Shaolin Temple Martial Arts and as an honorable Master of The Shaolin Temple. Grand Master DeMasco is the first non-Asian to be recognized in this fashion and the first non-Asian representative of the Shaolin Temple in the world."
In fact that article got me heated enough to want to write a letter to BB. I mean, they say he "....may become the most influential man in the Chinese martial art community of North America." CMAs should be screaming their heads off at a published statement like that. I mean, he teaches Karate. His Shaolin stuff that I have seen (in a book) was, in short, ri****ulous, a lot like that article. No chi.
Something along those lines, anyways...my brother has a student who trained with DeMasco, and he also mentioned that he went to the monk in Flushing, which would be Guolin. But if he's a grandmaster and got an 'A' according to the certificate that's on his site, why is he training with Guolin, who is not a recognized grandmaster?
I doubt any of the other monks know who he is, or would comment on him. They tend to simply smile and nod their heads when they are told about other masters. As to how Shi Guolin feels, I have no idea.
Arhat
Yeah I've seen that article you mentioned. It looked to me as if he was trying to flaunt the fact that he trained with Guolin. From what I heard he paid a lot of money to earn that "A" and his title. I've also heard that he's got some "very close" contacts at that magazine, hense his videos and book deals. I've seen Demasco perform and he is somewhat "talented" when it comes to KARATE but I would say hes a Shaolin Master.
From what I understand he is (was)the East coast united studios president and 90% of the east coast schools closed in the last year because the east coast org went bankrupt. Maybe all the orgs money went to yongxin. I heard the remaining east schools now fall under mattera. Too bad soooooooooo sad.
Hey Doc what have you heard about in the shaolin circle about these guys?
Tsingtao
OK. This will be inflammatory, but the truth is the truth. Mr. Demasco called my Sifu (we were both located on L.I.) and tried to verbally throw his weight around and challenge my Sifu. Sifu Gus pointed out to him over the phone that he couldn't even pose correctly, that his Shaolin was a joke, and that any challenge would be welcome. Mr. Demasco couldn't back track fast enough, and spent several minutes kissing Gus' butt. We've seen his videos and in short, it's a joke. Bad Kempo masquerading as Shaolin where every technique ends with "a groin shot". Normally I'd leave well enough alone, but watching yet another American exploiting the Shaolin name to their own end is truly starting to get on my nerves. He sucks. If he ever reads this post and has a problem with it I'd be glad to be "held accountable" for my statements. He's a joke. His Shaolin is a joke and anything he says should be discarded. Just look at any picture, video or whatever of his "Shaolin" and it's clear that he has no idea what he's doing. To a martial is artist that has spent the better part of his life learning Kung Fu, and has the paper work and approval of a true master which qualifies him to teach real Kung Fu, someone like Demasco who is perpetuating a fraud is the worst kind of leech. A few weeks in Shaolin spread out over a couple of years hardly qualifies anyone to be an "authority" on Shaolin.
-Jeff
Sorry I made a typo. " I've seen Demasco perform and he is somewhat "talented" when it comes to KARATE but I would say hes a Shaolin Master. "
I meant I wouldnt say hes a Shaolin master
Tsingtao
In my opinion, this was not Yong Xin's brightest moment...this last article was perhaps the weakest ever. I mean the pictures are pretty embarassing. Also he has a book out too.
Jeff, what was DeMasco calling up about?
I am going to write that letter. Maybe BB just does not know.
Arhat
I've got some to say on this issue, but, fortunately, I've been horribly busy getting the new forum ready to go online. This is an important thread, not because of the people that are involved, but because of the concepts that are presented within.
I'll move this thread to the new forum, and will answer it there. Should have it online in a few days.... (And you WILL love it)
Just for giggles and shits, as to what I think of all of this, read this:
You know that guy doc, he's got some pretty smart things to say. Oh, so every once in a while...
Humored,
doc
Thanks, great job
Dave
Following current issue copied from Forum Archive
So what do people think about these guys? I noticed their on the cover of this months Black Belt Magazine. Their speaking about there "VAST" knowledge of shaolin weapons, and they state they are the FIRST American Shaolin disciples. So what do people think?
Tsingtao
I don't know what to think about them except if they're trying to gain profit from this then I hope they get what they want. But in truth there have been several foreigners to the temple (over the past 25 years)that have left with discipleship.
At first it wasn't that widespread, but now it seems to be an often occurence.As far as their knowledge, your guess is as good as mine.
Just remember, all true shaolin disciples are devoid of material needs. Especially fame and fortune.
By the way, your beer is good.
Han MacLeod
I saw the article.
It sucked.
They are under Guolin, so why not go to him directly for info, why go to karate/hybrid disciples? I feel like these guys are a snub.
$$$$$.
Not Yongxin's brightest move, in my opinion.
Arhat
Can you get this article on the net?
Lipster001
Arhat,
What do you mean they are under Guolin? Can you clarify that statement? Do you mean they train under him? Its too bad.... their only in it for personal gain. I can't believe Yongxin would have anything to do with them, given there track record.
Does anyone know how the other monks/disciples feel about them?
Lipster
I don't know if its on line but if its not, its not worth putting up. The article did suck but what else would you expect from that magazine.
Tsingtao
Well, all I know is from what I have read in BB, and heard from others, and in one BB article DeMasco said he trained with Guolin. He went to Shaolin a few years back and there he 'demonstrated' his Shaolin kempo and revealed or understood Shaolin so well that Yong Xin proclaimed him as an 'ambassador,' and 'Shaolin Grandmaster' as follows:
"During Steve DeMasco's 1997 visit to China, Head Abbot Shi Yongxin of the Shaolin Temple, presented Grand Master DeMasco with a signed and stamped certificate that recognized him as a Grand Master in the Shaolin Temple Martial Arts and as an honorable Master of The Shaolin Temple. Grand Master DeMasco is the first non-Asian to be recognized in this fashion and the first non-Asian representative of the Shaolin Temple in the world."
In fact that article got me heated enough to want to write a letter to BB. I mean, they say he "....may become the most influential man in the Chinese martial art community of North America." CMAs should be screaming their heads off at a published statement like that. I mean, he teaches Karate. His Shaolin stuff that I have seen (in a book) was, in short, ri****ulous, a lot like that article. No chi.
Something along those lines, anyways...my brother has a student who trained with DeMasco, and he also mentioned that he went to the monk in Flushing, which would be Guolin. But if he's a grandmaster and got an 'A' according to the certificate that's on his site, why is he training with Guolin, who is not a recognized grandmaster?
I doubt any of the other monks know who he is, or would comment on him. They tend to simply smile and nod their heads when they are told about other masters. As to how Shi Guolin feels, I have no idea.
Arhat
Yeah I've seen that article you mentioned. It looked to me as if he was trying to flaunt the fact that he trained with Guolin. From what I heard he paid a lot of money to earn that "A" and his title. I've also heard that he's got some "very close" contacts at that magazine, hense his videos and book deals. I've seen Demasco perform and he is somewhat "talented" when it comes to KARATE but I would say hes a Shaolin Master.
From what I understand he is (was)the East coast united studios president and 90% of the east coast schools closed in the last year because the east coast org went bankrupt. Maybe all the orgs money went to yongxin. I heard the remaining east schools now fall under mattera. Too bad soooooooooo sad.
Hey Doc what have you heard about in the shaolin circle about these guys?
Tsingtao
OK. This will be inflammatory, but the truth is the truth. Mr. Demasco called my Sifu (we were both located on L.I.) and tried to verbally throw his weight around and challenge my Sifu. Sifu Gus pointed out to him over the phone that he couldn't even pose correctly, that his Shaolin was a joke, and that any challenge would be welcome. Mr. Demasco couldn't back track fast enough, and spent several minutes kissing Gus' butt. We've seen his videos and in short, it's a joke. Bad Kempo masquerading as Shaolin where every technique ends with "a groin shot". Normally I'd leave well enough alone, but watching yet another American exploiting the Shaolin name to their own end is truly starting to get on my nerves. He sucks. If he ever reads this post and has a problem with it I'd be glad to be "held accountable" for my statements. He's a joke. His Shaolin is a joke and anything he says should be discarded. Just look at any picture, video or whatever of his "Shaolin" and it's clear that he has no idea what he's doing. To a martial is artist that has spent the better part of his life learning Kung Fu, and has the paper work and approval of a true master which qualifies him to teach real Kung Fu, someone like Demasco who is perpetuating a fraud is the worst kind of leech. A few weeks in Shaolin spread out over a couple of years hardly qualifies anyone to be an "authority" on Shaolin.
-Jeff
Sorry I made a typo. " I've seen Demasco perform and he is somewhat "talented" when it comes to KARATE but I would say hes a Shaolin Master. "
I meant I wouldnt say hes a Shaolin master
Tsingtao
In my opinion, this was not Yong Xin's brightest moment...this last article was perhaps the weakest ever. I mean the pictures are pretty embarassing. Also he has a book out too.
Jeff, what was DeMasco calling up about?
I am going to write that letter. Maybe BB just does not know.
Arhat
I've got some to say on this issue, but, fortunately, I've been horribly busy getting the new forum ready to go online. This is an important thread, not because of the people that are involved, but because of the concepts that are presented within.
I'll move this thread to the new forum, and will answer it there. Should have it online in a few days.... (And you WILL love it)
Just for giggles and shits, as to what I think of all of this, read this:
You know that guy doc, he's got some pretty smart things to say. Oh, so every once in a while...
Humored,
doc
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