"Remembering a Friend"

Dear A.K.S. Members:

Last month (January,2005), I was invited to attend a memorial in Rhode Island.  It was being put on by Mr. John James who is a 5th Dan under Professor Nick Cerio.

Mr. Cerio was a karate student of mine back in the 60's and 70's.  He eventually became quite famous on the East Coast.  I remember meeting my friend, Nick, in 1966.  It was at an East Coast Karate Championship, held by Mr. George Mattson of Uechi-Ryu fame.  Mr. Mattson, and our associate Uechi-Ryu instructor, Allen Horton, were the first two Black Belts to spread that style in America.

Nick was a very tough fighter and took no prisoners.  It was my first competitive event on the East Coast.  The event was held in Boston, Massachusetts.  Mr. Mattson had two new T.V. stars as special guests.  They were Bill Cosby and Robert Culp, of "I Spy" fame.  I remember meeting both at the finals.  I liked Mr. Cosby from the get go.   But found Mr. Culp an interesting but questionable character.

I had brought with me a half a dozen students; a black belt, Matt Wipperfurth, and several other lower ranks.   My first match was with a fighter by the name of Julio La Salle.  He was rated as the number #1 light weight on the East Coast.  I was nervous to say the least.

All of a sudden, this little guy (well, he was an inch shorter then me you know), but was built as strong as a bull, with fists that looked like hammers, and he was not very friendly, came over to me with this big grin on his face.  He said, "do you know who you fight first"???  I said, "no."   He smiled again, telling me I drew the top Lt. Wt. on the East Coast.   Then he said to me, "If, and I say if, you get by him, you have me to deal with next."

I was impressed a bit, but not scared as it was obvious that Mr. Cerio had not ever fought in the Orient.   Over there, people died in tournaments.   I felt a lot safer fighting here.  I may lose a match, but I still get to go home and fight another day.

He asked me where I was from, and what style did I train under?  He had never heard of Muskegon, but he certainly knew my style as Mr. La Salle trained under Cihak Henry Cho from New York.  Mr. Cho was also a Ji-Do-Kwan instructor.   So I knew right away, that this guy's feet would be accurate and fast.

Eventually, I ended up fighting Mr. La Salle.   I was lucky that day, and beat him within several minutes.  He was surprised and impressed; although, Mr. Cho was not pleased.  Mr. La Salle came over to me and shook my hand and congratulated me.  We even had pictures taken of us together that evening.  He was a real sportsman and a true Champion.  I never forgot that act of respect he gave me as the winner.

A moment later, Mr. Cerio came over.  He looked at me and said, "well done.   But now you are facing a different fighter.  I use my hands, not feet.  I shall leave my mark on you."  I chuckled at him to try and get him mad.  It worked, he was furious and would have liked to start the fight right then.   As he walked away from me, he yelled back, "If you can beat me too, I will join your style."

We ended up facing each other soon.   Right after that interesting discussion, I beat him with hand techniques as I knew he was prepared to handle my foot techniques.  He was stunned when I beat him.  After he calmed down a bit, he came over to me.   At first, I thought we where going to have a brawl as his eyes where not friendly.   Instead of a real fight, he put out his right hand to me.  He said, "I gave you my word, and I am a man of honor."

That very day, Nick joined my style and accepted me as his Sensei.   Later that evening, I showed him my chest.  I had a cracked rib from his punches.   Plus his knuckle prints where visually indented on my rib cage.  He laughed for a while.  He just could not quit laughing.  He was happy he got me.   But more so, because I let him know.

The fight could have gone either way.  He got his honor back, and that mattered a great deal to this great Martial Artist.  I even told him that he did not have to join me.  He declined that offer, and for many years was one of my most loyal and hard fighting instructors.

So when Mr. James asked me to come to the Memorial, I was honored.   Nick died in 1998 from cancer.  He called me about a week before he died.  We spoke for several hours about the good old days.   We laughed, we cried, we where obviously old friends.  He never told me he was sick.  I noticed his speech being somewhat slow.   Later, I found out that he was on morphine at the time.  When I received a call about his death, I was stunned.

When I went up to the podium to give my speech, I had no notes, as I needed none.   I saw many old faces there.   Including Mr. Pesare, Nick's first Karate Instructor.  It was as if I had come home.

Instead of saying things that would make people sad, I told them about how we met, and the hard times we faced as instructor and student.  We laughed together; remembering the good times.   That is what it is all about, isn't it?

I have not given any seminars outside of my style for almost 30 years.  Mr. Cerio's closest and most dedicated instructor, Mr. James, recommended that I should do so.   Upon returning home to Muskegon, and thinking about it for awhile, I have decided to do just that.  It is what I think Nick would have wanted too.

So as of March 1st, 2005, I will make myself available for Karate Seminars.   I am now willing to travel all over to teach my style.  Even to those who represent other Styles and Organizations.  I THANK NICK and JOHN JAMES for opening my eyes.

Best regards, Ernest H. Lieb 9th Dan.
The American Karate System. U.S.A.

Dear A.K.S. members and friends,

Quite often, we see people who use their cell phones improperly.  They talk on them when driving without paying attention to anyone else on the road.  Or you may be sitting in a restaurant trying to enjoy a nice meal with a friend.  Behind you arrives this loud and shrill sound.   Announcing to everyone that someone has a phone call.  Then they talk at a very laud level, looking around to make sure that others see just how important they are.

I could, of course, provide you with many more such poor examples.

The cell phone, which should be a boon to mankind, has now become a terrible nuisance to those around it.

It has given people with a low self esteem the ability to tell the world "here I am, I am important."

Of course you might say, "Wow, he has an ax to grind!" This is somewhat true when I see people behaving in such a rude manner toward others.

I owned a cell phone for 3 years.  I gave it up because of the constant incorrect and high charges.  But more so, because it allowed me no peace and quiet anymore.

At least I kept my calls private, and walked away when it was activated.  I tried to show others some courtesy instead of trying to get everyone to look at me.  I did not need to stroke my ego and super ego.

Now how does this have anything to do with our Karate World???   I would say it has quite a bit to do with it.  I have mentioned to you the need for some people to get attention.  Just like a child who seeks attention from a parent.  If they cannot receive it in a positive manner, they will then try and receive it in a negative fashion.  The same holds true about egos and super egos in Karate.

To make my case to you as a student and instructor, just look around you the next time you attend a Karate tournament.  Whatever happened to wearing a clean white Karate Uniform?  Today, one is hard put trying to figure out a persons style.  Even the patches may not be of help to you.  Watching their Katas, "forms," certainly do not give you an indication about anything.  Their uniforms are the colors of the rainbow.  But lets move on.

Look at the so called weapons they use when competing.  Very few resemble the traditional weapons from the Orient.   They are made up of balsa wood, very thin aluminum, hollow bo's, etc.  They whirl them like batons in a cheerleaders' contest.  People do acrobatics, flips, sommer saults, etc.

Very little [of what we see today] resembles the true and traditional Martial Arts.  It looks more like circus acts, represented by brightly colored clowns.  Do I blame the people who participate in these events?  Absolutely not.  I blame the high ranking Karate Instructors who allow this sham at their Karate events.

I used to laugh at the Style of Shotokan.  They never allowed their students to participate in outside events.  They stayed with their traditional white Karate Uniforms.  They only allowed the use of a few traditional weapons to be learned.  In all of Europe, over 70% of all the Karate schools are of Japanese styles.  What is surprising even more, it was those very traditional styles such as Wado-Ryu, Shotokan, Uechi-Ryu, Goju-Ryu, Shorin-Ryu, and others who allowed us to join the D.K.V.

Although, we are a new style of Karate that has challenged many traditional philosophies and theories.   We had all the ingredients and qualities they believed in.  Otherwise, we as an American Style of Karate, would never have been accepted.

So now we stand side by side with the traditional styles of Martial Arts from China, Korea, Okinawa, and Japan.  The American Karate System now takes its place among the most respected systems in the World.

Now to get into more of the problems which accompany a persons super-ego. Look at the drive behind people wanting to achieve higher rank.  Much of this is a normal and healthy outlet.  But when one throws away respect and honor for vanity, then we are certainly getting into a very negative area of life.  When you see some young Black Belt wearing rank, which a person twice his age would have had trouble achieving, then we are talking about fraud, falsification of Dan rank, etc.

I, for one, hold my first Black Belt as my proudest posession.  I find this falsification of rank very disgusting.  That is why it is widely known, that most of the old timers, will not have anything to do with a person of questionable rank.  They have way too much pride and respect for their art to stoop so low for the sake of money or power.  It is all about being able to hold rank that one deserves and has earned honorably.

As you know in our style, we do not allow people to be fully certified as a Black Belt until the age 18.   Wherever we go, we see little kids running around wearing a Black Belt.  Although, their instructors only call it a junior black belt.   They do not realize, or care about, the harm they are doing.  It is a blemish upon every true Black Belt who has trained many hard years to finally earn that recognition of rank. nbsp; It is degrading to them for their hard work sweat and pain.  We shame all of them, by allowing such shameful display at public events.

Someday, my time will come when I will leave this World.  I hope and pray that I will leave it a better place.  I hope and pray that I have instilled in all of you the true values of Karate.  The code of Bushido is about honor, loyalty, true values and ethics.   I hope that you will carry on those traditional values.  Use them in everything you do throughout your life.

Remember the cell phone discussion?  It is about respecting others privacy and well being.  The same applies in our Karate world.  If we stand by the true principles of life, then life will stand by us and allow us to enjoy it to the fullest.

Yours in Karate,
Ernest H. Lieb. 9th Dan, A.K.S.