Some good comments have been brought up that have made me think about something...I remember years ago there was an article written by a San Soo Master that learned from Jimmy H. Woo. It consisted of a story where there was a large demonstration of martial arts styles or just Chinese martial art styles. Jimmy H. Woo got up on stage and demonstrated San Soo and talked about his family's style. Jimmy H. Woo made a challenge to everyone right there that he would be willing to fight anyone there "to the death" to prove Kung Fu San Soo was the best art. No one accepted his challenge. The San Soo Master that wrote that article was supposedly there and witnessed it. Now, from what I know of this man he is a man that would not/should not lie.
However, I must say this.
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO PROOF OR EVIDENCE THAT JIMMY H. WOO WAS A PERSON WHO GOT INTO STREET FIGHTS OR CLOSED DOOR CHALLENGE FIGHTS. ALL THE SAN SOO PEOPLE HAVE ARE STORIES ABOUT JIMMY H. WOO!
Now back to the story of the challenge Jimmy H. Woo supposedly made. Anyone in the world could have made that challenge and back in those days in America with martial arts having more mystique and still largely unknown it would be hard to find risk takers to accept the unknown. However, now with Muay Thai promotions, Kickboxing promotions, UFC, other MMA events, youtube showing fighting styles in action, internet filled with information on fighting style's history and results, there is not much unknown left. Even Lethwei and it's brutality are being discovered by hard core martial artists. I DO NOT BELIEVE JIMMY H. WOO WOULD BE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH MAKING SUCH A CHALLENGE TODAY WITHOUT SOME HUNGRY FIGHTER SEEKING FAME AND ATTENTION.
If perhaps someone did accept his challenge back in the day or if he was alive today in his prime physical and supposed fighting shape then I sure hope he would be ready to deal with the average skilled MMA fighter who at least knows BJJ and Muay Thai or deal with a Sanda Fighter or a hungry Pradal Serey Fighter that trains in the worst conditions or a Lethwei fighter who does all his talking in the ring. The reason I say this is due to the fact I've seen videos on youtube of Jimmy H. Woo and I don't see any real fighting skill.
Jimmy H. Woo was the Grand Master of Kung Fu San Soo. Such a title makes him good at the art no doubt, but all we have are stories, there are no videos of any fights or even proof he fought, how can any San Soo person say he was a fighter with no evidence? Even I have videos of my smoker fights to prove I've fought, but that doesn't make me a fighter (I don't consider myself a fighter at all).
We do know one thing. There are San Soo students/masters that have tried to fight and win in the UFC 1, Culver City Arena in 1975, closed door matches (TMI challenge), etc. with not much luck at all.
I now do believe Jimmy H. Woo relied on the mystique of San Soo not only as a recruiting tool, But as a weapon also for his students to use, but now the aspect of mystique can't be used in martial arts anymore because too much is known by people on what really works and how fights really are.
Questions or Comments?
JimmyHWoo2016@gmail.com
Recommended Fighting Styles:
Southeast Asian Boxing
Muay Thai, Muay Lao, Pradal Serey, Lethwei, Tomoi
East Asian Boxing
Sanda (San Shou, San Da), Kyuk Too Ki, Shoot Boxing, Yaw Yan
Western Striking
Dutch Kickboxing, Savate, Western Boxing
Grappling and Other
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling, Sambo, Pankration, Judo, Shuai Jiao, Kali/Arnis/Escrima
JIMMY H. WOO SOUNDS LIKE A. STEVEN SEGAL TYPE OF MARTIAL ARTIST. ALL HYPE. NOT A REAL FIGHTET.
ReplyDeleteNOT A REAL FIGHTER
ReplyDeleteI WOULD BET SOME GOOD MONEY THAT NITHET RON GATEWOOD NOR JACK SERRA COULD DO 5 ROUNFS ON A HEAVY BAG. 3 MINUTE ROUNDS WITH A MINUTE REST IN BETWEEN. NO RESTING DURING THE ROUND
ReplyDeleteSPENCER HERE. I AM SO GLAD IT IS ON FECORD. RON GATEWOOD ADMITTING ALONG WITH THE OTHET SAN SOO MASTER THAT LARRY WIKELS 5 GUYS GOT THEIR BUTTS KICKED. 3 WERE KNOCKED OUT. CAN YOU IMAGINE L THESE YEARS LARRY HAS BEEN PLAYING UP THIS MUY THAI FIGHT THAT NEVER TOOK PLACE. I HOPE ALL WIKELS GUYS LIKE KEN HOLLOWAY WHO TEACHES OR TAUGHT IN TENESSE WHO SAID IT NEVER HALPENED. I HOPE ALL THE SAN SOO PEOPLE REALIZE THAT WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS FIVE GUYS WAS REAL. TWO WERE BLACKBELTS. TWO WERE GREEN AND ONE WAD A YELLOW BELT WITH ABOUT A YEARS EXPERIENCE. NOW IT IS ON RECORD. IT IS BEYOND DISPUTE.
ReplyDeleteAFTER THE FIGHT WITH THE FIVE OPPONENTS IN CULVET CITY LARDY TOLD ME THAT HIS FIGHTERS COULD NOT USE ALL THEIR WEAPONS. I SAID THE OPPONENTS COULD NOT EITHER. I TOLD HIM IT WAS A FAIR FIGHT. YOU CANNOT MAKE EXCUSES.
ReplyDeleteHIS ZTUDENTS VOTED WKGH THIR FEET. HE CLOSED DOWN.
ReplyDeleteSmall point. I believe it wad the 2nd UFC w h ere THADDEUS Luster a Dan soo. 7th degree got destroyed by SAMBO STYLIST FRANK HAMMACKER.
ReplyDelete