RIVAL KUNG FU SCHOOLS

[SiGung Vincent A. Cabais]

Since 1973 A.D., I have been ridiculed and persecuted about my studies in Shaolin Kung Fu.  When I started teaching with Sigung Chiang in 1977 A.D.… this persecution got worse!  Even when I started teaching independently in 1990 A.D…. it did not get much better.  Practicing Kung Fu was never popular until recently.  It seems that so many people are teaching Kung Fu and using the name ‘Shaolin’ now.  I guess that most of these problems stem from that.  What I mean is… some people must feel that I am just “Jumping on the Bandwagon”.  That is just an assumption though.  I have been studying and teaching ‘Shaolin Kung Fu’ when it was considered a joke and long before it ever became popular.

 

There have been many concerns on how to deal with the apparent rivalry between our schools and other Kung Fu schools.  It seems that wherever we go there is someone that considers our schools a threat to their survival.  This is so far from the truth!  We consistently strive for co-operation and brotherhood.  Since arriving in the Midwest… I have realized how few Kung Fu schools there are here.  There are too few of us to be fighting amongst each other.  We should be working together and never against each other.  I will give two specific examples of these concerns.

 

First Example:

 

In 1998 A.D. I traveled from Saint Robert to Springfield, Missouri with the intention of introducing ourselves to the other Kung Fu schools in that area with the hopes of building friendships and potential alliances.  This was an action taught to me by Sigung Chiang to further promote the peace and brotherhood of our system.

 

I arrived at “Greg Neil’s School of Kung Fu” (Now called the “Pu Ting Shi Academy”) and introduced myself to Sifu Greg Neil Butler.  I got the impression that I caught him off-guard by my visit.  At the time Sifu Butler seemed quite personable and was knowledgeable about Kung Fu fundamentals.  I thought it to be prudent to inform him of my decision to open another school in the area.  I offered him an alliance or a ‘co-op’ to help further promote the Chinese Martial Arts.  I thought it would be great to work with another Kung Fu instructor.  I guess he did not feel the same.  Regardless… I felt the visit to be professional, friendly and productive.

 

Everything seemed to be going well between our different schools for the first two years or so.  Especially since we were both too busy to interact with each other at the time.  However, when we had the opportunity to move our school to a much bigger facility… things seemed to change.  We moved to a fantastic building on South Avenue in downtown Springfield.  This was a great location and was well over 5,000 square feet directly on a busy corner in the downtown area.  The bad part about the location was that is was only three to four blocks away from the new “Pu Ting Shi Academy”.

 

After we moved to this location… the rivalry grew.  This was unfortunate since I have recently discovered that the ‘rivalry’ was started between immature and dishonorable students of both schools.  I am glad to say that I have since removed those students from our own school.  It was quite unfortunate that Sifu Butler and I had to get mixed-up in such childish behavior.  I have been trying for years to eliminate the rivalry between Sifu Butler’s school and my own.  I pray that the impression I got at the ‘Ultimate Dragon Championships 2003 A.D.’, that the rivalry is finally over, is accurate!  The students between both schools were very pleasant towards each other and I believe Sifu Butler is an honorable man for helping me to make PEACE between our schools.  I hope that we will become great friends one day and that we can work together to benefit all those in need.  Take a look at their website http://www.ptskungfu.com/, it is very interesting.

 

Second Example:

 

Most of the students at the Saint Louis, Missouri Chapter and the Sihings from this system know of the attacks we have been getting from the “Iron Dragon Kung Fu’ school http://www.stlouishunggar.com/.  I am assuming, which I probably shouldn’t do, that this school and Sifu Wayne Judge started these attacks when we opened our first actual location in Webster Groves, Saint Louis, Missouri in mid 2002 A.D.

 

Every time I open a school in a new area I have a candle lit for three days while I’m there in the area to accept any ‘Formal Challenges’.  This is another tradition taught to me by Sigung Chiang that I am obligated to honor at all times.  The rules behind ‘Formal Challenges’ are very specific and I am not allowed to turn down any ‘rightful’ challenge during these three consecutive days.  Not a single challenge was issued and I believed that everything was okay in the Saint Louis area.  I seems that I was wrong about that.

 

Apparently, Sifu Wayne Judge had tried to email me directly for a few months in late 2002 A.D. with no success.  Most of you know that I am very easy to contact though email since my addresses are listed all over the Web.  I do block emails from AOL though since most ‘Spam’ comes though that network.  Sifu Judge then tried to contact me though the schools by email and by phone.  I did not call him since it seemed that he was verbally attacking each of the schools directly by email not to mention that I am an extremely busy man.  After he had contacted the Saint Louis Chapter and insisted that I contact him I finally called.  I spent well over an hour on the phone with him to try to settle his concerns.  I specifically asked him what his issues were and believed that I had answered his questions to the best of my ability.  I guess he was not satisfied.

 

Near the end of the conversation… after I believed he was appeased, I invited him and his students to join us for our ‘Chinese New Year’s Celebration’ on February 1, 2003.  I did this out of respect and potential friendship.  He declined to show since he was making plans for their own celebration on February 2, 2003.  I respected his choice and I did not pursue the matter further.  I believed that everything was okay.  I was wrong again!

 

Nearly four months had passed and the attacks got worse.  It seems that Sifu Judge has made it his “Mission in Life” to discredit the schools, myself and this system to anyone willing to listen to him.  There have been many complaints from our students in Saint Louis that Sifu Judge’s students verbally attack and slander our schools.  It seems that anyone who is associated with us is a prime target.  Even those who may just be interested in studying our system are verbally attacked.  Here is a specific lie that is being said publicly, “Sifu Judge challenged Sigung Cabais and Sigung Cabais refused because he was scared of Sifu Judge!”  Most of you who know me understand that this is a ridiculous claim.  I have never refused a ‘formal challenge’ and I never will.  Why would Sifu Judge and his students make these claims?  I pray that this situation is just like the one in Springfield, Missouri.  I pray it is just a few immature students causing trouble.  However, there is enough evidence to sue Sifu Wayne Judge for “Slander” “Libel”.  I wonder if he realizes this fact?  I pray he realizes it soon before I am forced to take an action that I do not wish to do.

 

Our sponsor, Oriental Martial Arts Society (OMAS), Inc., has made a formal complaint and inquiry to Sifu Kwong Wing Lam and his associates about Sifu Wayne Judge.  It seems that Sifu Wing Lam has never heard of Sifu Judge.  If you take a look at Sifu Wayne Judge’s website http://www.stlouishunggar.com/html/lineage.html, you will notice it makes reference that he is a “Lineage Holder” under Sifu Kwong Wing Lam.  For a man that makes it seem that ‘history’ is the most important thing… he cannot validate his own lineage.  Anyone that uses their ‘Ancestors’ to validate their own existence is not worthy of their ‘Ancestors’.  We must stand alone to appropriately honor our ‘Ancestors’.  Besides… just because you have studied under a great ‘Master’, it doesn’t mean that you are a good Instructor.  That is something to think about.

 

I have received complaints from students and instructors from different schools about his actions.  Most of the ‘Linear’ stylists believe Sifu Judge to be a dishonorable man.  Most of the other Martial Art schools feel that regardless if what Sifu Judge is saying about us is true or not…. they believe him to be breaking the ‘Martial Code’ that many of them hold dear in their lives and his actions are a very dishonorable.  I, personally, will reserve my opinion of him, at least… until I have the chance meet him personally.  I will do more for him than he is doing for us.  That is the “Spirit of Shaolin”… PEACE ABOVE ALL ELSE!!  I guess Sifu Judge doesn’t realize that he is damaging his own reputation with his actions and statements.  Most people feel that he is either trying to ‘validate’ his own existence or is just insecure about his own skills or both.  I wish I knew what was wrong and I pray that he finds peace in his life.

 

I realize that these statements are on the web.  My intention is not to ‘bash’ or ‘discredit’ any other person.  These comments are for my students solely.  Instead of just putting these statements in the general “News & Events” area… I should be able to keep my opinions about these issues restricted to those with User Ids in the “Verbal Kwoon”.  Even though non-students of this system can create User Ids… it should help to keep the ‘Peace’ that I cherish so much.

 

You may comment on these statements if you wish.  However, the only reason these statements are here is to inform you on these issues and to understand where I stand.  Students of the “Shaolin Lohan School Kung Fu”… there are only two ways to deal with these rivalries.  One… PEACE is the only option.  Two… “Avoid rather than Check, Check rather than Hurt, Hurt rather than Maim, Maim rather than Kill!  For ALL life has value… and no one has the right to take it away.”  Only those without “Choice” respond negatively to given situations.  The only way to create “Choice” is through training.

 

-Sigung Cabais-

[Harvey Meeker]

It seems more often than not that people are willing to say just about anything about anyone as long as they aren't talking directly to that person.  When push comes to shove it is usually those who talk the most that aren't able to back it up.

It's truly unfortunate that with the advent of the Internet it is only easier for people to spread this sort of negative feeling.  No one finds harmony and peace as interesting as discord and conflict. 

Especially in a realm like the martial arts though there is always a feeling of competition with the next guy.  Whether you can defeat your opponent is often how people measure their success in the martial arts.  I guess everyone is always looking for some way to beat the other guy down even if they can't do it physically.  As you say though it's usually a few young hotheads who make these statements and often the instructor is not guilty of this bad behavior, but I have seen a few exceptions.

[Sean Asher]

Yeah I looked at the website by the school run by Sifu Butler, was cool.  The have a vid on there too was cool.  

Pretty weird that Sifu Judge claims he's under someone that didn't know he had ever teached him. 
 Hope he gets that figured out sometime. 

[Sihing Bart Cardetti]

If a martial artist happens to make something up in his garage, and it works, and it has value to the people who practice it, then is it not still valid?

Yes, Lineage can be important.  It shows us where we came from, but in and of itself, it does not validate what you're practicing.  The validation comes from the improvements in the lives that you touch with the system.  The litmus test for martial arts (and most any type of teaching) is the students, what they are learning, and how they are using it.

Sifu Buttler and Sifu Judge must be doing something right.  They both have a steady student base.  I cannot personally judge these teacher's ability, as I have not experienced their system firsthand.  However, I'm sure both teachers have students that put a lot of stock and effort into the teachings of their schools.  Universally, Kungfu schools have to work hard to accomplish anything, and their students deserve the respect of anyone who is willing to push through their own personal limits.  Whether or not we or they want to admit it, there is much that we share and have in common.  If we are able to open the lines of communication between our schools, I am certain that we will find we have much to share with each other.

I urge the members of all of these Kungfu schools to join this forum.  It has the potential to be a neutral meeting place for all of us to share our ideas and our experiences.  I look foreward to talking with you all.

--Sihing Bart Cardetti

[Gene Dobbs Bradford]

I agree in principle to the idea of having other schools participate in the forum. However, I do have some concerns that it may become a battleground itself. Perhaps we as a school need to adopt a policy of maintaining a non-combative attitude in our posts and replies with members of other schools. To let negative comments roll off our backs and not to respond in-kind to any attacks. We as a school should always strive to be objective and professional as Sihing Bart does in his well-stated post.

[Harvey Meeker]

However, I do have some concerns that it may become a battleground itself.

Heh, well, I'll wait for a few more people to start using the forum before I worry about that. 

[Brandon-Lee A Cabais]

I hate to be the one to say this, and maybe I myself, am being imature... but I belive that you have given him to many chances. I belive you should settle this by law, since nothing else seems to work for the current situations.

[Joshua Haskins]

I hate to agree, but I do.

[SiGung Vincent A. Cabais]

According to a “reliable” source… on January 11-18, 2004 Sifu Wayne Judge went to San Francisco CA to train with “Grand Master Chiu Chi Ling” (http://www.hunggarkuen.it/eng/chiuchiling.html & http://home.earthlink.net/%7Echiuchiling/).  I have seen this man in many movies from my youth.  I have never met “Grand Master Chiu Chi Ling” but from what Sigung Chiang told me… he is a man to be respected.  Apparently, Sigung Chiang met him once.

 

I have only one question though.  Sifu Wayne Judge seemed to elude that his “Lineage” is under “Sigung Kwong Wing Lam” and Sifu Judge teaches material that (as far as I know) is only taught by Sigung Wing Lam.  Weird huh? 

Oriental Martial Arts Society (OMAS), Inc. is looking into this interesting paradox.  Maybe I’ll just ask around with the other Sifus when I go to the “World Games IV” in Columbus OH in March 2004.

-Sigung Cabais-

[Sifu Wayne Skiver]

 Hello,

  This IS Sifu Wayne Judge of Iron Dragon Kung Fu.  Once again I thought any issues between our schools were resolved.  I guess I was wrong.  Again.  So let me put this forth:  If you have any questions concerning me, my training, my students, my ANYTHING, why dont you just ask me directly.  If I choose to change masters (a decision recently made due to oppurtunity and personal reasons) that is a matter for ME and MY students.  It is not anything hidden.  Questions?  Ask away.

[Bethany Maben]

With all due respect we are curious Sifu Judge. All the hullaballu has been upsetting because the general attitude around here usually is "great there are other kung fu schools around."  Since you have been so interested in our Sifu's lineage we of course are interested in yours. Certainly you understand. If you were being asked who you were and to prove it wouldn't you want to know who was doing the asking?

[SiGung Vincent A. Cabais]

Ni Hao Ma Sifu Judge,

 

I am glad that you have decided to join the “Verbal Kwoon”.  Let me personally welcome you and I hope that this will become a light of hope that all Kung Fu students will see.

 

Most Sifus do not "publicly" communicate and I hope that everyone can see that there is "No Problem" between us.  There is nothing to resolve between two people that have never actually met.  Let me start to say that I pray that you have a prosperous New Year and I endeavor to work with you in the future.

 

The “Verbal Kwoon” is not a public forum to bash someone.  It is an information service that we use to communicate with each other.  Since we have nothing to hide… I don’t see a problem with allowing others to view our discussions.  You must understand that I don’t just answer questions from the forum.  I also answer questions that are given to me in person and then place the answers on the “Verbal Kwoon”.  This is done so that I do not have to say things more than once.  That tends to get frustrating with all of the students in this school.  I’m sure you understand.  I humbly ask for your forgiveness if you have taken offense to anything that I might have said.  There is no animosity towards you, your school or your students.

 

You are right!  It is “your business” if you decide to change Masters.  In fact… I think it is a wise choice to expand your knowledge.  Learning should never stop.  If someone feels that they have learned all they can from one teacher or system… move on to the next one that will help you to grow.

 

The only question that was brought to my attention was the paradox of styles taught and the presence of a different Master.  I did my best to answer that question with the information available.  I like to be prompt in my answers even when they are incomplete.

 

Since you are now registered with the “Verbal Kwoon”… would you care to answer these questions?  On your website… the lineage ends with Sigung Kwong Wing Lam.  Is that who instructed you?  If so… is that the basis of your curriculum?

 

You do not have to feel compelled to answer these questions.  Your business is your own and anyone who reads this should respect that.  If I took the time to answer every question from every different person… I would never get a chance to teach Kung Fu.

 

I would love the opportunity to meet you “in-person” to offer my hand in friendship and cooperation.  Maybe we both can bring this rivalry to an end, to be a symbol of the nature and spirit that we both hold dear… “Brotherhood”.

 

Xie Xie,

 

Sigung Cabais

[Sifu Wayne Skiver]

Bethany, (and all Lohan students),

  Yes of course that is understandable.  I have sent your Sifu a private message and invited him to our New Years party, (barring that, lunch together)  Would you like to know my training background?  I studied Choy Li Fut and Hung Gar with Sifu Justin Liang from 1983-1988 one on one.  In 1988 I joined the military and was stationed at Travis AFB in California.  I made the drive 3 to 4 times a week from aug. of 88 to aug of 92 to train under Kwong Wing Lam and his instructors.  After I got out of the Air Force I stayed in Cal. to train Hung Gar for a little over 2 more years.  After that I returned home to St. Louis where I studied on my own and occasionally went out to Cally for corrections (on average 2 to sometimes 4 times a year).  Recently I had the oppurtunity to train with a man who is a legend in my style, Grandmaster Chiu Chi Ling.  He has now taken me on as his full student and I currently am under his guidance.  I hope to bring him to St. Louis within the next year to hold a seminar. (fingers crossed!)  This year will mark my 21st year in the martial arts.  What I have told you is my Kung Fu background, lest it come back in some way to haunt me let me say that I also trained in Tae Kwon Do from 83-87 at the same time that I was training Choy Li Fut and Hung Gar.

  Now let me clarify a little something to all of you concerning my "inquisitive" nature.  When your school first popped up in St. Louis (practically at the exact same time as mine) I thought: "Hmm, another Kung Fu school, another Shaolin style,what are they about?"  Natural enough question, right?  So I called up, introduced myself and asked THE single most COMMON question among Chinese stylist: "So what style do you teach, and what lineage is it from?"  In over 20 years this is the most common question asked, it is not confrontational, it is not meant to be insulting.  I was met with, what to me seemed, a very strange degree of secrecy.  To me this meant one thing..."something to hide".  In hindsight I suppose I was wrong to assume this (of course it all went south from there).  Well now I am trying to fix this.  Lets forget any harsh feelings of the past and heal any existing wounds.  There is a word you should all know, "Wu De"  (martial virtue)  As martial artist we should observe this and set ourselves on a higher level of morals than the common man.  Yet... we are still human be you student or Sifu man is man (or woman), and man makes mistakes, man lets emotion sometimes reign where logic should.  So just take that to heart.  Thank you for your question.

Sifu Wayne Judge

[Andrew Walls]

My name is Andrew Walls.  I am a Sihing and the head instructor of the Shaolin Lohan School of Kung Fu, located in Springfield, MO.  I teach on behalf and in service of my teacher, Sigung Vincent Cabais.  This may automatically turn you on or off to what I am about to write, but, I would like to say that I have been fairly isolated from this “rivalry”, and still, to this day, see it as a terrible waste of energy to all those involved. (sifus’ included)  I would just like to add a (mostly) third-party observation from someone on the sidelines to this whole matter.

Let’s take a group of people, for illustration.  All of them are American.  Some of them were born and raised as such.  Some were born and raised overseas by Americans, on American property.  Some were born here, but raised by foreign-blooded parents.  Some were not born here, but immigrated at some point in their life.  In the end, which is better?  Who has the right to question the other?  They may disagree, argue, bicker over small things, however, when it comes down to it, they are at their most basic level, Americans.  And Americans usually remember that, aside from all else, we are all on the same side of the fence.  It doesn’t matter how or why they are American.  What matters is that they ARE American, and that alone makes them allies.

I think, all the bickering aside, what’s being forgotten here is that we are all kung fu practitioners.  THAT alone, makes us allies.  Look at the world around you.  The “Norm” is for people to be lazy, or strive to be.  The very nature of capitalism, which most of us were raised with, IS to be selfish.  People are taught that it’s ok to be disloyal, irreverent, and that ignorance and blatant disrespect are tolerable.  Children are raised to mock things like discipline and virtue.  Honor is beyond the grasp of the majority to even understand and integrity just makes for a funny punch-line…  It doesn’t matter what kind of kung fu you practice, or where it comes from.  Even if you made up and walked your own path of kung fu, the point is the very ESSENCE of kung fu makes us allies.  Kung fu is NOT just an exercise, or even a martial art…  it is NOT a way to keep fit or learn to fight…  kung fu practitioners generally accept that what makes us different from everyone else is that what we do, Kung Fu, is about a way of life.  Not just some way, but a better way.  We all are working to better ourselves.  We strive to hold ourselves responsible for our own growth and destiny.  Our destinations may be different, that is true even within a single school, but our paths are very much the same.  Walking the path of kung fu is to strive for personal growth in all ways possible.  We all have qualities we choose to exhibit, to live by, and others we work to achieve.  Not because someone told us we had to, but because we are all beginning to understand that honor is not about how the world sees you, or meeting expectations of the world around us, but about having our own expectations, our own sense of value, and living in a way to not devalue ourselves in our own eyes.

Even though our qualities may differ…  Honor is never absolute, one man’s honor may lead him toward what another man’s honor led him away from…  Even though our practice, or our purpose may be WIDELY varied…   Even though we just can’t be around each other and not bicker about petty things, or argue about politics…  or even about our different perceptions of kung fu itself…  The fact remains that as kung fu practitioners, we are ALL on the same side of the fence…  we are all allies.

There is enough in this world, there are many people, that will continue to strive to tear apart all kung fu as a fancy, useless, exercise…   a neat trick that makes for entertaining movies…  a myth of legend and lore…  an impractical and complete waste of energy…

By doing anything that degrades each other, we degrade ourselves as a whole, because when one American insults an American, he insults himself.  We need to remember that when dealing with each other, we are all brothers on the same path.  We need to treat each other with respect ALWAYS and build each other up, because there’s enough out there trying to tear us down.

Train hard, enjoy life, but most importantly, LIVE Kung Fu, don’t just talk about it.

-Sihing Andrew Walls.

[SiGung Vincent A. Cabais]

Sihing Walls,

I'm glad to see that some of the things I have taught have penetrated that "hard & beaten-up head" of yours.

I now believe, without question, that you were the approriate Sihing to take charge of the Springfield MO Chapter.

Keep the faith... as you always have!

-Sigung Cabais-