On the morning of June 29th 08 Kyoshi Ronald sat down with Jun Shihan Paul Williams many time Jamaica
Open Grand Champion, for a cordial mostly informal interview. Broaching varied topics, as diverse as training highs and lows
and is love and connection with Jamaica. It definitely opened our minds to the inner workings of one of Seido’s most
prolific and consistent fighters over many years. We hope his insights will help others in their own quest for excellence.
Osu.
Jun Shihan Paul on the right
Hanshi Carles, Jun Shihan Roger, Sensei Enid and Jun Shihan Paul
Jun Shihan Paul Williams interview done by Kyoshi Ronald
Lyn. June 29th 2008
BACKGROUND
Mandeville Seido Karate --- Osu Kyoshi Paul,
thanks for granting me this interview.Could you start by giving us some background,
like where were you born etc?
Kyoshi Paul Williams --- Here in Jamaica.Specifically I think somewhere up Rose Lane, Yeah when I was small I was in the Wellington
street area. Went to school here, went through the routine. And I think it was some time before high school or something like
that.My mom went away and later pulled all of us over to the U.S., we didn’t
want to go, but you know,,,we had to.
MSK ---So you started training in Jamaica?
Kyoshi Paul.--- No, I never did, as a matter a fact when I was at Honbu I Initially thought it was just a local system. But after
training for a while I found out it was indeed an international one with branches all over the world. Of course I heard the
word Jamaica, and it was like WHAT?! So I inquired, and it turns out that most of the seniors at the time were indeed Jamaican.
MSK.---
Any idea as to what year that was?
Kyoshi Paul --- Oh I can’t do years, Not
very good at that. But it was during the initial start up, because guys were just you know coming over at the time.
MSK—Osu I started early 79 and most of
who you talk about had already left Jamaica, so I figure maybe 1978 or there abouts.
KyoshiPaul ---Not sure of the year,, but they had Just come up from Jamaica
.Later on I met, at the time, Sensei Errol Lyn who had just come up for a visit,
we had a few rumbles.(Smiles) So yeah it was like stepping into this branch
and finding it had a connection to Jamaica. So most likely that had something to do with me initially staying in the system.
Because you know most of the junior people, I became friends with; we used to do things on the weekends, like training camps
and such. Crazy stuff.You know like we would go out and challenge black belts.
We were crazy man, we got beat up and,,,
MSK___went back for more.
Kyoshi Paul. --- Yeah exactly. We did it so consistently that once we met up with a group of black belts and after we were finished these
guys were like wiped out. One of the guys took off his belt and gave it to me.
MSK --- Really?
Kyoshi Paul.Yes, it’s like I was unofficially a black belt.
2 . HOW HE KEEPS GOING
MSK --- Interesting. Osu Kyoshi, you know you
have a reputation as a great fighter. But what amazes most of us is you’re resilience.(Laughs)I mean you know, it’s how long you have kept at it,
but not just that,there is such an obvious love for what you are doing, even
from across the room.
Kyoshi Paul--- That I think is the key issue,
I just love to fight. The idea of me not fighting, I don’t know, would almost make me give up anything. As I mentioned
before if it came down to rank, versus the ability to fight or the access to fight, I would give up the rank easily.
For
me, even though the rank shows that you’ve been here and they recognize you it doesn’t mean as much as getting
out there and working with the younger or older people and fighting. Also it gives you the opportunity to really test your
skills because as you grow older not everything works the way it used to so you gotta make adjustments for it,
MSK --- Compensate
Kyoshi Paul --- ( laughs) You gotta build up
timing, you know speed,you won’t have speed like the young guys do , but
speed WITH the timing will overcome just about anything.
MEMORIES
MSK--- Any special memories from over the years?Does anything come readily to mind?
Kyoshi Paul---Actually I have a lot of special memories from here in Jamaica mainly because initially when I started competing here
I didn’t get recognized at all, I think probably because my techniques were so different. At that time I was much younger,
I had you know, a lot of speed so the techniques just looked like they weren’t doing anything.
It was actually sensei Oscar that pointed out
to the judges that something was going on. Because here I am squared off against this guy and WOOM, I hit him, and stepped
back. He was inside the ring and then after that he was outside. But they seemed not to know what to do and were even scoring
the other guy. Oscar stopped it right away and said Judges; there is a reason why he’s moved from here to here,, because
he got hit. So he was the only one who really saw the technique.
So from then on, he opened my mind to a couple
of things, onehe said you can’t unmatch your technique so much and also that you can’t use anything in excess. Like if you got speed, you can’t use
total speed; you got to somehow break it down somewhere so they will see your technique.
MSK--- Just enough
Kyoshi Paul--- Exactly,so that’s really one of the best memories I have, and it turned out that it was more like a losing
memory, because I didn’t win that match. But it opened my eyes from there to whole lot of stuff subsequent to that.
One of the things I remember is that at several tournaments many many years ago where if you talk about me to some people
they will say yeah he can fight. But my first trophy was actually in kata.
MSK---Really?
Kyoshi Paul--- Osu, (laughs) you’re surprised
to hear that right?
MSK--- Osu
Kyoshi Paul--- My second follow up memory to
that was probably about five years back, I was able to get a place in the masters division, third place in kata. And that
year I had won you know everything in fighting, but I didn’t want to talk about that, I wanted to talk about my third
place kata.
MSK--- Right, right, you know that’s interesting
also because, Jun Shihan George in the early days kept on stumbling in the kumite and it wasn’t until he had won black
belt kata that he made a change. He started to walk away with more and more fighting titles after that.
Which brings me to an interesting point uniquely
Mandeville. You are one of the few people that I can think of anyway, that has the remarkable perspective of having fought
both Jun Shihan George and his son senpai Bruce. So I was wondering what was your first impression of both men, you know in
the beginning?
JUN SHIHAN GEORGE AND SENPAI BRUCE
Kyoshi Paul—Well, you know Jun Shihan
George, you know what he has got, he has got strength and his great ability. You have to play around that, if you play against
it, you gonna die. (Laughs)So you have to use stuff that he is not really used
to. Basically what I did in our fights was the routine that we developed, mostly similar to Honbu, the little tricks and step
‘ins’ we used to circle an opponent and he is like more a traditionalist with the strength coming forward. You
really don't want to mess with it (his power) so I just tried to go around it, and stayed that way constantly throughout the
fight.
In terms of the younger generation, when I first
fought him he had just come out of the juniors,
MKS--- Osu, he was 15
Kyoshi Paul--I concede that yes . The key thing about it is as I was telling someone just a couple days ago when we were talking,
his size, you know it was deception for me, I didn’t know he was 15. Like the minute I saw him I came off the line and
hit him so hard that he fell down, but to his credit he got up and kept going, I happened to win that one.
Initially
my approach has been to not so overbearingly overcome an opponent; I just slightly want to edge him out. If I had known he
was 15 I would probably had never gone after him like that. But to his credit he stood up, and every year since I have fought
him he just gets progressively better, progressively better. I think probably in the last two or three outings he has just
wiped me out completely haven’t beaten him in probably three years.
The
key thing about it, I don’t know how well he listens at home, but when I see him out with his dad and he says something
to him, especially when he is fighting, he listens to him. And he recognize that, you know, the old man, even though he may
not be able to jump and do the things I do, still knows exactly what’s going on even in today’s game. Then each
time he listens to him he gains so much perspective that if I run into him again it’s going to be a war and he knows
it and he’s probably winning again, but I am not just gonna lay down.
But in terms of the older generation and the
younger generation, you know these guys are probably the best fighters in Seido, now coming from dad to son, the son is really
taking over now and the dad is really enjoying his success.
MSK--Don’t tell Jun Shihan anything about not being there still Kyoshi,
we have to live with him in Mandeville. (laughs)
Kyoshi Paul--- For me also recognize that his son now being an international competitor is gonna make him so much better than I ever was. One
of the things that got me better was competing against so many different opponents, in so many different countries. I competed
in so many different forms of fighting,, like if they wouldsay point fighting,
ok, contact, ok, knock down fighting, no problem.
And you know I have done it, and in some ways
it might have been the overall experience doing everything that makes me so effective in any one area. Like when I work with
guys I try to tell them that, don’t just think about point fighting or contact fighting, do everything. You gonna find
something that you like more at times but don’t dismiss everything else. It’s a good idea to learn everything.
It’s like I remember the first day I came
into the dojo and one of the first meditation lectures I took Kaicho was explaining that karate was a system and basically
when you come to class don’t just focus on one thing and don’t overlook anything. He said take everything and
put it in your gi and when the time comes to use it you pull it out. Don’t pull it all out at once; (smiles) take out
what you need. And basically that’s what I try to work with these guys on, tell them how to stay focused.
Some
people will resist a lot but the more and more they resist is the less you,,, I mean don’t try more pressure on them,
cause they’re not going to listen, you gotta like pull back and try a different approach. What I try to do is show them
something, like take for instance when we happen to be doing contact.And I am
over here and they are way over there,,, all of a sudden I am right in their face. I will say that was my POINT fighting technique
I used to get across the floor, and they will go AHH! They start wondering after seeing it demonstrated for them. That’s
the way you get them to do stuff.
One of the good things about son and dad is
the example they are setting, you really can’t put a price on that, and it’s really good for the system.
MSK—Osu , after all these years Kyoshi,
I think I know the answer but I have to ask anyway.. How much longer do you see yourself doing this, competing at a high level?
Till you can’t walk probably.
Kyoshi Paul--If I can catch up to Sensei Dennisthen I will be ok man. (recently promoted
Sensei Dennis Charley, who keeps inspiring all when he competes at 65 years young)
MSK--He was out there last night just having a good time,Nothing would bother
him.
Kyoshi Paul— Yes that’s the way
I am too, just having a good time with it, and I don’t really see that ending for a long time. Even looking at where
we were back then and coming back today looking at the younger generation. When I was young we were nothing like these guys,
with the exception of like Bruce and some of the guys on the Jamaica national team, most people just don’t have that
stuff today. Some of them are coming into it and just playing the roles. As you gain a little rank or reputation or whatever,
there has to be something behind it for someone looking on to want to be like that person. And that’s always something
good for the system whatever that system might be.
I think in Seido right nowwe need more examples like that, Like Bruce and like Biggs those guys (senpai ---- Biggs) coming forward
and stepping it up and doing a little bit more.For instance I heard that Biggs
right now is doing a lot of studying. So initially I guess he has to take care of himself and his studies, but also that in
of itself is an example.What we are and what Kaicho always said what we are
all about is it’s a way of life, way of karate. It’s about improving life, not necessarily improving the martial
arts, but that certainly is a big part of it. That Biggs himself is studying and he is going to come back with the good result
that in itself is a good example that says I can do the same thing. We need more good examples, in whatever system but mainly
we want to improve Seido, so everyone else who comes in the door like juniors and white belts can follow in their footsteps.
TRAINING
LOWS
MSK--- Have you had any occasion to be on a
low, maybe for whatever reason not training as regularly?
Kyoshi Paul--- No I think it’s all been
a fun ride, initially when we started we couldn’t get past any of the seniors, but what we didn’t do singularly,
we attacked it as a team that’s why I always stress that the organization or the team effort is always best. I don’t know if you remember Phil Tomblinson, Devon McCormack, guys like those we got in a group and
practiced like hell. Sometimes it was fruitless because we would get killed anyway. But little by little we started gaining
their respect and one of the weeks when we came in and threw a couple of techniques we saw some people step back and we kind
of looked at each other.. That’s when we started seeing all that extra training paying off.
At that point I wouldn’t consider it a
low but, it was like a big struggle. For we had to overcome like seasoned fighters, just trying to deal with them was hard.
We didn’t want to kill them we just wanted to hold our own and improve ourselves. So in itself it’s a challenge
but I don’t know if I would consider it a low.
One time though that could be considered a low
was when I was in the hospital. I had been training for one of our tournaments and probably was in the best shape I had ever
been in. Then two weeks before that I started feeling a pain in my leg the main vein in my leg was blocked up. They said you
can’t mess around with this if anything happens and a piece of it breaks off it could fly right into your heart and
create problems. So I had to lie still for like two weeks. Then in the middle of the two weeks the tournament was going on,,
and I was like aahh!! That was like a real low, probably one of the lowest times.
I am a person that was known for eating too,
I remember way back in the day I would go to my brothers house then to my mom’s house and then I would come back to
another friends house and I would eat dinnerat every place. But at that point
for some reason I wasn’t eating at all, and you know hospital food is not the best. But there was a young lady there
luckily again she was Seido, and was from the Jersey branch. I knew her because I knew her instructor, who used to train with
Shuzeki Oliver in Manhattan.
She was a dietary person and started talking
to me about what I liked and was soon getting me things that weren’t on the menu. That’s when I started gaining
back my weight.Initially I didn’t even want what she brought me
butI think I didn’t want her to feel bad, weare concerned about every member in Seidoanddidn’t want to create any bad feelings. So that time man I was probably at an
all time low, and pray that never happens to me again.
MSK--- Osu Kyoshi well I want to take this opportunity
to Thank you. And I don’t know if we have said it over the years, but we hold you in high esteem, you’re well
respected and we appreciate your attitude and how you carry yourself.Maybe that
has taken away a little of the sting over the years when you were taking away some of our trophies.
Kyoshi Paul---(laughing) Yeah we want get at him but he is a good guy,,,
MSK--- Right, we won’t block the road
on the way to the airport.
Kyoshi Paul--- I appreciate that.
MSK--- Osu , anything you would like to end
on Kyoshi?
Kyoshi Paul--- Well you know what I really want
to say is I am impressed with the Jamaica national team and I know they are not all Seido but I am still impressed by them
and the fact that they are so friendly with each other. I kind of like the way Senpai Bruce and Kenneth(Kenneth Edwards from Ningen ) went at it yesterday, I appreciated that, because you know guys can be friends
but we are gonna fight hard just the same. That’s what I would want to do.
I will fight you hard, but that does not mean
I have anything against you, it’s just a fight.
MSK--- We can go out and have dinner later.
Kyoshi Paul--- exactly, have a few beers right,
that’s what I like. I really appreciated that demonstration of comradely yesterday, I know they never really planned
it, but it came off to me as one of the highlights of the tournament. That’s how it should be and the fact that the
announcer followed up on it gave it more of an impact.
I think Seido should be an even greater thing
in Jamaica because of all the leadership that you guys have shown. Nothing else but you just look at your own performance
and someone else’s. Someone else is doing the ring (center ref) and there is chaos and the minute you step in, there
is order.
Also you are still here and all you guys are
here and you are going to be spreading the system and that is really a good thing. It doesn’t necessarily have to be
perfect, as long as the foundation is there. The fundamentals are going to keep it going.
Strange as it sounds I know a lot of stuff aren’t
perfect with Kaicho, but you know he came up with a great idea, a lot of it we never agreed with but the overall foundation
has been good, it’s worked good for me over a long time.
Initially when I left here and went to the U.S.
I must have never come back to Jamaica for years and years, and it was after making the connection with first the then Sensei
Errol Lyn and now Jun shihan Tony, if it wasn’t for that I wouldn’t be here as regularly and I really appreciate
that. But now I am here all the time so I feel a connection.
MSK--- OSU Kyoshi Thank you very very much.
See you next year. Osu
Kyoshi Paul--- Osu.
Seido Jamaica Open
A few pictures from tournament in June.
Racquel And Jun Shihan
Blue belts
Hanshi Charles and Doc Raju
Kyoshi Vern
Mandeville Kendal Camp
Thanks Daign for some of your pictures. Osu.
The view up to Mandeville from Kendal
June 6th 08
Many are now recovering from a hectic , memorable Kendal camp in the hills of Mandeville. After some 12 hours of rigorous
training throughout the week end it is no wonder that all are now nursing sore quads and aching triceps.
It is always special to meet up with our Seido karatekas that we have not seen for months and "shoot the breeze"
about past training exploits and long lost friends.
Good food, good company and great training, (ouch) the recipe for a renewed energy and a longing for a fresh start in
our study
Thanks to Kingston and st, Ann branches for there continued support. And we look forward to keeping in even closer touch
for the rest of the year. Osu
Yup some people carry their work home (camp) with them
back kick
part 3
Interview with JUN SHIHAN TONY
Date: June 08, 2008
Interview done by Conrad Miller. 4th kyu.
At 2008 Kendal camp, Mandeville
Mandeville Seido karate: Osu!!
Jun Shihan Tony: Osu!!!
MSK: Thanks again, Jun Shihan Tony for taking the time out to do this short interview with me. It's a real honour to be
able to delve a little into your past and to just rap with you a bit.
Jun Shihan Tony: My pleasure.
MSK: Ok. In Seido you are now known as Jun Shihan Tony Robinson. Are there any nicknames you are affectionately known
by?
Jun Shihan Tony: Outside of Karate? Yes, I'm called "T-Rob". Oh,,,as you may know, I work in the media. I also
have a column in the Observer. I have many nicknames- "Daddy-O" ,,and in high school I was called "Rabbi"
MSK: So, Jun Shihan, without giving your age away, approximately how many years have you dedicated to the study and teaching
of Seido Karate
Jun Shihan Tony: (laughs) Well I'll tell you, I started at a very young age (laughs again). Maybe be it was age 2 or 20
who knows. But I started karate in 1970, which makes this year 38 years of unbroken study of the martial arts. Even when I
went to England, I never stopped training-never gave up. It's for life,,keeps me going.
MSK: Give us some background on your training then, what prompted you to start your quest, and why Seido?
Jun Shihan Tony: Ok, that is easy. Allan Monteith was the founder of Karate (kyokushin) in Jamaica. While at the YMCA
he introduced Oscar Lawson and myself. Oscar was my coworker at the time at J.I.S.(Jamaica Information Service) Oscar started
karate with him a few months before me and he in turn encouraged me to start. Oscar was a stalwart in the martial arts.
Unfortunately he passed away in a bike accident about 15 years ago. He was my partner in Karate,,,from white belt all
the way up. We were young and fearless, there was no safeties. I mean nothing, no mouthpiece, no groin guards, nothing, just
karate.
MSK: The real contact sparring.
Jun Shihan Tony: Yes, and in those days, right, we never even had a black belt out here. The most senior person was a
brown belt,,,Monty Allen , now Shihan Monty Allen. And so we trained, and for like 2 years we didn't grade.
MSK: Two years without grading??
Jun Shihan: Yes, white belts for 2 years. But we didn't care, we just enjoyed karate.
MSK: So the focus was more on training and less on the belt color achieved.
Jun Shihan: Yeh man, we didn't concern ourselves with belts, we just trained. It's the best thing that ever occurred in
my life-karate. I never looked back.
MSK: What was it like training at YMCA?
Jun Shihan Tony: In those days we trained in a very small room. We trained there; room had one window, so cramped many
times we would have to sit in the window. Oh my,,rough place. But you see, because of those early days,,,made us what we are
now. People like myself, Jun Shihan George, Kyoshi Ron and all those from that era.
MSK: Yes. Ok, earlier you touched a little on your training partner. Are there any fond memories or experiences you wish
to share?
Jun Shihan: (smirks) Sensei Oscar? Oh man, I have thousands!! But I'll give you one that I remember. Oscar and I were
just karate mad. I mean, eat, drink, and sleep karate. Whether we were in school, work, wherever. I remember one instance
he and I went on a double date. It was late evening going into the night. And while we were on the date with the women, we
left them and started sparring on the grass.
MSK: Jun Shihan, you mean this sparring was AFTER the date right?
Jun Shihan: (laughs) No every chance we got. There they were, these two attractive young ladies, and we chose to ignore
them, sparring on the grass under the lights. I always remember that.
MSK: I'm thinking those ladies were far from amused. So that was the end of that hook up?
Jun Shihan: Yeh they said "Well you guys crazy"
I mean the date started out perfect and romantic, nice ambience, and we just took off our shoes and sparred. Oscar and
me. Yes, in those days we liked sparring more than katas, katas also, but sparring more. We practiced even during our lunch
time.
MSK: Oh, osu! So you were mentioning before about how karate differs now to back then when you started?
Jun Shihan Tony: Yes, back then, you see, it was more pure. No commercial aspect to it. We trained at YMCA and paid a
small fee, monkey money really. There was no need to really keep students. You either sank or swam, and because of that, most
people swam. It was rougher, yet there were less injuries.
True, but how though? Because those times were before wearing safeties became popular and safeties are designed to dampen
blows,,
Jun Shihan Tony: Actually, because of that, our form was better. Because you knew if you punched, and punched wrong, you
could break your wrist, damage the elbows etc. So with safeties people get away with things, like using loose fists, and having
weak wrists.
MSK: So while safeties play an important role they can hide flaws in the form of the individual?
Jun Shihan: Yes, yes. But I'll say one thing. It's different now, in that more people are able to do karate now,,,because
of Kaicho's way. Back in the day it was only for the strong. FOR THE VERY STRONG. If you weren't, then you had to get strong!
But now the disabled, blind, impaired can practice karate, so in that respect it's broader. Talking about blind, there are
blind students in New York, if you see those guys do kata or fight, you wouldn't believe it.
MSK: That good, huh?
Jun Shihan: yes. In fact, there are people with sight who are afraid to fight those guys.
MSK: Jun Shihan, you have represented the country many times in championships and tournaments. What were the high points
in your career?
Jun Shihan Tony: Back in the day? Ah,,, in the 80's, I was heavy weight champion for '81, '82 and '83. I remember my best
friend Michael Husbands from New York-every year we'd end up together in the finals. I beat him once,, never beat him again
(laughs). One high point, too, was when I fought Billy Blanks. Do you know him? Oh too young right? (laughs again). He's the
guy who started up Tae-Bo. He was, at the time, the US world champion, and in 1986, I fought Billy Blanks. Now, ignorance
is bliss, because I didn't know who he was. In those days, it was unheard of to score on Billy, much less to beat him. He
was that good.
MSK: Just a normal John Brown to you?
Jun Shihan: Yeh! I mean he has 2 feet, 2 hands, so why not fight him. So we started, and BAM! I scored a mawashi geri,
roundhouse right to his chest. And I remember the entire arena went dead silent! Nobody knows who this guy from Jamaica is
who has scored on Billy Blanks. He eventually won 2-1. Many people said that I had won that fight, but I wouldn't want to
argue that right. But I must say to his credit, afterwards he came to me and said ,,You won that fight. I would honestly say
that he's a decent human being-he didn't have to do that. We took photographs signed them, I mean he basically apologized.
So that to me was a high point, coming from a so-called small island, up against this U.S. world champion & gaining that
respect.
MSK: So you've formed a lot of bonds, friendships through martial arts.
Jun Shihan Tony: Oh, yes man! Because of karate, my best friends are all over the world,, from New Zealand, to England,
to Italy, you name it. And they are genuine friends too.
MSK: Do you think karate has something to do with the type personalities you met?
Jun Shihan: Of course in Martial arts,,even if persons are of different races, you just don't see it. White, Black, Chinese,
doesn't matter, it's one "Osu!" it's the same "Osu!" I mean, many people have stayed at my house who
I don't even know.
They just call- "Osu Jun Shihan"
"we're here for 3 days," "looking somewhere to stay" and I say "Sure, come man". I mean
I verify who their instructor is, and all that of course, but just like that.
We are friends with different people from all over the world. I mean right now Senpai Bruce has a best friend in South
Africa.
MSK: Speaking of the effects of Karate on character, how has it benefited you physically and otherwise?
Jun Shihan Tony: Well physically the benefits are enormous, because the body responds to training, and you maintain a
level of fitness that others in your age group haven't got. I mean people who I went school with,,, they have their paunch,
big bellies and all that.
MSK: They must be asking you for the secret?
Jun Shihan: (laughs) exactly. Also it builds confidence. There's nothing in my mind that I can't do. I mean sure they're
things, right, but in my mind, there's nothing I can't do.
MSK: So you're saying karate builds spirit then?
Jun Shihan Tony: Certainly. I did stunts for movies you know? Yeh! I used to do movie stunts. One day,,this is yeaaaars
ago, they called me and I said "Sure!". I did many movies, I was in "Instinct", "Passion of Paradise"
and others.
The stunt now,,, they asked me to climb a 3 story building on the outside. I was supposed to be a rebel soldier. At the
top now another soldier hits me WHAM! in the head and I have to fall backwards,,, 3 stories! And you know in the making of
movies you have many takes, have to do it over and over. But because of karate, there was no fear that I couldn't handle it.
MSK: Who knew Jun Shihan Tony was a movie star, signing autographs?
Jun Shihan: (laughs) Well, not quite a movie star, just stunts.
MSK: Any comments as it relates to the future of Seido and Karate in Jamaica? Where do you see us now and where do you
see us going?
Jun Shihan Tony: Seido right now is very strong. There is a genuine bond and love, also strong leadership. I mean we're
in Kingston, there is Kyoshi Vern, you guys are there in Mandeville-Jun Shihan George, Kyoshi Ronald, Kyoshi Debbie? Strong
Leadership. No one says,, Oh, let's relax. Any day you feel that you've reached, you might as well go back home and sleep.
MSK: Continual improvement.
Jun Shihan: Yes, each individual always has hurdles to jump. Seek to improve everyday. We are like that and because of
it, other schools envy us and seek to be like us. They copy us. We achieve good things but we want to keep improving.
MSK: Osu! Yes. So Jun Shihan, I've asked you a few questions here, is there anything you wish to add?
Jun Shihan Tony: Well,,,in martial arts right now, there are sheep and goats. I find that over the years, many people
leave Seido, as you know, green belts & black belts to form their own thing. "So and so" will leave, start something
similar to Seido say like a "Seidi"(laughs), something so close it confuses people. They flare up, but they just
don't last. They're shallow, and eventually water down. Schools need a strong foundation like what we have in Seido. So what
happens is that later on, when you ask about them all you can hear is "Oh,,,so and so USED TO".
They don't have that strong sense of discipline and history like we do. Like a strong tree, though flexible in the wind,
have strong roots,, the base is there.
MSK: Jun Shihan Tony, this chat was most enlightening. I didn't get to figure your age out (laughs) but I really did learn
more about who Jun Shihan Tony really is. Thanks again.
Jun Shihan: Yes, but make sure you quote me right enuh! Or else a thousand push-ups!!!
