To Any London or British Kenshi

[Luar]

Not to sound like a parental authority figure but read this (http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/Forum8/HTML/000711.html). It is by an alleged teenage kenshi who got into his first fist fight. If he really is a kenshi and you know him, then someone ought to have a word with him. And if he isn't a kenshi, then someone still ought to have a word with him.

:bandit:

[Tripitaka of AA]

The thread describes an incident where the young "Kenshi" was involved in a fight that had developed from an exchange of words (in a non "alcohol-related" setting). He describes how "I can't remember anything past this point apart from the end where they ended up limping away", and gave it the title "Losing control of your rage". He asked if others had ever experienced this.

It is an interesting thread, and really the Martial Art concerned was incidental to the question. Hopefully, the readers will recognise that too. It is a little unfortunate then, that for some readers, their first encounter with the name "Shorinji Kempo" will be in reference to a story from someone who has fallen some way short (in the quoted incident) of the Shorinji Kempo ideals. On the other hand, the post itself is honest, well-written, carefully crafted (spelling, grammar, etc.) and gives a fairly good impression of the author.

I would hope that this author finds his way to this forum, where we are always happy to discuss Shorinji Kempo... and perhaps sometimes find ways to improve ourselves ;)

[David Dunn]

Sorry David, it isn't 'interesting'. It's a disgrace. This Michael Lim (whoever he is), provoked a fight, ended up (apparently) beating someone to a pulp, and then, above all, bragged about the 'achievement' on an internet message board. I'll be posting my thoughts on that message board shortly.

[Tripitaka of AA]

I read it less as bragging, and more as shame-faced account of regrettabe act. No argument about the disgraceful behaviour during the incident, but I think the remorse angle was what I found intriguing - particuarly as most of the replies were of the "well done" variety.

His profile and other posts on that forum should make him relatively easy to identify, but I was hoping to encourage a new user to this forum (and away from the "yeah-yeah, fight-fight-fight" crowd) rather than gather a lynch mob. He is a 16 year-old. He mentioned in another thread that he's been doing Shorinji Kempo for 7 years. Being London based, that would make him a student of Joe Collis and Jee Sensei, or Steve Williams Sensei... wouldn't it?

[AllanJGAnderson]

The problem that guy has is a annoying little thing we call 'emotion' if you cannot control your emotions they will control you. As Keith Vargo said it best
" Self defense should be a chore you occasionally have to do, not an apetite you satisfy. Idealy fighting is somthing you do with no more passion than chopping down a tree."
If you forget what happened during a fight, you definatly need to get some self control.

[Tripitaka of AA]

... and if you want to compare his post with something similar on the same forum, see here (http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/Forum8/HTML/000738.html), where an "almost 14" year old describes his love of fighting. He asks if anyone else uses his unique method of mumbling the lyrics of "Stairway to Heaven" while fighting (it helps him to concentrate)...

[David Dunn]

Perhaps I misread it. Telling someone to get off a court and laughing at them when they walk away is asking for trouble, no matter who threw the first punch. If I goad someone until they try to punch me, does that mean I didn't start the trouble?

[edit] I tempered my reply on that forum. Note to self: never post messages late at night when tired. The 14 year old is a wind-up merchant surely? If you're going to mumble lyrics to cheesy pub rock, you might as well get it right: "and a new day will dawn for those who stand long."

[Luar]

First of all I do not think he is one of our kenshi. Whether he is or not can be remedied by one of us asking him who is his sensei or where is his branch. From that response alone, you will know exactly who you are dealing with.

BTW, I thought you people were suppose to be so polite, "cricket" and all that.

:bandit:

[David Dunn]

First of all I do not think he is one of our kenshi. Whether he is or not can be remedied by one of us asking him who is his sensei or where is his branch. From that response alone, you will know exactly who you are dealing with.

BTW, I thought you people were suppose to be so polite, "cricket" and all that.

:bandit:

Oops. I was impolite? I was trying to tell him off! He is a kenshi, at Abbey dojo.

[Luar]

Oh now you were fine. I was refering to the alleged "kenshi" with a badly worded bit of sarcasm that plays upon international stereotypes.

[tracethebass]

Mmm Stairway guy does seem seriously deranged, I like the way he titles his post "I like to fight". I never realised there were message boards out there that allowed this kind of crap.
As for the kenshi, my interpretation was that he responded to an attack on his friend though it is a bit worrying that he can't recall what happened after that. Is this heijoshin?
Regards Tracey