Ameristar & Harrah’s Casino

[SiGung Vincent A. Cabais]

It is now official!  And it is about time!!

Based on the deal that I have signed with Ameristar and Harrah's Casinos... we are now the only "Lion Dance Troupe" of choice that they will hire from now on.

Unless there is another team out there that can top our skill; we have an exclusive contract with both of these Casinos in Saint Louis, Missouri.

It is because of our team's dedication and commitment that has made this possible.  Draw the Dragons and dot the eyes!!

[Sifu Wayne Skiver]

Oh rest assured there most definately IS a team.  I will gladly put my team up against yours whenever you wish.  Just get a hold of me and we can arrange a Lion Dance competition. 

[SiGung Vincent A. Cabais]

This is me officially getting a hold of you.  I am willing to put up $5,000.00 of my own money and enter into a contract 'stating that the losing team cannot perform publicly in the greater Saint Louis area for five (5) years'.

If you have as much confidence in your team as I have in mine; then we can begin the to work out the specifics of the competition.

I would suggest that we hold this "public competition" at Ameristar Casino if it can be arranged.

[Sifu Wayne Skiver]

Feel Free to put up your money I dont have that kind of cash.  But the event should be judged by the Chinese Martial Arts community of St. Louis.  Many of whom are quite familiar with Lion Dance.  You need to use YOUR team that performed at Harrahs and I will use my regular team.  The where is not important but it should be public.

  Already contacted the long standing Instructors of the area and asked them to judge and/or witness.  Yes I do have that much confidence in my team and I recieved many reports from friends who witnessed your performance at Harrahs.  We should meet to Iron out the details.  You and I.  In short, Your on.

[Ron Davenport]

Sifu Cabais, This is most interesting! The MidWest Chinese Martial Arts Society would be a great moderater for this spectacular event. If you will, plese sign into the group site at  --------------       &nbs p;         &nbs p;         &nbs p; http://groups.msn.com/mid-westchinesemartialartssociety . I would think that a friendly competition would be a better way to go instead of money or contract of area, but thats my thoughts.... anywho, see you in the above group site.

 

Sifu Ron.

[Sifu Wayne Skiver]

I agree.  There need be no animosity or cheapening of the event by turning it into something as lowly as a "bet".  Simply a contest of skill.  And may the better team win.

[Gene Dobbs Bradford]

Gentlemen, at the risk of intruding on this maleness swinging around, I would like to second the idea of a friendly competition.  I understand that one is going to have pride in one’s school, and competition is not a bad thing, it helps to raise the bar for all.  I believe that a competition adjudicated by mutually agreed on judges with a clear winner and loser would be an excellent way to clear the air and allow us all to get on with  promoting the beauty, discipline, history and culture of the Chinese Martial Arts.  Personally I believe that our region is best served by having two Lion Dance Teams to share this art that we all love with the community.  What a shame it would be if either team was, for whatever reason, unable to bring these arts to the St. Louis area. 

 

At the same time, a competition between two rivals can often generate more excitement than a straight performance which provides all of us with an opportunity.  Perhaps we can use a competition to raise awareness of the Chinese Martial Arts and Chinese Culture.  Unfortunately, it is too late to have a competition in conjunction with the Chinese New Year (which could have generated a lot of media interest and awareness of the holiday), but perhaps we could have a seasonal festival. It would be great to get the Chinese Community involved with food, arts and crafts.  Who knows, a big event centered around the [lion dance competition could] possibly raise money to help our community. 

Something along those lines would be a much more productive use of all this testosterone, doing something positive to promote the Chinese Martial Arts.  I hope that you Sifus will consider this.

Humbly submitted, Gene Dobbs Bradford

[Sifu Wayne Skiver]

Very good post Gene.  And I agree with the general spirit of it.  The best to judge a contest would be the St. Louis Chinese Martial Arts community of course, who better?  Lets keep it simple. 

[Sifu Wayne Skiver]

 No since in waiting.  The month of March seems to be good for most of the other Sifus' schedules.  I think we are all still pretty busy this month.  Shoot me some dates in March and I will make the necessary arrangements.

  Good Luck

[Sifu Wayne Skiver]

"sense"... -sigh-  woke up on the wrong side of the spelling bee today.  haha

[Ron Davenport]

Sounds pretty good! If you guys dont mind, our team would like a little friendly competition too......  

As I've stated before, whatever the course of this competiton, we should be curtious and forthcoming to one another. There's no doubt that our teams have something to offer to our communities, regardless of skill levels! So, if all parties are in agreement, lets get it on!!!!!!!!!!! On behalf of my team and our school, I'm not looking for exclusivity or a title, just sounds fun . I think working together to promote Chinese martial art culture is far more productive than who is better. Well, I'll keep watching the forum for dates / times.

 

Good Luck.

Sifu Ron.

[Sifu Wayne Skiver]

Sounds good to me!  Been wanting to see your guys in action.  I know with your Wah Lum experience it should be good!

Sifu Wayne

[Ron Davenport]

Just doing our thing .

[Matt Talbert]

Gentlemen,

          I do not mean for this post to incite any negativity, it is only with the resolution of fairness that I bring this to your attention.  Fairness and quality of judges is a vital part of this proposed competition.  Since emotions are running high due to the sensitive nature of the preliminary posts, there may be some question from either side about who is or is not fit to judge this competition.  Since lion dance is traditionally representative of the pride of the school it is possible that either side winner or loser may make petty claims denying the validity of a decision based on politics within the martial arts community.  It is sad that such things as politics are involved at all within martial arts but it is present.  Therefore, I would like to respectfully propose the following:

          I feel that a fair compromise may be achieved by having a panel of seven judges.  Three of these judges would be chosen by the Shaolin Lohan School of Kung Fu and three of these judges would be chosen by Iron Dragon.  The remaining seventh judge would be chosen and agreed to by both parties.  I do have a suggestion of who that might be if any parties are interested in my humble opinion. 

          In this manner I feel that both sides will be represented fairly and that by having a seventh judge that is not affiliated with either school would allow for both teams to feel comfortable that the competition would not be "rigged" so to speak.

          I am posting this as a suggestion and I do hope that it will be sincerely considered by both parties.  I neither intend to slight the Midwest Chinese Martial Arts Society nor imply that their ability as judges to administrate over this competition.  I am merely presenting an idea that I feel will result in a fair and honest competition by all participants.

Respectfully Submitted,
Dai-Sihing Matt Talbert

 

 

[Sifu Wayne Skiver]

Exactly whose emotions are "running high"?  Dont read something into this that isnt there.  As for fairness among the judges it is absolutely insulting to imply that there would be any bias on the part of the Midwest Chinese Martial Arts Society or the long standing members of the St. Louis Martial Arts community. 

The established Chinese Martial Arts Instructors of the area are impartial, politics aside, what they care about is tradition and representing the Chinese Culture in the best and most honest light.  Dont make this out to be anything stronger than what it is.  A simple contest of skill and tradition in the area of Lion Dance.  And now we have a third team joining the competition.  To that I say Bravo! 

My initial reply to the first statement in this thread was not sensitive nor intended to be mean spirited.  It was simply a reply to a statement that most definately presented itself as a challenge to any other Lion Dance teams out there.  Such a contest rightly should be judged by those that have experience and/or knowledge within the area.  if anyone would argue that respected members of the Martial arts community such as Sifu Justin Meehan, Sifu Larry Adams, Sifu Cis Hager, Sifu LeRoy Alsup, Sifu Herb Parran, Master Cai Ying, etc. would hold any bais or not judge with truth and honor then I would call that person someone who knows nothing of the St. Louis Martial Arts community, and probably a few other things as well.  All of these people are respected and honorable Men and Women and all are familiar with Lion Dance on various levels.

Who do I feel is NOT qualified to be able to judge this particular area of expertise with authority?  Obviously a Japanese or Korean stylist would not be the best to Judge a Chinese Lion Dance, just as we would not be the best to judge what they do.  MMA or non Traditional stylist would not be the best to judge a (key word) Traditional Lion Dance as such aspects are not in thier area of interest or training.

So please dont take my offer of matching my team against yours as anything but what it is.  An honest test of honest skill.  Nothing more, nothing less.  It is through such exchanges that we all learn more on our martial journeys.  If you relax and flow with this it might just be fun too.

Sifu Wayne