Date: Sun, 04 Nov 2007 02:48:21 +0100 From: the_dojang-request@martialartsresource.net Subject: The_Dojang digest, Vol 14 #318 - 1 msg X-Mailer: Mailman v2.0.13.cisto1 MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Errors-To: the_dojang-admin@martialartsresource.net X-BeenThere: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net X-Mailman-Version: 2.0.13.cisto1 Precedence: bulk Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net X-Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net List-Unsubscribe: , List-Id: The Internet's premier discussion forum on Korean Martial Arts. List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 2.63 (2004-01-11) on plus11.host4u.net X-Spam-Status: No, hits=0.3 required=5.0 tests=NO_REAL_NAME autolearn=no version=2.63 X-Spam-Level: Status: O X-Status: X-Keywords: Send The_Dojang mailing list submissions to the_dojang@martialartsresource.net To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://martialartsresource.net/mailman/listinfo/the_dojang or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to the_dojang-request@martialartsresource.net You can reach the person managing the list at the_dojang-admin@martialartsresource.net When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of The_Dojang digest..." <<------------------ The_Dojang mailing list ------------------>> Serving the Internet since June 1994. Copyright 1994-2007: Ray Terry and Martial Arts Resource The Internet's premier discussion forum devoted to Korean Martial Arts. 2,200 members. See the Korean Martial Arts (KMA) FAQ and the online search engine for back issues of The_Dojang at http://MartialArtsResource.com Pil Seung! Today's Topics: 1. Sensei??? (Bruce Sims) --__--__-- Message: 1 Date: Sat, 3 Nov 2007 17:49:15 -0700 (PDT) From: Bruce Sims To: Ray Terry Subject: [The_Dojang] Sensei??? Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Dear Mr. Blankenship: Thank you for your thoughtful response. For myself I must say that you may be doing a great deal more harm than service to Korean traditons with the response that you have made. Please consider the following. a.) The idea that the Korean traditions died, or were even severely damaged by the Japanese Occupation is a function of Japanese propaganda originated so as to produce a self-fulfilling prophecy—to wit: they that believe that their traditions are dead no long seek to preserve what they have. It has been my personal experience that the more I have cited material to support the continued existence of Korean traditions the less likely it is that Japophiles will own their brand of cultural assassination. They will, under no circumstances ever admit that they attempted to eradicate Korean culture and failed. b.) The idea that modern Korean martial tradition is a function of Japanese Occupation is a function of the pro-Japanese collaborators who came to find themselves still in government courtesy of the US government as a bulwark against Chinese Communist and Russian Communist aggression. Spoiled rich kids who were sent to Japan to learn in Japanese universities and trained in the Manchurian academy as officers expected to serve in the Japanese army came back to their homeland and pushed what they had learned down the cultural throats of their own people. c.) Westerners are heavily taken with titles and standing. My prayer is that you get the right “title” in mind. The correct (pre-Occupation) term is saengsa- or teacher. The term “sensei” is a function of the RYU-HA system of which the Korean never had a part. You may dump “sensei” into the same basket that one might put “soke” or “inheritor of the tradition” as well as “hanshi”/”shihan” or “technical expert of the tradition”. If, however, you are determined to use the term “sensei” you will want to identify the Japanese tradition to which you intend to owe fealty and to which,btw, you intend to send your money/revenues. If however, you are heavily taken with the title “sensei” then d.) may I suggest that you share with us the tradition to which you have elected to follow your practice. I ask this only because it would help keep a clear distinction between what you do and that of Korean martial traditions. As always your thoughts and comments would be appreciated. Best Wishes, Bruce --__--__-- _______________________________________________ The_Dojang mailing list The_Dojang@martialartsresource.net http://martialartsresource.net/mailman/listinfo/the_dojang Subscribe or Unsubscribe: http://the-dojang.net Old digest issues @ ftp://ftp.martialartsresource.com/pub/the_dojang Copyright 1994-2007: Ray Terry and http://MartialArtsResource.com Standard disclaimers apply. Remember September 11. End of The_Dojang Digest