Tales of Gong Sau and Karate Masters

[LI GUY 1]

http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=87709

Check it out, I'll post a condensed form here later.
Anyone know of this guy??

[Lucas]

definately loltastic.

make sure and post the vid here :D

[taai gihk yahn]

is this a Long Island MA school? dude, I can't wade through 35 pages on Bullshido - just the facts, ma'am, please, if you would be so kind as to...

[Lucas]

he went in to promote a tournament, the sensei wanted money to show up, he was all like 'thats not how it works, your guys pay to fight' sensei was all like, 'im too big for that', then he asked whats in it for him, dude was all like, 'your students can see if they can fight (meaning test skills), sensei took it wrong and assaulted him. emails back and forth, grudge death match 2009 insues hopefully tomorrow or tonight and we see vid soon.

:D

i think i summed it up pretty well, i have more free time at work than you :p

[cerebus]

he went in to promote a tournament, the sensei wanted money to show up, he was all like 'thats not how it works, your guys pay to fight' sensei was all like, 'im too big for that', then he asked whats in it for him, dude was all like, 'your students can see if they can fight (meaning test skills), sensei took it wrong and assaulted him. emails back and forth, grudge death match 2009 insues hopefully tomorrow or tonight and we see vid soon.

:D

i think i summed it up pretty well, i have more free time at work than you :p

******! And I went and read the whole friggin thread! :mad: Oh well, here's hoping for the vid... :)

[Lucas]

ya i hope it goes down, and i hope it goes down hard. im sure the sensei will have a no filming rule or something of that nature. and of course he'll throw his top black belt or his lowest white belt. it could go either way :rolleyes:

[LI GUY 1]

Something most awesome happened the other day....something I have never dreamed I could lol at in my own life...I had a fight with a crazy karate master and now its all deadly challenges and dojo storming lolol....

So I go into this guy's school to invite them to a tournament. I have done this to other schools no problem and was well received. Problem is this guy thinks who he is.
He asks me what he gets out of it. I say, well his students get competition out of it, duh!
He says "no, what's my kickback". As if am supposed to pay him to have his students compete lol. He says this is how things are done, I have to pay for the privilege of his guys. I explain that I cannot pay him, the cost is $25 if they wish to enter, and that no legitimate tournament would pay an instructor.

Then he goes on about how I would need his presence at the event. I reply "no, I just need your students" lol, he wants me to pay him just to show up as he is a very well know and important karate man according to him.

Anyway after him belittling me for not wanting to pay him, not looking me in the eyes, talking down to me, and telling me " you don't understand who I am, talk to your Sensei", he declines the invite. I tell him to hold onto the info in case he wants to know if his students can fight lol.

This infuriated him and he jumped out of his chair and threw me against a wall! He attacked me lol!!!!

So he hits me, I hit him and mostly just hold him against a wall for a bit until breaking off and calling the cops, cuz he is crazy. His nose is a bit busted up along with his eye. I have a scratch or two. More in the next post.

[LI GUY 1]

So he sends 4 "emissaries" (his word not mine to mine) to my school and they demand a formal apology in 1 week "or else". They are told to **** off. I wasn't there unfortunately.

I email him asking for a real match, and he replied I can only fight one of his students as he is so far above me lol. I email him back, etc. Time to post em here for lols.




My intentions today at your school were not to disrespect you or your students in any way. However you took them as such and in my opinion acted wrongly by attacking me. As a martial artist you do not initiate an attack. You know better and should hold yourself to a higher standard than that of a thug.
When you challenge someone, the honorable thing to do is to let them accept before you hit them, not to use thug tactics. You assumed wrong to think I would take that sort of abuse.
A man who has studied for your length of time should be able to control himself and his anger, not act like a child.

You and I obviously have differing opinions on what happened today. As a martial artist myself, I do not initiate a street fight, nor would I attack a fellow martial artist before they have fully accepted any form of challenge.

This being said, I believe we can form some sort of traditional and proper challenge in the near future. Do you agree?





James Funaro,



You claim in your e-mail that you did not intend to disrespect myself or my students in anyway upon entering my dojo this evening. However, not only did you do just that, you continue to insult me by implying that I behave like a “thug” or “child” or initiate “street fights” in your e-mail. You are very naive and must learn to practice self-control and discipline. You must also realize that when you make comments like, “if your students really want to learn how to fight, tell them to come here!” and then throw a tournament flyer in my face, that’s a challenge. Your teacher should have taught you this. You never challenge a traditional martial artist like that if you cannot go through with it, as your performance in my dojo today proved. Your actions and your comments further demonstrate that you know very little about the world of traditional martial arts.

Yes, your version of today’s events differs from mine, but they also differ from the truth. Keep in mind that we have eye-witnesses to the fight that YOU initiated, through camera surveillance.

Moreover, you foolishly end your e-mail message with another challenge. You are extremely ignorant if you think that you are anywhere near my level. I advise you to speak to Sensei Joe Turchiano (“Judo Joe”) at your dojo about my fighting career before you make such a mistake again.

I hope that in time you will learn to control your rude arrogance and mature into a somewhat competent martial artist. I also hope that you understand that challenges are not to be made lightly, such as the way you challenged me today. A mature person simply does not go around challenging established martial artists because they politely refuse to participate in a tournament, as was the case today. You should also understand that if you ever challenge a traditional martial artist again, you need to have the skills necessary to back it up. Eye-poking, scratching, and biting simply will not suffice, as I’m sure you found out. Also concerning challenges; if you had any honor, you would have finished the challenge today, but you failed to do so, even though I graciously went “easy” on you to prevent injury to you. But instead of doing so, you kept making the excuse that you’re only 22 years old, after running out of my dojo and then screaming about contacting the police. This further attests to your inexperience and lack of confidence and skill. You also need to realize that a martial artist of my stature does not bother himself with answering challenges from inexperienced fighters, although I will defend myself when some arrogant young man attempts to attack me. Do you challenge me by right of your system? The head of your system should be the one sending your message, not yourself. Alternatively, do you wish to challenge a member of my dojo who would be a more suitable match in rank for you, in a friendly, legal fight? That would be more appropriate, however, an apology is first required, and even then, based on what I’ve observed, I believe that this would not be a good idea for you. Also, you should be aware that a traditional challenge, like the one you proposed in your message to me, is to the death. You must think about what you do before you do it. Read what you wrote. In your message, you admit to challenging me this evening, and then you challenge me again at the end of the e-mail! Are you engaging further in criminal activity by threatening my life? Is this how you’re organization operates? Do you not realize that you’re putting your system and yourself in legal jeopardy, by providing your opponent with hard evidence of your crimes? I can own your dojo by the end of the year, just by what you admit to in your e-mail!

I sent emissaries to your dojo today, in hopes of obtaining an apology for your shameful behavior this evening. Since you are a young, inexperienced martial artist, I will make the generous offer of putting this matter to rest with an apology. I give you a window of 1 week to make a decision. But first, speak to every martial artist in New York and ask them about me. Do not attempt to contact me again unless it is with an apology within the given time frame.

Let it be known that I am not afraid of you, or your organization. You know where to find me, and I’m not running. You’re not the first to try this with me, others have tried and failed. My organization is ready to defend on the spot, and have no need to arrange a match for the “near future.” You should have handled your business today, on the spot. In my professional opinion, you have shamed and embarrassed your organization by running from a challenge that you foolishly and needlessly initiated, out of your pride, arrogance, and inability to cope with rejection.





Sincerely,

Sensei John Benedict






I am not at all threatening you or anyone else, especially with death. A legal match is obviously what I am looking for. Also, there is no organization to discuss. I represent myself. Also, the comment was that "if your'e students want to know if they can fight", a test of their skills, then they should compete, that is the tournament's goal. Yes it was arrogant but only a reflection of your belittling me for not recognizing how great you are or your stature.
Next, you hit me first, I did not hit you until you hit me, I even held us against the wall telling you to stop yet you continued to strike me. Any video will clearly show you strike me first, you even ran around your desk to strike me! I held your hand or tried to at one point asking you to stop and you threw my head against a wall. I called the cops as it would be foolish not to in that situation, I do not street fight.

Again, I do not represent an organization, I own no school for you to take from me, and I am not threatening anyone. I did not issue any challenge today, if you would have took the time to listen before hitting me you would have heard me say that. Then we could have parted ways. I had no desire to fight or challenge.

I will gladly have a match with one of your students. I would assume it would be under the least restrictive rule set available to us. Lets not talk too much please as it will just go in circles. When would a student of yours like to fight, do you have any in mind?

[David Jamieson]

hmmm. krotty belly.

why is fitness so low on the totem pole with so many martial artists?

hit a treadmill for gods sake people! lol

[MasterKiller]

Is this the guy?

http://wcbstv.com/local/karate.long.island.2.243435.html?detectflash=false

[rogue]

Traditional training provides you with a solid foundation, in which you will learn combat proven techniques and abilities. Most good MMA fighters come from a traditional background. They do great in the beginning but then start training with MMA instructors to "enhance" their fighting skills with Jiu-Jitsu and other styles, which effects their traditional techniques in a negative way. The traditional style is what got them there in the first place.

The Goju Karate style offered at Seitouha Goju-Ryu Karate is an all-inclusive art, providing practitioners with hard and soft skills, linear fighting, close-in fighting, ground fighting skills, and submission techniques. Goju is the only style of karate that offers in-close fighting. We are the in-close specialists. Also, the skills you learn standing up, can be done on your back, so you don't have to learn a million different styles in order to do both.

In addition to being an all-inclusive art, Goju karate is designed to be effective for students of all ages. In our MMA classes, we children from age 6, to adults age 56. Goju doesn't give you any limitations, so stop making excuses for yourself if you think age is an issue.

Must be the uber Sanchin training.

And remember kids, "Goju is the only style of karate that offers in-close fighting. We are the in-close specialists."

This the kid where, "The teen left and came back with a car full of other teens armed with crow bars and tire irons," and only one guy was charged with assault?

http://seitouhagojukarate.com/new_web/html/video/rob_choke.html

[sanjuro_ronin]

That choke was horrid, HORRID I SAY !!!!!

[rogue]

That choke was horrid, HORRID I SAY !!!!!

You're only saying that because your training has effected your traditional techniques in a negative way. :D

[sanjuro_ronin]

You're only saying that because your training has effected your traditional techniques in a negative way. :D

This is quite possible, since Karate is the way of non-violence then it makes sense to do the choke in a way that offers no harm to the person being choked.
How very traditional.

[diego]

This is quite possible, since Karate is the way of non-violence then it makes sense to do the choke in a way that offers no harm to the person being choked.
How very traditional.

right....Traditional, what like this? http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CgpLsgWbKT4/RjtCAC0ypZI/AAAAAAAAAHU/Faq_UibF-qY/s320/Fat%2BGuy%2Bwith%2BTits.jpg

:(

[LI GUY 1]

Went to the school tonight as invited, during his adult class. For the 1 on 1 match.

When we get there I call him, no answer. 3x, no answer. Rather, we see his students chest thumping and jumping around like idiots in the school.

Shouting to come inside, where they could brawl. No thank you, I left John Benedict (the "Sensei") a messgae saying that we did not agree to have a group brawl, but a 1 on 1 match.

He instead hid behind his students in a circle jerk.

With that said I will note that his son is doing his first MMA fight in NJ in Sept. That along with the fact they claim to be an MMA school means I will try to get on a card against one of them.

They can facilitate this by answering the open challenge I have posted in quite a few places.

Plenty of local shows will hold an open weight, limited rules match for us in a legitimate show. SEIGI DAI DOJO can answer the challenge easily as they are aware of it.

Don't forget to join one of the many groups! The power of social networking:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=232625705441&ref=nf

[Lucas]

if everythings the way it would seem, thats pretty disgraceful. i thought he was a karate master.

[Lucas]

right....Traditional, what like this? http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CgpLsgWbKT4/RjtCAC0ypZI/AAAAAAAAAHU/Faq_UibF-qY/s320/Fat%2BGuy%2Bwith%2BTits.jpg

:(

lol man, that is pretty disturbing.

[diego]

lol man, that is pretty disturbing.

cackles like Flavor Flav in the PE days

[Lokhopkuen]

if everythings the way it would seem, thats pretty disgraceful. i thought he was a karate master.

What's disgraceful is airing the whole thing here.

[Mr Punch]

Over and above anything else, the karate sensei, who incidentally has set himself up as an upholder of an honour system and a teacher of children, physically and criminally assaulted someone. He should be the one apologising, or he should lose all his business.

I'll humour you. Why? Why should it not have been aired here?

[taai gihk yahn]

it's times like these that I find myself very conflicted about living on Long Island, LOL :p

(and I believe that the dojo in question is about a 15 min. drive from my house)

[David Jamieson]

well, karate guy does have the option of shutting the guy up I guess.

+ karate guy hasn't had his chance to tell his side, we've only heard from Li Guy so far. One sided stories are always only half the story. :)

Hey it's about martial arts right?
Fair game if you promote yourself as a master, then you should be able to step up.

[Lokhopkuen]

Master is not what you call yourself, it's what people whom respect you call you.:rolleyes:

[LI GUY 1]

Hey, what's awesome is that even though I do only have half the story, I am willing to get into a competition bout with any of his guys.
Plenty of shows would have it, we could even get it as an open weight class limited rules bout.

He advertises as being better then MMA at MMA fighting, just read his website.

His son is having an MMA fight soon in NJ.

So regardless of my being right or wrong, it could all be settled by a ring match in the style they claim to teach and are now competing in.

It's easy to do, it's also easy to avoid.

[Lokhopkuen]

You missed something.

You walked into a man's business

making a business proposal (Inviting his paying students to your paying tournament.)

When the man made a counter proposal "what's in it for me."

you became offended.


He ****ed you off, you ****ed him off, he hit you.

He is an ******* and you could have been a bit more respectful and receptive of his needs?

After all you came to him asking him for something, he did not come to you?


You both could have dealt with it better?

[David Jamieson]

You missed something.

You walked into a man's business

making a business proposal (Inviting his paying students to your paying tournament.)

When the man made a counter proposal "what's in it for me."

you became offended.


He ****ed you off, you ****ed him off, he hit you.

He is an ******* and you could have been a bit more respectful and receptive of his needs?

After all you came to him asking him for something, he did not come to you?


You both could have dealt with it better?

you make some valid points LHK and reading through this, I see Li Guy as instigating and baiting somewhat based on those exact observations. But I still haven't heard karate guy's side.

Li Guy, why don't you enter that tournament his son is in and try to see if you can get carded with him?

[LI GUY 1]

His son is not in a tournament but an MMA show. I will try and get on that card against him but he already has an opponent.
Furthermore, I have done some underground shows so may not be able to fight ammy in NJ anymore.
We could still have a match in PA, CT, MA, or more conveniently for everyone in any of the LI/NYC based shows.

Also, of course it is offensive to think he should be paid to enter a tournament. Especially a $25 tourny that garuntees at least 2 matches.
Would NAGA or GQ pay for entrants? No, and they cost $80!

His reasoning for paying him wasn't even just "well why should my guys do the tourney?"...it was "you need a man of my prescence for a successfull event, you have no idea who I am do you?" I swear the guy told me to ask everyone about him, they would tell me how great of a master/living legend he is lol. Just too ****y and egotistical.
Went on about how I must not be aware of his reputation, how I need him, etc. What a joke.

[LI GUY 1]

And yes, LHK, I could have left and had it be over with perhaps, but why not call him out on his delusions? Problem with people today is they do not call people on their crazy behavior or bluffs.

[Lokhopkuen]

And yes, LHK, I could have left and had it be over with perhaps, but why not call him out on his delusions? Problem with people today is they do not call people on their crazy behavior or bluffs.

I agree with you there.


But.


Most little strip mall/ storefront Karate/Kung Fu places are not temples of martial virtue.

They're just businesses.

That guy and his attitude are a lot of what's wrong with martial art today...


Oh yea, about delusions? Some people especially some Martial Arts people.
That's all they got:)

[David Jamieson]

well, you gotta ask yourself li guy, what did you go there to do?

a) get a tournament member?

b) call someone on what you perceive to be their delusions?

if it was "a", you failed.

if it was b) you still failed because it's only your side of the story and so far, nothing has come from any of it except you bad mouthing a school and it's chief instructor publicly.

So, you can see why we would also not just give you the cred you would get at bullshido for this kind of thing.

You can't write all the rules yourself man. :)

[LI GUY 1]

Not looking for cred.
Just posting an issue I had. He is more than welcome to give his side of the story. He chose not to on BS and was well aware of it.

IMO it is an event that was worth telling others about.

Yes I failed at getting his students in the event. However I will take it as an opportunity to discuss my side of the story, and his if he ever chooses to do so, on a public forum.
people should know about such disgusting behavior. I take bad apples in the martial arts worls very seriously as they give everyone a bad name as well as cheat their students in the n ame of MA.

[aktionmancer]

What's disgraceful is airing the whole thing here.


i understand why someone would think its lame airing dirty laundry on a forum, but another viewpoint is that the general public needs to know about terrible Masters.

When choosing a Sifu/Sensi, a lot of people will just assume he's on the up and up, just because they've setup a school.

But for the people who do their research and due diligence before choosing a school, postings like this help them decide if they want a Sifu/Sensei who would start a fight so easily.

[aktionmancer]

also forgot to mention something about

the pen being mightier than the sword.
:D

[LI GUY 1]

Yes, Sean Connery once said "the pen-is mightier" if I remember correctly:) I miss the old SNL.

[TenTigers]

well, he already gets points in my book for liking Sean Connery and SNL.
Now, if he were a Monty Python fan, it would warrant major cool points.

[aktionmancer]

"What is your Mother, Trebek"

hahahaha:cool:

[aktionmancer]

Connery " knock knock"
Trebek " who's there?"
Connery "Me, the guy who slept with your mother last night!"

hahahaha:cool:

[ghostexorcist]

Connery " knock knock"
Trebek " who's there?"
Connery "Me, the guy who slept with your mother last night!"

hahahaha:cool:
Trebek: "What is the sound a doggie makes?"

(Confused silence from the contestants)

TrebeK: "Seriously? No one knows the answer? We would have accepted bow wow, bark, or ruff."

Connery: "Ah, rough, just the way your mother likes it!"

[Lokhopkuen]

i understand why someone would think its lame airing dirty laundry on a forum, but another viewpoint is that the general public needs to know about terrible Masters.

When choosing a Sifu/Sensi, a lot of people will just assume he's on the up and up, just because they've setup a school.

But for the people who do their research and due diligence before choosing a school, postings like this help them decide if they want a Sifu/Sensei who would start a fight so easily.

Yea I agree. Originally I was going to go off on an Old Guy Rant about respect and the snotnosed kids today yada yada yada but as I read on I realized the guy was a Master A$$hole with powerful business sensibilities.:rolleyes:

[lkfmdc]

artist's impression of what the challenge match might have looked like! (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=5343&d=1248478720)

[kwaichang]

LK you are a thief next you will be saying that is your student what a low life Kc

[lkfmdc]

LK you are a thief next you will be saying that is your student what a low life Kc

you need to start taking those pills the doctor gave you, you are losing touch with reality. Trust me the LAST THING anyone would want to do is take credit for that pic, well, except YOU apparently :rolleyes:

[kwaichang]

Gotcha man admit it you lost your cool and now trying to make a comeback KC

[Lokhopkuen]

artist's impression of what the challenge match might have looked like! (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=5343&d=1248478720)

David you have no shame....

[kwaichang]

When dave writes LMFAO does the F mean fat? Just curious KC

[taai gihk yahn]

Yes, Sean Connery once said "the pen-is mightier" if I remember correctly:) I miss the old SNL.

you've got a "pen-is mightier", man? that could be worth millions!

suck it, Trebec...

[jbsucks]

I'm new to this forum but I have a lot of past experience with "Sensei" John Benedict. The man is a criminal and should not be allowed to teach anyone, let alone children. He obviously does not know how to behave himself and is a violent thug who should be in prison. He starts fights at his own dojo, in bars, in public, and every where else he shows his ugly face. He is a low life and karma will show him no mercy...

[Dragonzbane76]

well, he already gets points in my book for liking Sean Connery and SNL.
Now, if he were a Monty Python fan, it would warrant major cool points.

"I'll take the-rapist for 200"


Yea I agree. Originally I was going to go off on an Old Guy Rant about respect and the snotnosed kids today yada yada yada but as I read on I realized the guy was a Master A$$hole with powerful business sensibilities.

you go off on a rant NO it can't be.... :)

[Yum Cha]

Master is not what you call yourself, it's what people whom respect you call you.:rolleyes:


As they say, "anybody that calls themselves a master is simply demonstrating that they are not."


Phewwww.....at least this time its a Karate guy...

[Lee Chiang Po]

Actually Guy, I think you are over reacting a bit. I think you should go to him and apologize to him for your behavior in his dojo. You are the one that mishandled the situation, and he reacted to that. His dojo and his reputation stands to be injured if he fights you. He is right in not doing it. And it is all together possible that he is indeed above your own skill level. It would be a terrible thing to have to learn the hard way. Besides, nothing would be gained by it, and you would not prove one way or the other if he is a good teacher or not. I think it is just a run of ego on both sides and you should bring it to a close as soon as possible before it can get real ugly. If he really does feel that he is a legend in his own time, then he could be egotistically challenged, but I think you also might have a bit of the same affliction. I say just drop it, but it would be best if you went and apologized to him personally.

LCP

[Dragonzbane76]

As they say, "anybody that calls themselves a master is simply demonstrating that they are not."


Phewwww.....at least this time its a Karate guy...

would you go over to the southern Kung fu threads and tell Hardworking8 guy that. tried to explain that in 3 pages to him but he just won't listen. :p

lot of stigma involved with that word in my opinion

[goju]

martial art forums: attracting mature adults since 1994!:D

[Yum Cha]

would you go over to the southern Kung fu threads and tell Hardworking8 guy that. tried to explain that in 3 pages to him but he just won't listen. :p

When a man argues with a monkey, the monkey always looks better...