|
|
|
Posted December, 1998
. . .I've been disgusted with the mainstream martial arts press for quite a while, but until I gained access to the Internet I had no idea that there existed magazines such as yours, where I could find accurate information and well-researched articles about the Japanese arts and ways. It's been a pleasure to discover your website and find people who hold themselves to high standards and yet still maintain a sense of humor. I'm not a New Age aikidoka or a pony-tailed member of any Hollywood clique, and I also have an extremely stupid (some say "uncivilized and juvenile") sense of humor, so it's very unlikely that I'll ever get offended by the Furyu crew.
I'll close with a couple of suggestions for your website. First, how about more examples of your art and illustrations? They are definitely worth displaying to a larger audience. Secondly, maybe you could post a list of books you would recommend to those interested in the martial arts and ways of Japan as well as military history, etc. . .
--Tony BledsoePS From Tony
. . .Let me just state once again: these issues of Furyu are exquisite,
and worth every penny.
--Tony BledsoeTony, we'll take all your suggestions into consideration!
Hey Wayne, I just read my first issue of Furyu (#8) cover to cover, and I am going to start on #9 tonight. It is nice to know that there are folks like you out there trying to spread the gospel of traditional budo. I LOVE YOUR MAGAZINE!!. . .
--Steve Campbell
It has been a while since I wrote (I had asked you for some info and insight on
the concept of 'the self' in budo, and thank you very much for your response).
I have finally attained shodan in Kwan Mu Kan Karate under George Anderson, and am eagerly anticipating the lifelong journey ahead! I have also had the
opportunity to train with soke Kenzo Mabuni in Seito Shito-ryu. I have
learned so much in the 5+ years I've been training, its hard to imagine what
spending your entire life in the arts must be like. Hanshi Anderson and Soke
Mabuni are so insightful that I feel almost in awe whenever in their presence.
As of late, I've gotten some exposure to Yamani-ryu Kobujitsu. It's so
interesting to see how much it differs from most of the Okinawa Kobu-
do(jutsu) that I was exposed to. I guess what I'm saying is that it is truly
enlightening to see that basically any type of 'traditional art' has its own
validity, but can coexist with all the others and ride the wave of human
whimsicality and fashion. I think your magazine is a shining example of that,
highlighting the traditional arts rather than pitting them against each other.
I (and I think most of your readers) truly thank you for the opportunities
you provide!!!!!
all ways are one in the end!
--Marc Mancini
. . .I just received #9. Its getting better all the time. . .Thank you and best wishes.
--Scott Tullis, Cheyenne Kendo/Iaido Dojo
Hello! Just wanted to let you know that Furyu #9 was really great. Mr. Lowry's article was, as always, right on target-his words allow me to better organize my thoughts around, and reflect on the study of the classical arts (am I making sense here?!). Mr. Amdur, another thought-provoking writer, I think did a great service by writing about an obscure weapon like the chigirki in such a lively manner. I thoroughly enjoyed that piece, as I do all of his writings.
Your follow-up to the cult-article was really great. . . It's scary, especially when you think of all those shopping-mall karate/taekwondo studios dotting the landscape, with wide-eyed kids (and some adults too) hanging on to every word of the sensei/sabumnim!
While in college (in Ithaca, a place you're familiar with) I worked part-time as a manager/assistant-instructor in one of these types of studio, and it was at times a bit unnerving to see the effect a charismatic teacher could have on the kids and their parents too. [It was] great when channeled in the right direction, but the potential for misuse/abuse is always there (especially when the teacher lets the adoration, etc. go to his head. . .), don't you think?
Anyways, my own jodo training is progressing bit by bit. A few weekends ago, I got the chance to train under Matsumura Shigehiro sensei when he was here in New York City with some of his people from Kobukan dojo in Tokyo. It was an intense affair and a great experience, especially to see the high-caliber of their techniques. Boy! Do I have a lot of ground to cover!
I'll end here, thanks a lot for continuing to put out such a fantastic magazine, and a great website too. BTW, when are those t-shirts going to be available, and do you still sell those samurai-putting-armor shirts? The one I have is being eyed by all the folks in the dojo!
--Sonam AtukWell, Sonam, you better frame your sweaty t-shirt, because the t-shirt guys who printed it refuse to redo the screen, which was so old it literally fell apart. You have a collector's item in your hands!
I had a really cruddy week and was not in the mood for stupidity, luckily for me, I got my latest Furyu. A good budo class or reading a well written article on martial arts seems to get me focused again and clears my head nicely. Loved the latest issue.
--Neil Yamamoto
I just received the latest issue and it looks great! I'm logging off so can begin to peruse this fine periodical. Thanks again, I've never been disappointed with the excellent content.
--Scott D. Hall
You have won me over to your magazine. I am slightly biased since you have respect for my sensei (and father, Douglas Skoyles). As a starving graduate student who is trying to study and start training again in earnest (I started when I was four but stopped a few years ago) you have inspired me to keep trying to work hard and steal the time to do so. . .And Thank you for making a magazine with humor and integrity!
-S-tephanie Skoyles, Nakayama Ko Aikido
