Well, unfortunately the USA is still dealing with the Coronavirus. I'm very grateful to still be working and have a job, but the line of work I'm doing has kept me so busy that I forget what is happening to the economy (let's just say, I'm in a very important line of work, most people would not or do not believe what I do even if I told them). Anyway, Ron Gatewood, put up a post on his website and I responded with some of my thoughts. Here is my post:
Hello Mr. Gatewood,
I hope you are being safe from the coronavirus. I've read this post as of 1:30 a.m., I woke up early because many thoughts are going through my mind regarding my work (I'm very blessed to not have to stay inside my place like many other people). No doubt, this pandemic is having an impact on martial art schools/gyms. No doubt, some will closed and it won't be the fault of the instructors, but the economy, etc. I know we have had our differences about Kung Fu San Soo. I know you don't think too highly of me. However, I would like to give you some advice that I believe may help you.
If there is one resource that people don't have enough of in life it would be TIME. You have done a lot for Kung Fu San Soo (no doubt, in my mind you believe in Kung Fu San Soo) in your spare time. Since you are a true believer in Kung Fu San Soo you can look back and conclude that you did everything you could for the Art you love. I commend you for that. You may believe that there is no real forward movement by others, but that is not your fault and you cannot let that bother you (you don't control what others think, say, or do, just what you think, say, and do...at best you can control everything 3 feet around you).
I commend you for seeking the truth of the art, origins, true facts of Jimmy H. Woo, etc. I must admit I'm glad "a believer in the Art" like yourself called out the bullshit Kung Fu San Soo stories (when I left Kung Fu San Soo I realized the stories about Jimmy H. Woo, the Art's history, etc. were BS). If this art of Kung Fu San Soo is a "brilliant art" it will survive and thrive. Not because of you, but because of it...the art.
The fighting styles I love like Muay Thai, Sanda, Pradal Serey, Lethwei, BJJ, etc. are going to continue on in the future, not because of one "particular person" taking charge and creating "forward movement", but because these fighting styles are easy to understand, work, and most important there's something in them that make people want to carry them on in the future.
You've done all you could and if it's Kung Fu San Soo's destiny to be carried on the way you think it should in the future then it will happened. If it doesn't happen, it's not meant to be and Kung Fu San Soo will go the way wherever it goes.
KungFuSanSooHarshTruth.Blogspot.com
The post above was truly meant to help Ron Gatewood realize that his choices were all that he could do and now it's up to the Art itself to find it's way. I don't imagine Kung Fu San Soo ever being a successful martial art in terms of appealing to people to study for fighting, self-defense, and fitness. I do commend any man for his beliefs in working to further something as best as he can. However, when it comes to Kung Fu San Soo it's obvious that many newer generation "Masters" are not emphasizing things that Jimmy Woo taught and are incorporating things from other styles (styles recommended on this blog). I recently saw a "master" of Kung Fu San Soo incorporate a Muay Thai Round kick in his training video. HE EVEN CALLS IT THE MUAY THAI ROUND KICK! However, here is the issue. It's a horrible example of a kick. If you want Muay Thai technique. Study Muay Thai, not Kung Fu San Soo.
I'm surprised I was able to find time to do a post. Work has been keeping me so busy that all I want to do when I get home is workout, eat, sleep/rest, and watch films/stuff on YouTube. I need to also find time to study my foreign language of choice!
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
