Grand Master Simon

[David A Ross]

Mark Pridham. wrote:
>
> Who is Grand Master Simon?
> I understand he holds a silver belt from the Shaolin Temple.
> I really wants to trains with him, regardless of cost.
>

Be afraid, be very afraid....

[Kevin Hill]

Mark Pridham. wrote in message

>Who is Grand Master Simon?
>I understand he holds a silver belt from the Shaolin Temple.
>I really wants to trains with him, regardless of cost.

I don't know who 'Grand Master Simon' is. But beware, be careful
and research this carefully. Don't believe the hype.

I'll tell you right up front that a Grandmaster from the Shaolin
Temple with a Silver Belt...well, other than it sounds like a bad
game of Clue, it is suspicious as all heck.

:O)
KEvin

[Stan Olson]

Joe wrote:
>
> Vandit Kalia wrote:
> > He likes to do drawrings, the cheeky monkey.
> >
> Don't look at my bum you bum looka!
> -Joe

Grandmaster Simon is just one of those things that
parents use to scare their disobedient children ...
... you know, like Michael Jackson ! :)

But seriously, I hope most people new to Authentic Chinese
Martial arts, will consider that Many Schools do trace their
roots back to "a" Shaolin Temple, or its alumni.

There are many good schools that are not any form of Franchised
"Temple" ... and just as many that are more open about
what/how they teach, and even admit that very little is
currently "secret" about fundamental principles of
stance/foot work/power generation/"bridging techniques" ...

Any school that would tell you that a given technique is "Secret"
is probably also keeping your gullibility a secret ... ;)

Stan: will be happy to refer those in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
to an excellent MA school that teaches Southern Chinese Kung Fu
( E-mail only please )

[David A Ross]

If you want to believe there is a "Tookien temple" in Mongolia, that
they teach some sort of shaolin system there and that they use a sash
system for ranking, that's your business. If you think that this guy is
"one of 3 Grandmasters of the Shaolin Ssu style in the world" that's
your business as well.

However, you really would do yourself a service by going to a Chinese
style tournaments, look around at what's going on and meet some other
teachers. It probably wouldn't hurt to pick up a good Chinese history
book either. Maybe you would see why all of these claims sound
completely ridiculous.

BTW, you have no clue who I am and what my background is so you should
really be a little more careful as to how you come off.

[Shawn McPherson]

In article <63aesq$7...@bgtnsc01.worldnet.att.net>, lkf...@worldnet.att.net
says...
>
>Shawn McPherson wrote:
>
>> Grandmaster Simon does have a "silver belt". His uniform (within his own
>> school system in North America is a White Sash with White tassles).
>> He is one of 3 Grandmasters of the Shaolin Ssu style in the world. He has
>> been studying the art for 64 years now. He started his training at the
>> Tookien temple in Mongolia at a very young age, He is also the Dalai Seng
>> (sp?) of the Neo Ch'an buddhist temple. He currently oversees several
>> Temple Kung Fu studios in Canada and the US with locations in Toronto,
>> Winnipeg, Hamilton, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Spokane, and Seattle.
>> I have been a student there for 3 years. They run a very professional
>> program and offer training of different levels only to those who display
>> good attitude and work ethic. I have a LOT of respect for the instructors.
>>
>> Grandmaster Simon himself, due to his age, only teaches twice a year at
each
>> of his schools. You can call the Scarborough studio at 416-750-9012 for
more
>> info.
>>
>> Good luck!
>
>It gets scarier (maybe funnier?)

Suit yourself. I have nothing to "prove" to anyone. He can call the above
number, check it out, and make his own decision.

A critical mind is a good thing, but an open mind is equally good.

Thanks

[mastiff]

Just curious as to who is this
"really good authentic Shaolin Master from China" (tm) is.....
considering that GM O.E Simon states that he didn't learn his art IN
China.....
but from an old buddist monk in exile..around 1940....if this is supposedly
the same guy who taught him, he must be at least 150 years old by now.....
you entitled to your opinion...but at least when inventing your "facts",
try to keep them semi-realistic.....

BTW , "lung", or dragon form, is a beginners form...not midlevel..

John Spak <web...@smartt.com> wrote in article
<3458D1...@smartt.com>...
> I know who 'Grand Master Simon' is. His real name is Olaf Simon, and I
> don't believe he is a master of any Chinese martial art. ........I met
one of
> his teachers who is a really good authentic Shaolin master from China.
> This master told me that the most advanced form he taught Olaf was only
> mid-level - called "Um Lung". I learned this form and many beyond it -
> it is only mid level.
>.> That's my opinion.
>
> Regards,
>
> John Spak
>

[do...@rivendel.com]

In article <01bce4fd$93997da0$4344...@oxford.net.oxford.net> "Mark Pridham."
<pri...@oxford.net> writes:
~> Who is Grand Master Simon?
~> I understand he holds a silver belt from the Shaolin Temple.
~> I really wants to trains with him, regardless of cost.
~>
~> bt...@oncss.com

????????????????????????

a "silver belt" from the shaolin temple......

thisis a test, isn't it...... *FDL* okay...... i have a sense of humour....
(sort of....)
YMMV

d.n. cohen Charged Particle Beam Labs - Harmonic Gyrotron Labs
Institute for Plasma Research
University of Maryland - College Park, Maryland
301 405 5044 v : 301 314 9437 : <do...@lorien.umd.edu>

[do...@rivendel.com]

In article <md26.28$$J2.2...@NewsRead.Toronto.iSTAR.net> writes:
~> In article <01bce4fd$93997da0$4344...@oxford.net.oxford.net>,
~> pri...@oxford.net says...
~> >

~> >Who is Grand Master Simon?
~> >I understand he holds a silver belt from the Shaolin Temple.
~> >I really wants to trains with him, regardless of cost.
~> >
~> >bt...@oncss.com

~>
~> Grandmaster Simon does have a "silver belt". His uniform (within his own
~> school system in North America is a White Sash with White tassles).
~> He is one of 3 Grandmasters of the Shaolin Ssu style in the world. He has
~> been studying the art for 64 years now. He started his training at the
~> Tookien temple in Mongolia at a very young age, He is also the Dalai Seng
~> (sp?) of the Neo Ch'an buddhist temple. He currently oversees several
~> Temple Kung Fu studios in Canada and the US with locations in Toronto,
~> Winnipeg, Hamilton, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Spokane, and Seattle.
~> I have been a student there for 3 years. They run a very professional
~> program and offer training of different levels only to those who display
~> good attitude and work ethic. I have a LOT of respect for the instructors.
~>
~> Grandmaster Simon himself, due to his age, only teaches twice a year at each
~> of his schools. You can call the Scarborough studio at 416-750-9012 for more
~> info.
~>
~> Good luck!

what i would have to ask is:

a "silver belt" as a uniform sounds reasonable.... i HOPE it isn't called
a "rank"......

also.... each system of martial arts (chinese styles, at least, and kung fu,
in particular) has a SINGLE "grandmaster" for each generation. for
there to be 3 "grandmasters" of the Shaolin Ssu style would mean that
there are three generations represented, there. now, i have seen two
examples of a VERY old grandmaster (late 80's), turning the sytem
over to the next generation grandmaster (early 60's) so that the system
would be stable even if he died, however, i find it unlikely that there
would be a reason to give it to a third generation while there are still 2
previous grandmasters still alive.

ymmv....

[Vandit Kalia]

: ~> Grandmaster Simon does have a "silver belt". His uniform (within his own

: ~> school system in North America is a White Sash with White tassles).

Ye gods, I just caught this. His uniform is just a white sash???
And people were snooty when *I* went to class wearing just my belt?
I wonder if Grandm,aster Simon would be interested in modeling a couple
of gis I've created....

Vandit "Simon sez, with supporters like these, who needs friends?"

--
Vandit Kalia LET'S GO FLYERS!!!
---
"With the first link, a chain is forged. The first speech censured, the
first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all
irrevocably" (and yes, I mean "censure" not "censor".. spare me the emails)

[Pete Holt]

vka...@red.seas.upenn.edu (Vandit Kalia) writes:

>: ~> Grandmaster Simon does have a "silver belt". His uniform (within his own
>: ~> school system in North America is a White Sash with White tassles).

Fact.
Simon taught extensively in Edmonton in the mid-late 70's.
The kungfu I have seen from his students is quite karate like.

From my sifu:
Students had to purchase long term class
(life) memberships often financed. After the start-up period
the rigorous training often drove out the students.
Simon himself is apparently personally very tough and
the training was very demanding physically.

From my master:
There is a picture of Simon as a student of Master Mark
Chan in Edmonton in the early 70's.

[do...@rivendel.com]

In article <md26.28$$J2.2...@NewsRead.Toronto.iSTAR.net> writes:
~> In article <01bce4fd$93997da0$4344...@oxford.net.oxford.net>,
~> pri...@oxford.net says...
~> >
~> >Who is Grand Master Simon?
~> >I understand he holds a silver belt from the Shaolin Temple.
~> >I really wants to trains with him, regardless of cost.
~> >
~> >bt...@oncss.com
~>

~> Grandmaster Simon does have a "silver belt". His uniform (within his own
~> school system in North America is a White Sash with White tassles).

~> He is one of 3 Grandmasters of the Shaolin Ssu style in the world. He has
~> been studying the art for 64 years now. He started his training at the
~> Tookien temple in Mongolia at a very young age, He is also the Dalai Seng
~> (sp?) of the Neo Ch'an buddhist temple. He currently oversees several
~> Temple Kung Fu studios in Canada and the US with locations in Toronto,
~> Winnipeg, Hamilton, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Spokane, and Seattle.
~> I have been a student there for 3 years. They run a very professional
~> program and offer training of different levels only to those who display
~> good attitude and work ethic. I have a LOT of respect for the instructors.
~>
~> Grandmaster Simon himself, due to his age, only teaches twice a year at each
~> of his schools. You can call the Scarborough studio at 416-750-9012 for more
~> info.
~>
~> Good luck!

ahhhhhh!!! now THIS, at least, makes sense.....

[David A Ross]

Well, I would simply like to state these things:

1) "Tookien"? The temple was supposed to be in Mongolia but this is
not Mongolian language. What dialect of Chinese is this? It is not
Cantonese, Mandarin, Shanghaiese, Fukienese or Taiwanese. That leaves a
few dialects but I'd be curious to know.

2) Was it inner or outer (ie People's Rupublic) Mongolia? During what
years? There have been significant periods of time when it would have
been HIGHLY unlikely that a westerner would have been able to get to
either inner or outer Mongolia.

3) Having lived in Mongolia for all these years (he did master the
system didn't he?) I assume he speaks fluent Mongolian? Also being a
monk, I assume he can chant.

4) Studying "shaolin" in Mongolia is highly suspect. Shaolin is Chan
(Zen) Buddhist but Mongolians are devout Vajrayana followers.
Furthermore, there is now considerable historical evidence that the only
two temples directly related to "shaolin" are the actual Shaolin temple
in Henan and the ruins of a temple that was located in the mountains of
Fukien.

5) Which brings up another question: "Tookien" doesn't sound like any
Chinese I know but sounds a lot like "Fukien". Perhaps he told his
students that his art came for the "Fukien Shaolin Temple". Then what is
the Mongolian connection.

6) Simply put, the claim that he is one of only three "masters of
Shaolin" is so ludicrous it should be obvious. Is this "master" even
recognized by ANY of the many organizations in North America or Canada?
I've never seen him or any of his students in ANY national or
international Chinese martial art event. I never even heard of him until
I came here. And, btw, I have been a member of the Eastern United States
Kung-Fu Federation, United States Wushu Kung-Fu Federation, NACMAF and
the AAU program for many years. My good friend is vice chairman of the
Western Canadian Kung-Fu Federation.

[kung fool]

I believe their is some misconseption about GM O.E. Simon, even among his
students..I believe this is attributable to the Grand Masters reticience to
discuss his past with every single person who wants to know all the
details...I mean , the man is in his seventies, and I have heard that he
had to go through all this crap years ago, proving that he was legitimate,
when no one would believe that a white man could know anything about the
martial arts. he apparently proved it then, why go through it all again in
his seventies...

I don't feel it is my place to have to explain this style, or it's history
and lineage to anyone..but the Grand Master has recently began publishing
his memoirs, and this should clear up some of these long standing
questions, though undoubtably the skeptics will continue to ridicule
everything they do not understand. especially here in RMA (which in my
humble opinion is the cesspool of the Arts, but amusing as all hell
sometimes)

From reading parts of the Grand Masters autobiography, and discussions with
my head instructor, It is my understanding that GM Simeon met in Berlin in
the late 1930's(or had working for his family) an old Buddist Monk, in
excile from china after the turmoil of the twenties who was a Master of Sil
Lum by the name of Fu Yen. In appreciation to the Simon family for helping
the Yen family escape Berlin during the second world war, he taught the
young Olaf Simon the arts. and gave him his lineage.

I have no reason to doubt this, I have taken the training, it's genuine to
me.

Humbly,

C. Farquhar

David A Ross <lkf...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in article
<34593C...@worldnet.att.net>...

[Temujin]

Dear Todd,

From what is written below, I get the impression that you did not like
this book. Please forward information with regard to the full title,
author, publisher and ISBN number. It sounds so bad that I might
actually be able to use it for instructional/seminar purposes; even the
worst trash has a function if used properly.

Thanks in advance,

Temujin

Todd D. Ellner wrote:
>
> ....He's also written the most dreadful, unreadable, ludicrous piece-of-crap
> self-defense book since "How to Say No to a Rapist". Barely coherent, full
> of advice that will get you killed, packed with insane speculations about
> the psychology of attackers, complete with techniques which seem to
> uniformly require strength, precision, and a lot of extraneous body movement.
>
> I have no idea what he studied or with whom, but the man should never have
> written a self-defense book.
> --
> Todd Ellner | The man who never alters his opinion is like the
> tel...@cs.pdx.edu | stagnant water and breeds Reptiles of the mind.
> (503)557-1572 | --William Blake "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell"