http://www.bullshido.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=100

There you go

Phrost,

I appreciate what you are trying to do with the sub-forums. But I feel that it is the overall close-mindedness of this community towards things like Wing Chun, Dim Mak, Kata, etc. That have had a serious detrimental effect on the "mission" of this site. Posts like this:



Actually I consider just the mention of "wing chun" to be trolling anyone interested in something "martial". So yes, yes you have.

Are not discussion, and are if are a perfect example of blatant flaming. While I understand that the intent is to allow the free uncensored flow of information, the intent has not been met. To use an analogy often used by my Sifu. Many people on this site suffer from a scotoma, a blind spot. They are unable, or unwilling to see any benefit in anything other then the UFC and BJJ. Now this is not to say that the UFC and BJJ do not have their merits but they are not the be all and end all of martial arts. A sub-forum does not cure this blindness it merely allows the blind to further segregate that which they do not wish to see. However, I appreciate what you are trying to do and wish you all the luck in the world.

IgnatzAmI

Dim Mak is not scientific that blows a hole in your scientific argument right there.


I'm not going to debate another style in your review.

Try the CMA forum open some discussion and see what happens.

Dim Mak is not scientific that blows a hole in your scientific argument right there.


I'm not going to debate another style in your review.

Try the CMA forum open some discussion and see what happens.

..... scotoma, a blind spot......

I did not want any debate in my review. I wanted to post a review of my school and get a little red house next to my name. Nothing more.

..... scotoma, a blind spot.......

There's that word again. Didn't you look it up the last time I mentioned you were using it wrong on the other forum?

Scotoma is a PHYSICAL blind spot. It refers to the the structural blind spot in everyone has where the optic nerves come together and pass through the retina, or other retina conditions and/or diseases causing a loss of visual acuity (such as macular degeneration or the aftermath of a detached retina).

What you are looking for is the words used to describe a PSYCHOLOGICAL blind spot. That is called a ... well ... um ... blind spot (really).


Now, you might say I'm arguing semantics. But that's the funny thing about this "science" you like to try and plaster as a label on what you do. Science is precise and makes every effort to improve its margin of error within the sometimes brutal forum of public review.

Arts, including those of the martial kind, are not precise regardless of whether the "scientific method" may or may not be useful to a given practitioner's study. A scientist might say something similar in their own words - possibly something like ""It is too large of a multi-variable equation to solve."

I've actually written about this subject quite a few times over the years. Here is a link to one of those conversations on a forum which isn't quite as "free wheeling" (since you seem to shy away from that): http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22979

If you wish to debate this further, I think it would be an excellent topic for the newly created style sub-orums instead of here. The moderators will try to keep those sub-forums on-topic. (No comment on how much grease they'll apply to the sticking wheels to keep them free, though.)

We do have empirical standards for reviews.

Touch hands with Sifu Francis Fong, Sifu Crescione, Sifu William Cheung and tell me Wing Chun doesnt work, look at the Iron Wolves fight team under Sifu Alan Orr:

http://www.alanorr.com/htdocs/nhb/teamironorr.html

Look at the fight record and tell me Wing Chun doesnt work.

A) You don't train under Alan Orr,

B) We already had a longish thread about Alan Orr's school (http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=35372). The general gist is that someone who's trained in boxing, kickboxing, Catch Wrestling, and MMA and whose wins consist primarily of victories via armbar is not a great example of Wing Chun fighting technique.

Phrost,

I appreciate what you are trying to do with the sub-forums. But I feel that it is the overall close-mindedness of this community towards things like Wing Chun, Dim Mak, Kata, etc. That have had a serious detrimental effect on the "mission" of this site. Posts like this:1) Dim Mak? You got to be fucking kidding me.


Are not discussion, and are if are a perfect example of blatant flaming. While I understand that the intent is to allow the free uncensored flow of information, the intent has not been met. To use an analogy often used by my Sifu. Many people on this site suffer from a scotoma, a blind spot. They are unable, or unwilling to see any benefit in anything other then the UFC and BJJ. 2) Not true. You really need to stop writing posts right now and spend the next following weeks reading the forums - there are quite a few valid posters that come from a "traditional" background (he, I said traditional.)


Now this is not to say that the UFC and BJJ do not have their merits but they are not the be all and end all of martial arts. Nobody claims that's the case. See #2 above.


A sub-forum does not cure this blindness it merely allows the blind to further segregate that which they do not wish to see.Again, see #2.

Besides, I find it stupid that you say the blind use the subforums to further segregate that which they do not wish to see. Who are the blind? The CMA/KMA/JMAists? The very ones who talk and promote their arts in a tech/moderated forums? How the hell does that make them blind? Do you even know who the hell use/created the subforums and why?

I mean, really, see #2.

El Macho,

What exactly is your problem? I'm allowed to voice my opinions in MY school review. I dont come to your review and **** around with long winded CLOSEMINDED posts. Go away. I have taken nothing but an un-ending cascade of **** about my style, about my school, about Phil! This "community" is one of the most childish, insensitive, retarded, closeminded group of individuals I have ever met. I reviewed my school as a COURTESY! I did not do it so I could have MORE **** flung on me. You have no right to question what I believe. NONE! Do yourself a favor, don't come to a school review and **** about. go back to Newbitown and live there till your head emerges from your ass.

Good fucking day!

El Macho,

What exactly is your problem? I'm allowed to voice my opinions in MY school review.

Conversely, El Macho is also allowed to voice his opinions in your school review.


You have no right to question what I believe. NONE!

He certainly does, if verifiable evidence suggests that what you believe is false. People have every right to question what others believe and require them to provide substantiating proof; if you think otherwise, you won't last long here (or anywhere else critical thinking is placed at a premium.)

The 'Iron Wolves' are hilarious, only one of the listed fighters has any kind of record that can be easily found and the little blurb about them is laughable, full of misspellings and talking about a 'vision quest' ROFL.

Only fighter of theirs who has a real record is Neil Broadbent, 1-1

http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?FighterID=15271

Disclaimer: I am no longer training at Syracuse Martial Arts Academy. However given the benefit of my training after leaving the school I feel I can give a more accurate review.

Aliveness: 2
-Mostly compliant partner drills. In the Wing Chun class 95% one step drills. Chi Sao etc. Sifu Anthony (Cheung Style) has moved away from sparring and cross training since having become a disciple of Sifu John Crescione.
-Kali, entirely sinewali, sombrata. Minimal free form work, and very little application. Guro Eric Winfree (Inosanto Kali)
-JKD, never took the class, however from what I observed it is a large amount of conditioning. As a note, all JKD students can also train in Kali for free.

Equipment: 6
-Good mats through the front half of a very sizable space. SMA is currently located off of Erie Blvd. an arterial route in Syracuse in an old mattress showroom. 11-12 foot ceilings, linoleum throughout. Three Mook-Jong and a decent selection of training equipment. The floor at the rear of the school is left bare for the Kali classes.

Gym Size: 8
Just under 5,000 square feet the facility is much more then is required by the current student body. Large mat area for JKD/Wing Chun is more then sufficient and the back half of the school comfortably handles Kali with no fear of hitting the walls or ceiling or other students.

Instructor Student Ratio: 4-8
Instructor student ratio varies wildly from class to class and art to art. Wing Chun is frequently taught either by Sifu Anthony himself or by one of the senior students. Often the senior most student opens class and Sifu runs the class. In Kali Guro Eric rarely teaches directly preferring to allow his senior, Norm, teach. However Guro Eric is available for questions during class. On an idle Sunday it is not unheard of to have two students and an instructor.

Atmosphere/Attitude: X
Another point hard to quantify. The school environment is very accepting of new students, and can feel very "homy" however there is a fair amount of other style bashing, and drama, especially where Phil Elmore is concerned. On a good day it's a great place to train. On a bad day, it's a terrible place to train and it varies day to day. More good then bad, but....

Striking: 4
Wing Chun striking, trapping range, limited boxing drills.
JKD, never took it but based on observation seems to have a boxing-esque feel
Kali, little bit of empty hand but it's done as static two man drills.

Grappling: 1-2
Grappling is taught to blue sash and up students by Guro Eric Winfree who is currently training under Guro Kevin Seamen of Western New York MMA. Guro Eric has (to the best of my knowledge) no formal rank in a grappling style, and teaches JKD grappling as created and taught by Guro Seamen. Not the place to go for grappling. Ever.

Weapons: 5
Kali, Inosanto blend. Decent instruction however the lack of sparring and applicability really hampers student growth. Also the rigid Kung Fu teaching style used by Guro Eric makes for a stagnant learning enviroment.

Other Notes: SMA uses the Educational Funding Company as their third party billing. Once you sign the contract it is adhesive, final and binding. You will not get out of your contract. BEWARE: you will NOT be able to cancel your contract short of moving 70+ miles from the school. One year minimum.

Costs: $95 month and up. While the variety of styles is good, it can get expensive. To take two styles, it's $120 and up.

Syracuse Martial Arts is not a bad school. However the teachers have an antiquated approach to teaching Martial Arts made worse by Sifu Anthony regressing after becoming a disciple. If your going to train here take either JKD or JKD and Wing Chun. This is the easiest way to maximize your class time for the least amount of money as all JKD students can also train Kali for free. However this does not work the other way around! Kali students can not train JKD for free!

Funny how this happens so often.

Wow lets take a look at the current style field.

*checks*

Yep BJJ and Judo alive arts will do that to you. That's why I stay away.

Kung Fu 4 EVAH!!!

I really tried to keep the review unbiased, I hope I succeed.