I wanted to take a moment to update these blogs, for the benefit of both my current student body and those to come. It is important, especially during this time of change in structure and in appreciation of the legacy that we as martial artists have taken on as torch-bearers of.
For over 30 years, I have upheld the banner and shouldered the task of caretaker for the martial arts mission set forth by the original and core membership of the Alliance of Martial Arts (AOM) with a degree of pride and genuine love for the arts. It has not been easy, most times, and I was always glad to find an audience with one or two of my brethren to reminisce or consider potential courses of action toward the mission's success.
There came a time, after all was said and done, when it was determined that perhaps we had run the course of our group's purpose and that we should consider an alternate goal or mission. To my mind, I had done my part in achieving that mission by taking several opportunities to go into the community and teach impoverished youths. The primary space in which we effectively operated was in after school programs, which occurred over the course of 4 years. I continued to teach other students, as well. To what degree my brethren also did these things was never in question, but it was clear that our focus (as a whole) was no longer moving us all in the same direction.
As the Alliance of Martial Arts comes to a course alignment, it leaves in its wake a great success story about several less fortunate youths who conquered the streets and provided a means to benefit other youth who were likewise borne into poverty. It is inspirational, to say the least. Although the successes were never astronomical, they were all meaningful. It is this which prompted a new level of growth. As for martial arts legacy, that was the end of it.
As Chief Instructor of our legacy art, Kung Ju, I continued to develop the art into a modern format that could actually be passed down and duplicated as we uplift the community. The regimented format became known as Kung Ju Ch'uan Fa, translated Gentle Effort Fist Method. During the year 2016, I made a concerted effort to bring all students at all levels into a core training module for the sake of unifying the art form and its proponents. That would have ensured that any student taught by any instructor in our lineage would at least have a common basis and understanding of what makes Kung Ju relevant.
To that end, Flowing Bronze Martial Arts Society (considered an AOM Legacy Group) will focus its mission on factors involving the proliferation and training of our martial arts as it benefits our original target and furthers the original mission, in that regard. The following is the official statement regarding Flowing Bronze Martial Arts Society.
"When the initial goals of AOM was deemed unanimously satisfied and/or moot amongst core members, it ceased to serve an allied mission. The martial arts legacy was carried on largely by Sensei Carl Eggerson, who has chronicled and developed Kung Ju beyond its initial format into a regimented training format called "Kung Ju Ch'uan Fa" (Gentle Effort Fist Method.)
While core members may still teach "Kung Ju" in some unregimented form or other, the current school (FBMAS) teaches the uniform system that may fulfill the original spirit of what Kung Ju should be in order to proliferate it. That system is now known officially as "Kung Ju Ch'uan Fa."
No comments:
Post a Comment