Juan Carlos Aguilar (aka Huang C): False Shaolin Monk from Spain is a serial killer and mutilator of women

A reader from Spain alerts me about the recent case of Juan Carlos Aguilar (Huang C), who falsely claimed to be a Shaolin monk and kung fu world champion, and who recently brutally killed two women (and presumibly, many more, since in his "dojo" were found some pieces of mutilated human bodies). 

According to the Huffington Post:

A Kung fu world champion and Shaolin master was arrested Sunday after Spanish authorities found a woman brutally beaten and tied up in his martial arts gym in Bilbao. But the vicious assault may not be 47-year-old Juan Carlos Aguilar's only crime.

After police searched his gym and home, they found other remains, believed to be human. According to sources close to the case, Aguilar confessed to the murder of another woman during his interrogation at a Basque police station, El Huffington Post reports.

Authorities discovered the injured victim Sunday after receiving reports that witnesses saw Aguilar drag a woman into his gym, according to the Associated Press.

More from the AP:

Spanish police are trying to determine whether bones found in the gym of a martial arts instructor belong to multiple crime victims. Police in the northern city of Bilbao discovered the bones Monday after they said witnesses saw Juan Carlos Aguilar drag a woman inside the gym by the hair. Officers found her inside, brutally beaten.
Authorities say they believe the bones found in garbage bags are human. Forensic testing is under way for confirmation and to determine how many people the bones belonged to and how they died.
Searches were also happening at the home of Aguilar, 47, and in a nearby river.
The woman who was beaten and tied up in the gym was in a coma at a Bilbao hospital Monday.

As El Pais notes, Aguilar was crowned a world champion in Kung fu three times. He was later inducted as a Shaolin master, a title rarely given to martial arts experts outside China. Aguilar, who adopted the name Huang C. Aguilar after he received the title, also founded a Buddhist monastery named Ocean of Tranquility in China.

According to the Shaolin Temple's website, the martial arts form practiced by monks at the temple "fully reflects the wisdom of Chan Buddhism."

 
In the following videos, we can watch Aguilar showing some of his martial skills:

Clearly, Aguilar knows some martial arts techniques, but according to people who has fought with him, he was a mediocre fighter. Aguilar's claims of being a world kung fu champion are also FALSE. Moreover, he is NOT Shaolin master at all. His supposed credentials (both martial and academic) are pure fiction.

He's very well known in the martial arts community in Europe (mainly due to the promotion of his videos by the martial arts magazine Budo International). In America, he's largely unknown.

Among martial artists in Europe, Aguilar was always seen as a kind of eccentric and more or less insane man. Searching in my archives of old martial arts magazines (I'm a collector of them), I found an article from Budo International in which Aguilar intentionally misrepresented the words of a kung fu master in Hong Kong in order to create a conflict with another Kung Fu master... Fortunately, both masters discussed the matter in private and clarified the problem, exposing Aguilar as a liar.

When I read such a thing in that moment (several years ago), I thought "This guy is a disgrace for the martial arts community". Several years after that, I saw him again in specialized magazines "transformed" into a Shaolin monk and an self-proclaimed expert in Chi Kung and Buddhism...

Clearly, Aguilar is a mytomaniac and a psychopath. Initially, he argued that he suffered from a brain tumour (as a way to "explain" to the police his misbehaviours against women), but the police didn't find any evidence for it. Moreover, hardly a brain tumour makes a normal person to become a serial killer.

He's a liar, a dangerous and pathological one.

We have to expect that the Spanish police and legal system will punish him with all the rigour of the law.

Royce Gracie submitted Ken Shamrock in UFC 1 with a REAR NAKED CHOKE, not with a lapel choke. Photographic evidence refutes common misconceptions about the Gracie/Shamrock first fight

As way of background (for readers unfamiliar with the martial arts world and the MMA circles), contemporary mixed martial arts competitions had their origins in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) held in the United States in the 90s.  In the beginning there were NO RULES (just a couple of restrictions) in the sense that the figthers could use ANY kind of unarmed martial arts technique for winning the fight.

Under these conditions, Royce Gracie was the undisputed winner of 3 of the first 5 tournaments (in one of them Royce won his first fight but couldn't continue due to deshydratation and hypoglicemia; and in the other one, Royce didn't fight in the tournament, just in a special fight).

Everybody agrees that, in UFC 1, the most serious rival for Royce was Ken Shamrock, an expert in strinking techniques and a master of submission holds (specially of leg locks) and a body of a bodybuilder. In fact, Shamrock won his first fight in the UFC 1 very easily, with a ankle lock.

Shamrock was a seasoned figther and wrestler in Pancrase (a kind of Japanese precursor of the UFC). I was familiar with Shamrock skills since 1990, and even watched him live a couple of times in wrestling matches in Japan.

Like everybody else, I was convinced that Shamrock, due to his mastery of submissions holds, would be the most serious opponent for Royce in the UFC 1 (in fact, I personally thought, obviously mistakenly, that Shamrock would win that tournament and kick Royce's butt in the process).

For surprise of all (except perhaps of the Gracie family), Shamrock was defeated by Royce in 51 seconds! And via a choke.

From that moment, Shamrock began to spread the idea that he lost because Royce used his gi (kimono) to choke him (this technique is known as a lapel choke in judo/jiu-jitsu circles). Currently, Shamrock still claims that Royce used his gi to choke him, as you can see in this recent interview with Shamrock.

Watching carefully the fight, the trained observer can see that Royce used a rear naked choke (a choke which uses only the arms, not the gi), so Shamrock's excuse is false. However, it is true that when you watch the fight, the angle of the camera cannot allow us to see the choke clearly and only the most competent, martial trained eye could discern the kind of choke being used by Royce. Watch the fight for yourself:

Note that the angle of the camera doesn't allow us to see clearly the kind of choke being used by Royce, because from that angle a rear naked choke and a lapel gi choke look very similar. (Again, the trained observer could discern the difference despite of such misleading angle).

Fortunately, I've found a pic of the choke from a perfect angle which leaves no doubt at all about the kind of choked being applied by Royce:

Royce is using the standard rear nake choke, using the right arm to squeeze both carotid arteries and the left hand to push the back of the head in order to clinch the choke (this choke is known in japanese martial arts as Hadaka-jime):

This choke is one of the most effective holds in martial arts. It could produce unconscious in a matter of seconds (between 5-15 seconds from the moment of the application), and even death if the pressure continues being applied after the person has been put unconscious (obviously, trained martial artists know when to release the pressure in order to prevent death or serious brain damage to the opponent. This is why in judo/jiu-jitsu competitions and in MMA fights, we never see deaths by chokes or any other submission hold. This kind of hold can be trained in very safe ways, without risks of injuries).

Just for the record:  I'm a fan of Ken Shamrock, but I'm  more a fan and lover of the TRUTH. That Shamrock and his fans have spread the false view that Royce used a lapel choke instead a rear naked choke is something which has always bothered me.

Shamrock lost via a rear naked choked simply because he understimated Royce's grappling skills, and thought that he could beat him with a leg lock (Shamrock's speciality). As you can watch in the video, after taking Royce's leg, Shamrock seems obsessed with holding Royce's leg (even after Royce got the mount position!), trying to apply a leg lock, as you can see also in this picture:

Meanwhile, Royce was astutely searching for Shamrock's neck and he got it!.

That's it.

The proper defense for Shamrock should have been to forget Royce's leg (in the moment in which Royce got the mount position) and defend his own neck to prevent the choke. This is basic self-defense and grappling on the ground.

Shamrock knows all of this, because he's a seasoned grappler and martial artist. But he simply cannot accept that he made a amazingly silly mistake (from a technical point of view) which put him literally in Royce's hands.

A review of Jiu-Jitsu in the South Zone, 1997-2008. The Astonishing True Story of One Man’s Eleven Year Journey from White to Black Belt in the Jiu-Jitsu Academies of the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1997-2008 by Roberto Pedreira

The book "Jiu-Jitsu in the South Zone, 1997-2008" by BJJ Black Belt Roberto Pedreira is a must read for martial artists in general, and practitioners of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) in particular.

Pedreira trained in the "Mecca" of BJJ, namely, Brazil, with the best instructors of this martial art. 

The book tells Pedreira's experiences and anecdotes training with these masters, and provides interesting insights and pieces of information about the history of BJJ (a history which, sadly, has been written in most sources according to the interests of certain persons).

Of particular interest to me was Pedreira's meeting with Judo master George Kastriot Mehdi. According to this master, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is actually a version of Judo.

According to the standard story (promoted mainly by Rorion Gracie), Helio Gracie learnt jiu-jitsu from his brother Carlos, who in turn learnt form Mitsuyo Maeda, a japanese jiu-jitsu master. However, as evidence shows, Maeda was mainly a JUDOKA, not a jiu-jitsu master (it is true that Maeda trained in jiu-jitsu too, but he was a member of the new Kodokan group founded by Jigoro Kano, a group which reformed traditional jiu-jitsu into a more sport-oriented form of combat).

Not surprinsingly, ALL the techniques used in traditional Gracie Jiu-Jitsu exist in Judo (certainly, the Gracies have improved the transitions among the techniques and talented BJJ sport competitors have possibly created new ones for sporting purposes and adapted to the rules of BJJ tournaments). On the other hand the distinctive features of traditional jiu-jitsu (like stand up striking to vital points, nerve and pressure points attacks, finger locks, wrist locks etc.) are not stressed in BJJ (exactly as occured in Judo, because such techniques were precisely the ones that Jigoro Kano excluded from Judo due to their dangerous nature... leaving them as part of the most advanced curriculum of self-defense of Judo).

So, Mehdi is, after all, probably right about BJJ being a form of "judo" (an incomplete form, Mehdi would suggest).

Pedreira met with many others notable BJJ figures like Ricardo de la Riva, Murillo Bustamante or Reyson Gracie.

Pedreira's writing style is good, balanced and objective, and I look forward to read more of his works.

Clarifying the history of BJJ

Not topic in BJJ is so obscure as the history of the art itself. Although Pedreira's book provides some interesting comments and passing notes about the history of the art, we need a through research about it (which, as far I know, is not available yet, at least not in English).

In particular, specific answers to the following questions are needed:

1-Exactly what techniques Mitsuyo Maeda taught to Carlos Gracie?

BJJ is commonly divided into 3 areas: Self-defense (mostly standing up), Vale Tudo and sport BJJ.  

Did Maeda teach only the self-defense aspect? Or the Vale Tudo one? Or both? (Sport BJJ seems to be a later creation by the Gracies...).

2-Exactly what techniques Helio Gracie improved and which are exactly such improvements?

Most people, including Carlos Gracie Jr., agree that Helio Gracie modified the judo/jiu-jitsu that he received from Carlos. Some of them suggest that Helio added the "defensive mindset" to the purely offensive one which Carlos supposedly taught.

But when asking for Helio's specific improvements, we get pure generalities like "Helio modified the techniques to make them less reliable on strengh". Fine, but exactly what are such modifications? Is the rear naked choke from Helio different from the way in which it is done in Judo and traditional jiu-jitsu? In what exactly Helio's basic Americana armlock from the mount or lapel choke differs from the Judo's versions of it?

I have to confess that, after careful examination, I don't see where or how exactly Helio modified such techniques. Having trained in both Judo and BJJ myself, I don't see any substantive or distinctive difference in the application of the techniques when individually considered (obviously, differences exist in the transitions and overall combat philosophy as previously mentioned). Like Mehdi says, they are simply the same old Judo techniques.

3-BJJ practitioners claim that BJJ is superior to other forms of martial arts, and Royce Gracie victories in the early UFC are the primary evidence for this claim (other evidences, like the Gracie Challenge, etc. are often mentioned too).

But note that, at most, this evidence shows that the VALE TUDO part of the BJJ is superior (i.e. that in a vale tudo context, BJJ is superior than other arts due to the BJJ's overall strategy and advanced form of ground fighting). It doesn't show that the SELF-DEFENSE aspect of the art (which is mostly standing up) is superior than other arts.

Some Gracies have tried to argue from the success of BJJ's ground work in Vale Tudo to the overall efficacy of the system for street self-defense, which is a non-sequitur.

For example, are the BJJ's techniques for disarming gun and knife superior than Krav Maga's? It hasn't been proved at all, let alone from Royce's impressive victories in the UFC (because weapons weren't part of such competition).

In conclusion, we cannot infer the superiority of BJJ as a overall street self-defense art from the success of BJJ in Vale Tudo competitions, because the techniques and enviroment are different.

4-The fact that many of the BJJ techniques for self-defense are different from the Vale Tudo techniques is seen when examining carefully the Gracie material and the BJJ curriculum.

For example, in Helio Gracie's video "Episode One" (and in Royce Gracie's book on BJJ self-defense), a defense from a standing front choke against a wall consists in a FINGER LOCK finishing hold. But in  Vale Tudo, the Gracies never teach finger locks as part of their combat arsenal (and consequently, never use them).

Another example, in Royce's book on self-defense even a pressure point using the knucles is taught to escape from a grab. But in Vale Tudo, pressure points are not taught by them.

In fact, when BJJ instructors (including the Gracies) are asked about finger locks and pressure points techniques, their standard reply is "they don't work".

But if they don't work,  why the hell such techniques are taught as part of the classical stand up self-defense program of Helio's BJJ? I cannot understand it.

Perhaps the most charitable interpretation is to suggest that such self-defense techniques work against untrained opponents (which are the most likely attackers), not against trained fighters. 

But then the unqualified claim that such techniques "don't work" is false: They don't work against trained fighters, but they work against the untrained ones.

And if this point is conceded, then the claim that other martial arts don't work (because Royce kicked the butt of representatives of these arts in the UFC) is also false, because at most such victories by Royce and others BJJ experts only shows that such martial arts don't work against BJJ or against trained fighters... but perhaps (like the BJJ's finger lock to escape a front choke) such techniques will work against untrained street attackers... after all, is BJJ better in finger locks than Wally Jay's Small Circle Jujitsu or Yang Wing Ming's Chin Na? I don't think so...

Obscurities, fallacies, implicit assumptions and unwarranted extrapolations are part of the world of BJJ (this also happens in other martial arts, by the way).

We need a more scholarly approach to the history and philosophy of BJJ... I wish that Pedreira (and other qualified and objective researchers) will address these problems specifically in future works.

Misconceptions about contemporary Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and the theory and science of self-defense and hand-to-hand combat

A positive side of the of "new passion" for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is that the training methods have been improved. Also, the uselfulness of wrestling and ground fighting has been stressed and "re-discoveried", in contrast with the view of many "traditional" martial artists who typically ignored grappling methods for hand-to-hand combat.

But the emergence of contemporary MMA has a negative side too, and in this post I'm going to discuss some of these problems:

1-In the simplistic, over-enthusiast and superficial mentality of some people (specially in USA), MMA is the ultimate form of street self-defense.

This is false. MMA is a SPORT, and as such the mean, dirty realities of the streets (multiple opponents, weapons, etc.) are not covered by the typical training methods of MMA.

The defenders of MMA argue that all the tecniques of MMA (thai kicks, elbows, ground grappling, etc.) are useful to self-defense. 

True, they're useful to self-defense, but it doesn't mean that MMA is the ultimate form of self-defense, let a alone a self-defense art. (A baseball bat could be useful to self-defense too, but it doesn't make baseball a self-defense sport or art).

2-In contrast with the early no-holds-barred tournaments (e.g. The early UFCs, the early World Vale Tudo championship, the early International Vale Tudo Championship) which allowed virtually every possible empty hand technique (in the early UFCs, groin strikes or eye gouge were the only restrictions... but a violation of such restrictions wouldn't disqualify the figther, so in a sense they were "allowed"... in fact in the UFC 1, Gerard Gordeau bite Royce Gracie's ear and he wasn't disqualified), contemporary MMA tournaments don't allow every possible technique, incluidng "dirty techniques", but only the safest of them.

MMA is now like boxing, only that a wider repertory of techniques is allowed.

But for "old school" followers of  real Vale Tudo fights like me, contemporary MMA is fun, but not serious fighting at all. Just a nice sport to watch and train.

3-But even the "old school" Vale Tudo fighting was not wholly equivalent to street self-defense. They were real fighting, the more close you can get to a real street fight between seasoned figthers of different styles, but not properly a self-defense situation like most cases of street attacks.

4-Another negative effect of contemporary MMA is the misleading impression that traditional martial arts styles are worhtless. 

This is simply false, as anyone who knows the history of martial arts could attest. Styles such as traditional jiu-jitsu, or some styles of Kung Fu (including the Chin Na arsenal) are BATTLE-TESTED. They were used in WARS, against opponents who tried to kill you, not in rings or octagons with a referee.

The defenders of MMA tend to pose the following objection: Such supposedly "battle-tested" styles were beaten when they were faced with modern mixed martial artists.

The objection is unconvincing: Even if it were the case, how exactly that objection refute the claim that such styles were battle-tested and proven effective? Suppose that a master of Chin Na is faced with Mike Tyson in a Vale Tudo tournament, and Tyson gives him a pounding. How exactly such evidence refutes the claim that Chin Na is battle-tested and effective in streetfighting situations? At most, it proves that in certain contexts (or against certain kinds of opponents, like a powerful boxer like Tyson), such style is hard to apply. But it doesn't refute the efficacy of Chin Na in other contexts (e.g. for disarming a guy with a knife, or escaping a strangle hold, or submitting a violent but untrained street attacker).

The believer in MMA conflates the lack of efficacy in a certain contexts with the lack of efficacy in ALL contexts.

Using the same logic, take a leading champion of MMA and make him to face (using swords) a traditional Samurai in a life or death combat. In all probability, the Samurai would kill him. Does it make MMA non-efficacious? Obviously not, it only shows that in certain contexts (e.g. in a fight with weapons) MMA is limited and other styles are superior.

However, it is true that some traditional martial arts use forms of training which are not very realistic (and hence the techniques are not trained in a way which could be used against a non-resisting opponent, specially a trained one), and MMA has helped to realized that.

All the above problems and misunderstandins have been caused, in my opinion, by a lack of theoretical reflection and sytematization of the THEORY OF HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT. In the martial arts community, at least in America and with some exceptions, there are not philosophers or theoreticians of martial arts or combat.

We need to develop a sophisticated theory of hand-to-hand combat, clearifying key concepts, drawing subtle and intelligent distinctions, and (obviously) testing such concepts and theories with empirical evidence (e.g. police reports of street fighting, careful observation and analysis of early Vale Tudo matches, etc.)

This research is worth pursuing for any person interested in martial arts and the science of hand-to-hand combat.

In future posts, I'll discuss some of these things in more detail.

The Challenge of Emin Boztepe and Royce Gracie: All the relevant letters of the feud in chronological order. The dream no-rules, no holds-barred fight which never happened

This post has mainly an historical value and only for martial artists and martial arts fans. This post is dedicated to all of these fans, and people interested in the Boztepe/Gracie challenge.

In the 90s, two of my favorites martial artists, Emin Boztepe (Wing Tsun Kung Fu) and Royce Gracie and the Gracie Family (Gracie Jiu-Jitsu) had an exchange in which they posed challenges to each other. Sadly, the fight never happened and the issue was never settled satisfactorily (since all of this is already past, perhaps if Royce and Boztepe would meet accidentally today in the street, they would laugh on such feud and shake hands friendly... or simply ignore each other).

I've seen Emin Boztepe's fighting skills in action in seminars in USA and Europe, and I think he was not only a great teacher and martial artist but a great figther too. In fact, I think that at the time (1994/95), Boztepe was problably the best kung fu fighter in the world for no-rules, anything goes fighting matches. If I had to choose just one figther in the kung fu community to take the original Gracie's challenge, hands down I would choose Boztepe.

Royce Gracie needs no introduction. He kicked ass very easily in a time when "mixed martial arts" was a tough guy fighting sport, namely, a sport in which practically no rules or prohibitions existed (i.e. almost every conceivable empty hand technique, including small fingers manipulations, pressure points attacks, neck cranks, etc. were allowed. Even the rules against the use of groin strikes or eye gouges were restrictions, not strict prohibitions, in the sense that if a figther would violate them, he would be charged with monetary penalties, not with disqualification of the event). Under such conditions, Royce beat all of his opponents very easily.

Who would have been won? I have not easy answer to that question, and we only could speculate...

The letters exchange is the following:


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

American WingTsun Organization

   Los Angeles, 26th October 1994

A WORLD-WIDE OPEN CHALLENGE TO THE GRACIE-FAMILY

After having watched your "Ultimate Fighting Championships" held  by the Gracie-Family, I cannot find them very "ultimate" but only  amusing. These so-called "ultimate fights" may impress layman or  beginners, but in fact they are no more real than the professional  Wrestling shows on TV.

What depresses me is that I have heard of some rumors that I would  not dare to accept your challenge. In fact I have never received  any such challenge!  Do you want me to appear like a coward? When I  talked to Benny Urquidez in Germany, he told me that you people had  played him the same dirty old trick for propaganda. Not long ago you  even challenged the great man of American wrestling Gene LaBell. A

very brave act indeed, since Mr. LaBell is over 60 years old. Now in the second "Ultimate Fighting Championships"-Show you   people even (ab-)used two stupid wing chun men to perform some funny

movements so as to represent "Kung-Fu". And at the same time you  claimed to have defeated two "wing chun"-fighters in the first bout. Although I am a WingTsun-Fighter of the Leung Ting WingTsun-System,

which is very different from the generic wing chun style in theory  and practice and is highly compatible in ground-fighting, I feel  bad that you brothers use these kinds of dirty tricks to put down

the late Great Grandmaster Yip Man's other students, their schools  as well as other respectable martial arts styles or stylists!

I keep the record of over 300 bare-hand fights and have never been  defeated.  However, I have never talked bad about my losers and all  the other styles.  But so as to educate you Gracies to respect the

others, my students and I hereby turn the tables on you by challenging  all you people of the Gracy-Family.

I can send 5 or more fighters from the AWTO to fight the Gracies.

If you have more fighters in the Gracie-Family, just inform me and  I shall report this to the International Headquarters and we will  satisfy you with as many fighters as necessary. We like the so-called "No rules at all" Game as advertised in your  propaganda.  No gloves, no time-limit, the person who knocks out

his opponent is the winner. This is exactly the way we WingTsun-people  fought in China in the olden times. We do not mind fighting you people  in the ring set up by your own organization. The only thing that

we want is to fight openly, so all the audience, reporters, TV-people  and martial artists can see if you can really fight against us.

We only want two conditions:

1) We only fight you Gracies. For we do not want to give you the  chance to use any helpful idiots to protect you as "shields".

So we will only fight you directly and no others!

2) The winner takes all the money. We only want our expenses paid.  The rest of the money will all be used for charity.

If you Gracie-brothers dare not to accept our challenge, I do not  mind. But remember: Never put down any other martial art styles  from now on.

 

Emin Boztepe

5th level Practician EWTO/IWTMAA

Headman of the AWTO (American WingTsun Organization)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

faxed to Emin Boztepe at (213)666-1635

DATE:     12/01/94

TO:       EMIN BOZTEPE

FROM:     ART DAVIE, PROMOTER OF THE UFC

SUBJECT:  UFC V

I have a copy of your letter to the Gracies being published in Cinturon Negro in Europe.  You expressed an interest in entering the UFC, but I have some concerns with your letter:

1.   The UFC, which is owned by my company in partnership with

     Semaphore Entertainment Group in New York, is not a staged

     exhibition like professional wrestling.  Your letter's

     assertion "...in fact they (UFC) are no more real than

     professional wrestling shows on TV" is not only false but is,

     in the opinion of our attorneys, clearly libelous.  Be advised

     that we have made a substantial investment in the UFC as a

     business, and will do everything, within our legal means to

     protect it.

2.   The UFC is not controlled by the Gracies; they do not select

     the competitors nor arrange the bout order.  The opening round

     bouts are done by a random draw.  A fighter may be matched

     against a Gracie in the opening round or be matched against a

     Gracie in the second or final round.  This is the way the

     tournament is structured.

You may remember that I spoke to you on the phone a year ago asking you to fight the first UFC.  You declined, saying you were retired from such competitions.  I am, however,aware of and respect your

reputation as a Wing Tsun stylist; I would suggest to you that a simple resolution to this issue would be for you to enter UFC V, scheduled for April 7, 1995.  I am sure that a Gracie brother will

be a competitor and your stature is such that I will guarantee you a selection as one of the eight UFC competitors.  I have attached a UFC application for you to return to me, indicating your

decision.

Please call me with any questions.  We will, of course, take care of your travel and accommodations as we do for the other fighters.  Over 1 million people watched the UFC live on TV.  Millions more

saw it on delayed broadcast or video.  I am sure that you will appreciate the opportunity to display your art before the millions who will view the UFC V.  Please advise me as soon as possible.

Respectfully,

Arthur Davie

Promoter

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Jan 95

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu(R)

Dear Mr. Boztepe:

In response to your open challenge to the Gracie Family, the  promoters of the UFC, W.O.W. Promotions and Semaphore  Entertainment Group (SEG), are pleased to extend to you a formal  invitation to the UFC V to represent your art.  You are perhaps  the most respected fighter in the Wing Tsun world and we are

pleased you are willing to enter.

I must, however, address several points you raised in your letter.   First, whatever you may think about "THE ULTIMATE FIGHTING  CHAMPIONSHIPS(TM)", they are very real bare-knuckle, no-holds barred

matches.  This is not "professional wrestling".  You will find out  soon enough.

Second, my brother challenged Benny Urquidez after Benny declared  that the Gracie's reputation was a scam developed through a publicity  stunt.  When invited to be in the UFC, he declined and used his

retirement as his reason.  If inviting a renowned fighter to enter  the Western world's only legal bare-knuckle, no holds-barred tournament  is a "dirty trick" - then I don't know "dirty tricks".

Thirdly, regarding the two Wing Chun fighters that participated in  the UFC II, I want to see the record straight at this point - they  were defeated by fighters other than my brother.

Regarding fighting the Gracies:

The promoters of the UFC have invested a lot of money in the single elimination concept.  This includes a random drawing for the first  round match ups.  It would not be fair to the other martial arts

organizations worldwide to change the format of this tournament to  satisfy your request.

Also by entering the UFC V, you will have the opportunity to draw  Royce Gracie in the 1st round, or given your claim of fighting superiority to face him in the championship match.

Last but not least, let me remind you that while you preached respect  for other martial arts, your reference to the UFC competitors as  "helpful idiots" is not only an obvious contradiction, but is grossly

disrespectful to Champions such as Gerard Gordeau, Orlando Weit,  Minoki Ichihara and Ken Shamrock - who unlike yourself, have already  competed for the title of "The Ultimate Fighter".

For your information, the promoters are more than willing to pick  up all travel and accommodation expenses for you, a trainer and a  manager, so there is no excuse for your absence from the next

tournament.

If you do not want to compete in the UFC, I will be glad to set up  a date for you to come here, to the Gracie Academy in Torrance, and  have a match with Royce Gracie for the press to view.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

 

Rorion Gracie

Head of the Gracie Family

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

01/25/95

Emin Boztepe
American Wing Tsun Organization
505 S. Beverly Drive
Suite 1400
Beverly Hills, CA  90212

Dear Mr. Boztepe:

I am writing to ask you to respond to the request I made in our  last phone conversation on 01/06/95:  That you issue a retraction  to the statement you made about the UFC (our tournament), in your  OPEN LETTER TO THE GRACIES, comparing it to staged professional  wrestling.

I have never, nor has anyone in my employ, written or caused to  be published anything negative about you personally or professionally.   You have admitted to me in phone conversations that you were only

angered by gossip on martial arts bulletin boards.  This has  nothing to do with me or my company.  Fans of your martial art style  and fans of my tournament are unfettered by the First Amendment in  this country in expressing their *opinions* on such bulletin board  systems.

You have, however, written and caused to be published in the U.S.  and Europe a letter challenging another martial artist in which  you stated "..."ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP" (TM)...may impress

laymen or beginners, but in fact they are no more real than  professional wrestling shows on TV."  As I advised you by FAX on  12/01/94 this statement is not only false but, in the opinion of  counsel, clearly libelous.  W.O.W. and its partners, Semaphore  Entertainment Group, have invested million of dollars in the UFC and will do everyhting in our power to protect this investment.

I have extended in our last two phone conversations an invitation  to you to compete in the UFC.  I even offered you a special single  match against Royce Gracie.  You have not said yes to either offer.

You, however, continue to give interviews to the martial arts press  proclaiming your challenge.  Solely based upon your actions in this  matter, I am left to conclude that you are attempting to use this  all for publicity purposes to further your career and have no desire  to act on your challenge.

Please call me with any questions.  We will, of course, take care of  your travel and accomodations as we do for the other fighters.  Over  1 million people watched the UFC III Live on TV.  Millions more saw

it on delayed broadcast  or video.  I am sure that you will appreciate the opportunity to display your art before millions who will view the  UFC V.  Please advise me as soon as possible.

Respectfully,

Arthur Davie

Promoter

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March 3, 1995

Alexander R. Wallenwein
Attorney At Law

Dear Mr. Rorion Gracie:

I am writing this letter on behalf of my client, Mr. Emin Boztepe, Chief Instructor of the American Wing Tsun Organization (AWTO), 5th Level Master of Wing Tsun (WT).

You allowed your promoter to openly challenge and humiliate old and retired masters of different styles and did nothing to stop him. You also watched while your people kept on calling Mr. Boztepe "chicken" on the Internet computer network.

When my client unexpectedly answered that challenge with a counter challenge to you to fight you and/or your brother Royce outside your TV tournament, you never accepted the terms, dates, or the locations given. 

Then, on February 17th you called Mr. Boztepe and told him that your brother Royce will accept his counter-challenge to your family and fight Mr. Boztepe on "neutral ground" but initially suggested your own school.  This was of course unacceptable.  Thereupon you said you would call him back that same night in order to give the exact date and final location of the fight.  However, Mr. Boztepe waited in vain that day, and the next day....

You in fact did not call him back until Tuesday, February 21st. On that occasion you informed my client that you wanted to hold the fight at the Los Angeles Police Academy - of which you happen to be a member - on Thursday February 23rd, only two days later. You also requested that there should be no public TV coverage, only video recordings of the fight.  Of course Mr. Boztepe told you that he considered two days advance notice too short.  He suggested to hold the match one week later so that he could make sure that the newspaper and camera men could be there to record the fight.  You responded that you would "try to arrange it" but then called back to cancel the fight with the weak excuse that the gym was not available for the next two weeks and you would call Mr. Boztepe back.

So as to make it impossible for you to back out of the fight again, my client suggests once and for all the following date and location:  March 14th in the gym of the "Martial Arts Gazette", one of the leading martial arts newspapers.  If you prefer "Inside Kung Fu" or "Black Belt", I am sure it can be arranged on the

same date. THE AGREEMENT IS THAT THE FIGHT IS A "NO RULES" FIGHT WITH NO REFEREES.  NO PARTY TO THE FIGHT OR THEIR RESPECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS OR REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER FOR ANY DAMAGES, WHETHER FOR PERSONAL INJURY OR OTHERWISE, AND EACH PARTY AGREES NOT TO PRESS CHARGES FOR ANY ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW.  THE FIGHT WILL BE INDEPENDENTLY RECORDED BY VIDEO BY EACH PARTY.  THE RECORDING AND PHOTO RIGHTS WILL BELONG TO THE RESPECTIVE FIGHTERS ONLY.  NO FIGHTER HAS THE RIGHT TO PREVENT, DELAY, OR HINDER PUBLICATION OF THE RESULT, NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME.

After this date Mr. Boztepe has to leave for Europe.  If you do not accept again, Mr. Boztepe and the public must assume that you or Royce never intended to fight him, and you and your family must live with that disgrace.

Mr. Boztepe expects you to confirm this date in writing by March 8th.  Please no more phone conversations which lead to nothing.

Irrespective of this, you and your promoter still have the opportunity to apologize to the old masters and retired fighters you have insulted through your media efforts.  That would make a fight unnecessary. It is especially this last solution which would please Mr. Boztepe the most.  That way, it would be a victory for the common cause of all martial arts and their honor and reputation in the public mind.

Very truly yours,

Alexander R. Wallenwein

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March 6, 1995

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (R)

Dear Mr. Wallenwein:

In regards to your letter of March 3, 1995, in behalf of Mr. Emin Boztepe, please note the following points:

1.      The promoter of the UFC, made a professional and courteous  invitation to famous martial artists to satisfy the requests of hundreds of fans all over the world, demanding such an    invitation.

       

2.      I can not control what fans write in the Internet, but I must   inform you that I do not support Mr. Boztepe being called a "chicken".

       

3.      I didn't find Mr. Boztepe's suggestion of using Benny  Urquidez's or Gene Lebell's schools as a neutral ground, to be neutral.  I thought the Police Academy would truly be   "neutral ground", because Benny Urquidez, Gene Lebell, along    with many other popular martial artists, have met there many    times.

       

4.      As far as scheduling something at the Police Academy you must understand that I do not have final say in the availability of their gym.  Therefore, when I was informed of the possible opening, I immediately passed on the information to Mr. Boztepe    who replied "I need more time."

       

Now for the good news.  I have obtained clearance for this demonstration to take place at the Los Angeles Police Academy, on March 9th, 10th, or 13th at 8:00pm at their gym.  The address is:  1880 N Academy Dr., Los Angeles, CA.  Please choose one of these dates and reply to me by fax immediately (310)782-1310.

Your requests for the conditions of the demonstration:  waivers, video taping/promotion, are all agreed upon.

Please understand that Royce Gracie, "The Ultimate Fighter", is making an unusual exception in your case, as he does not participate in demonstrations outside of the UFC. Let's make sure that Mr. Boztepe does not pass up this opportunity. Otherwise, the fans may think he was using the "gossip" on the Internet and various other magazines, as a publicity stunt.  If you are concerned with them calling him "chicken" now, imagine what they will call him if he does not show up at all....

Again, please fax me back immediately with the date you have chosen.

Cordially,

Rorion Gracie

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March 6, 1995

Alexander R. Wallenwein

Attorney At Law

Dear Mr. Gracie:

I am pleased to see that you are so willing to have your little brother Royce defend your family's honor.  As you know, Mr. Boztepe has always preferred to fight you, personally, but Royce

will be an acceptable alternative.

As to the fight location, the Police Academy is unacceptable because in the State of California fights in the nature of the challenge match between Royce and Mr. Boztepe - full contact, no rules, no referees, no time limits - are against the law.  The L.A. Police Department is sworn to uphold the law.  They will not tolerate such a fight without intervening when it begins to get interesting.  Whether Benny Urquidez and Gene LaBelle have met there on occasion or not has nothing to do with the neutrality or lack thereof of this fight location.

Your response does not comply with the conditions given in our last letter to you.  Mr. Boztepe will only fight at one of the three magazine gyms listed there:  Martial Arts Gazette, Inside Kung Fu, or Black Belt Magazine, UNLESS the Los Angeles Chief of Police or the Chief of the Police Academy gives a written guarantee,  on his personal stationary and signed by him, that such fights are  (a) legal in California, (b) that no law enforcement personnel  will intervene in the fight in any way until it is over, and (c) that after the fight none of the participants or their promoters/representatives will be charged with violating any laws.

That written guarantee should be faxed by the author directly to my office.

If you can provide such a written guarantee, Mr. Boztepe will be happy to choose one of the dates provided in your letter dated March 6, 1995.  If not, it is up to you to still comply with the conditions set out in our letter of March 1, 1995. I must make one final but crucial point:  In your letter of this date you call the fight a "demonstration".  Please note once and for all that this is not intended to be a "demonstration."  It is intended to be a no rules,no holds barred fight.  One fighter wins when the other indicates his submission by tapping out or throwing the towel.  Are the fights in the UFC also just "demonstrations?" Please clearly state your position regarding this issue or define what precisely you mean by that word, today, by fax.  In Mr. Boztepe and the martial art public's mind a "demonstration" is equivalent to a "show."  Please understand that this is NOT going to be a "show."  If you and your brother have any different perception of the nature of the upcoming fight, please let us know now.  Otherwise, your brother might accidently be seriously injured without his actual consent.  You must be very clear about this.

Very truly yours,

Alexander R. Wallenwein

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March 6, 1995

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (R)

Dear Mr. Wallenwein:

In response to your fax of March 6, 1995, what would make this fight "legal" if we did it at Martial Arts Gazette, Inside Kung Fu, or Black Belt Magazine?  They are all located in the State of California.  Wouldn't you be legally concerned about this as well? This is why the UFC was developed and it takes place in other states, so there will be no legal impediments. I agree to have Royce face Mr. Boztepe, if you have any publisher of one of the above publications, fax to me, a confirmation of the following:  a) that such fights are legal in California; b) no law enforcement personnel will intervene with the fight until it is over; and c) that after the fight none of the participants or promoters will be charged with violating any

laws.

Furthermore, they must also agree to allow only 5 people from each camp to enter their facility - other than the press.

Cordially,

Rorion Gracie

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THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER

The Highs and Lows of Winning, by Royce Gracie

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has given me a great platform for demonstrating what my family has believed in for over 65 years:  That the techniques of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu(R) prepare the best fighters in the

world.  Winning at the UFC has made what we do very popular, and the results are that I am getting a lot of attention, and our Academy is growing like crazy.  The publicity surrounding the UFC is very

controversial, and I receive many requests from the media for interviews.  I like to fight and I like the rewards, both emotional and financial.

The only down side to being The Ultimate Fighting Champion is the clowns I must deal with who claim to challenge me or the Gracie Family, and who hide behind the publicity stunt of a challenge with no intention of meeting me in the octagon.  They use the tactics of a challenge in an attempt to discredit the integrity of my victories, and support their weak claims of fighting superiority.  They then have the audacity to explain why they do not want or need to fight in the UFC. 

I heard that there were over 400 applications for UFC IV, and many fighters make no bones about who they are after - me!  We also receive many direct requests at the Academy from fighters who want to challenge me, and who feel they deserve special treatment over all of  the other fighters in the UFC, because they are who they think they are.  The final insult comes when we bend over backwards to accommodate a challenger, who then badgers us with excuses and the fight never happens.

The most recent example is Emin Boztepe.  First came his challenge, then he told everyone why he does not need to fight in the UFC, finally all the reasons why a scheduled fight outside the UFC will never take place.  All the while boasting of his alleged fighting superiority.

In Boztepe's original challenge letter he made two requests. First, that he fight only a Gracie.  Second, that the winner takes all the money (Boztepe said he would donate his to charity).  Boztepe  was offered a special fight with me in UFC V by Art Davie.  With this offer all the conditions of Boztepe's challenge were met, but Boztepe then said that he would not compete at the UFC.  My brother Rorion, 

then went to the effort of setting up a special match at a neutral location, the Police Academy in Los Angeles.  Boztepe then said the fight was illegal in California, and he would not compete at the Police Academy because my brother is a "member" and therefore it is not neutral ground.  For the record, the Police Academy is not a health club and does not have "members".  Rorion sits on a civilian panel that assists the Police Academy with its self defense training. So does Benny Urquidez and Gene LeBell, whose honor Boztepe is supposedly defending.  Just in case this new excuse is not enough, Boztepe has his lawyer send a list of guarantees that must be met before the fight is scheduled.  Boztepe then suggested an alternative location, and when my brother requested the same guarantees as requested by Boztepe's lawyers, they accused me of not wanting to fight.

I sometimes feel like the lion tamer at a circus dealing with real lions who have the courage to step into the octagon.  I regard individuals like Boztepe as the clowns who entertain the audience between performances.  Boztepe has an open invitation, and a guaranteed place at any UFC, yet he cannot bring himself to enter.

He requests a private match, then assigns his lawyer the task of making sure it never happens.

I can only conclude that Boztepe was never serious about fighting a Gracie in the first place.

This latest example of a publicity stunt by Boztepe is the final reason why we will no longer take challenges outside the UFC.  I respect the fighters who have the courage to step into the octagon. The reason the Ultimate Fighting Championship was developed was to eliminate legal impediments to staging a real life no-holds-barred fight.  Anyone who wants to fight only the Gracies, please respect the other fighters who have the guts to compete in the UFC.  

This is how to get to Royce Gracie.

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April 3, 1995

My original challenge letter was addressed to the Gracie family because Rorion promotes himself as the head of the Gracie family, and it appeared that his actions were representative of the entire family.  It has since become quite clear that the entire problem is with Rorion Gracie (and his partner, Art Davie).  It is widely

known now that even Rorion's associates and members of his own family have trouble with him because of some of his attitudes. In light of this, I would like to make it quite clear that I have no problem with any member of the Gracie family other than Rorion Gracie.  I have made it quite clear directly to Rorion that it is

him whom I wish to fight.  So far he will not respond to this, and insists that I fight his little brother Royce.  I have nothing  against Royce, but will fight him if he insists on being his brother's  puppet in this matter.  Rorion now is even trying to drag other members of his family in to fight his battles for him - battles he won't fight himself. 

 

I would also like to make it clear exactly what has been said and  done.  Art Davie, Rorion Gracie's partner in WOW Promotions which  promotes the UFCs, called me and invited me to fight in the UFC. I explained that I only believe in fighting in self-defense, not  for sport, but thanked him for the invitation.  A week later, Gracie Jiu Jitsu students began posting messages on the Internet  essentially calling me chicken for not competing in the UFC.  Since  information posted had only been discussed between myself and Art Davie, I immediately called Art, who denied saying such things  about me and insisted that it was all a misunderstanding and that  no ill will was intended.  The GJJ students later publicly apologized on the Internet, but at least one GJJ student still keeps writing offensive and misleading - often false - messages.

The damage was done.  I did not realize at the time how powerful a medium the Internet is for quickly and widely spreading news, opinions, and even gossip.   Over the next few months, false rumors that I refused a direct challenge from the Gracies quickly spread worldwide.  And since the only one I had ever talked to was Art Davie, I knew that only Art and/or his partner Rorion could be the original source of these rumors.  When the same exact thing was later done in the martial arts press to old, respected martial artists such as Gene LeBell, I knew that this was no simple misunderstanding, but rather a purposeful effort on the part of

Rorion Gracie and Art Davie to promote Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and the UFCs by questioning the courage of famous and respected martial artists around the world and even damaging their reputations.  Seeing beginning level Wing Chun people invited and placed in the UFCs and promoted as world-class representatives of their arts only served to strengthen my perception that Rorion Gracie (and his partner, Art Davie) were deliberately attacking other martial artists and their arts to build up Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and the UFCs and make a fortune in the process.

At this point I decided to respond to the Gracies' long-standing open  challenge with a counter challenge.  In my letter, I asked only that  I fight only a Gracie, that the event be recorded/televised, and  that the profits after expenses go to charity.  Rorion's public reply offered me a slot in the UFC with no guarantee of fighting a Gracie.  Art Davie wrote me a letter and later called, each time threatening to sue me if I did not publicly retract statements I made which compared the UFCs to professional wrestling.  During the phone conversation,  it was mentioned in passing that a possible special fight in the UFC directly with Royce Gracie might be offered me.  Later, a letter was sent to Inside Kung Fu Magazine offering me the special bout. 

However, since neither Art Davie nor Rorion is willing to do this for charity, and since they are threatening to sue me and the UFC is their event, I will not meet them under these conditions.  I do not feel like making those who would sue me any wealthier.  Rorion later amended his offer to include an offer for me to come fight Royce at Rorion's school in Torrance.

Since it was obvious that we could not come to terms for a fight at the UFCs, and since walking directly into their school to fight them would not be very wise, I countered with a request that the fight be on neutral ground, and suggested Benny Urquidez's Jet Center or Gene LeBell's gymnasium.  Rorion refused to hold the fight at either location.  About the same time, and without my prior knowledge, the Martial Arts Gazette called Rorion and confidentially offered their gym for the challenge match.  Rorion refused the offer.

During a phone conversation on February 17th, Rorion told me that I must fight one of their students first to prove myself worthy of fighting Royce!  Or one of my students must fight one of theirs first.  I told him this was ridiculous, and that I wanted to fight him, Rorion.  Rorion replied, "No!!!  You fight Royce!" 

I said, "Then I will fight you after I beat Royce," to which Rorion  would not reply.  Rorion, like his promoter, prefers sitting behind  a desk in a nice suit and tie challenging and humiliating well-known and respected martial artists of any style because they both know that they will not fight anyway.

Rorion was supposed to call back that night with a location and date for the fight, but did not call back until Tuesday, February 21.  He then offered to let me fight Royce at the Los Angeles Police Academy

in only two days.  I asked that it be held one week later because this was not enough notice to get the media and a professional video team there.  So the fight was scheduled for March 2 with Royce at the

LA Police Academy.  Four or five days before the fight was to happen, Rorion Gracie called me and cancelled the fight, saying that the LA Police Academy Gym was unavailable for the fight on March 2 and that he would call back in a couple weeks when other arrangements could be made.  After this cancellation by Rorion, both my attorney and friends of mine within the law enforcement community advised me not to fight at the LA Police Academy without a written guarantee that the police would neither interfere nor bring charges against anyone. Everyone knows that the police would not really allow a no rules, bareknuckle fight on their property! 

On March 3, my attorney sent a letter to Rorion Gracie summarizing the events thus far and suggesting that the fight be held on March 14, 1995, at the gym of the Martial Arts Gazette, or at Inside Kung Fu or Black Belt Magazine if Rorion preferred.  He also said that if Rorion and his promoter apologized to those they had insulted through their media efforts no fight would be necessary

and that this was actually the preferred solution. 

On March 6, 1995, Rorion Gracie responded with a letter which said: 

a) The promoter of the UFC had made a professional and courteous invitation to famous martial artists at the request of fans the world over; 

b) he cannot control what "fans" write on the Internet but that he doesn't support me being called chicken; 

c) he didn't think Urquidez's or LeBell's schools were neutral; 

and d) he doesn't have control of the LA Police Academy gym's schedule.  He then said he had permission for the "demonstration" to be held on March 9, 10, or 13 and requested me to choose a date.  He agreed

to waivers and taping conditions.

My attorney replied back by fax the same day saying that a fight at the Police Academy is unacceptable (because Police are sworn to uphold the law, and such a fight is allegedly illegal in California) unless the Chief of Police or Chief of the Academy provides a written guarantee that a) the fight is legal, b) the police won't intervene, and c) no charges will be filed against anyone.  He also stated that without such a written guarantee

Rorion was still expected to comply with the original conditions (a fight at the Martial Arts Gazette, Inside Kung Fu, or Black Belt Magazine).  Most important, he questioned Rorion's use of the word "demonstration".  Apparently, the Police were only told that the gym was to be used for a martial arts demonstration rather than a no rules, no referees, bareknuckle challenge fight.

Rorion responded the same day with a fax in which he wonders why I should be concerned about fighting an allegedly illegal fight on police property in front of police more than I would about fighting the same allegedly illegal fight at a magazine gymnasium (with no police present).  He then states Royce will only fight at one of the above magazine's gyms if the chosen magazine will provide the same three written guarantees that my attorney asked of the police.

I feel it should be obvious that doing a no rules, bareknuckle challenge fight on police property and in front of the police (who are expecting a mere martial arts demonstration!) is far different than doing a fight in front of magazine publishers who have no legal power, especially since both sides have agreed to sign waivers not

to press any charges against the other.

So this is where it currently stands:  Rorion refuses to fight me himself.  No matter what.  Period.  He also refuses to let the fight  be done at Gene LeBell's gym or at Benny Urquidez's Jet Center. Rorion refused a direct, confidential, personal offer from the Martial Arts Gazette to have the fight there.  He cancelled the March 2nd,  1995 fight that was originally agreed upon at the Los Angeles Police Academy and he refused to let Royce fight on March 14th, 1995 at the Martial Arts Gazette or Inside Kung Fu or Black Belt Magazine.

     

At this point I find myself deeply surprised at Rorion Gracie's apparent lack of honor in this situation.  But his statement in one letter that he does not support me "being called a 'chicken'" seems to indicate that he has some honor.  Now if he would just say this about the others whom he or his associates have insulted, challenged, or humiliated, and apologize publicly, this whole mess would be done. Or he could just take off his suit and tie and come out from behind his desk and fight me himself.

Emin Boztepe
Chief Instructor of the AWTO

The ego in Martial Arts: The example of Steven Seagal's feud with Jean-Claude Van Damme and the upcoming movie The Expendables 3

One of my heros in martial arts action movies is, without doubt, Aikido master Steven Seagal. I'm a die-hard fan of his movies, his life and his martial arts career. In contrast with actors who became martial arts movie stars (like David Carradine, who was an actor, not a martial artists), Seagal is a true, seasoned martial artists who become an actor. There is a difference here.

However, according to the most reliable information about Seagal's personality, it has to be admitted that his tends to run contrary to the spirit and values of Aikido and most other martial arts. Seagal has been reported as being egocentric, extremely arrogant kind of person.

Seagal's arrogance is both regarding his person and regarding his style (Aikido), and this has casued him a lot of problems in the martial arts community. In future posts, I'll provide specific evidence for these claims.

In this post, I want to illustrate Seagal's improper attitudes toward his fellow martial arts actor Jean-Claude Van Damme. It is not well known (except among readers of martial arts magazines or Hollywood stories) that Seagal has been almost always hostile and condescending regarding Van Damme.

Watch for yourself Seagal's body language and dismissing comments when questioned by Arsenio Hall about Van Damme:

Even though they haven't met a lot, it is almost unavoidable in Hollywood to meet each in parties or public events or invitationsm from friends in common (like in the case of Stallone):

In fact, in one of such meetings between them, Seagal's open dismissing comments about Van Damme almost caused a street fight between them, in a Sylvester Stallone's party some years ago, as Van Damme explains in this interview:

Keep in mind that these problems happend several years ago (mostly in the 90s) and I ignore the current state of their problems. Currently, there is a rumour that Seagal will be present in the upcoming Stallone's movie The Expendables 3 (in which Van Damme will be acting too), and God wants that it happens, because Seagal is an icon in the martial arts acting community, and I don't conceive The Expendables being fully complete without him (keep in mind that Jet Li, Jason Stathan, Van Damme, Chuck Norris, Randy Couture, and others martial arts stars have been part of the Expendables' two previous movies).  I'd like to see Jackie Chan there too, but it is unlikely. 

Since it is possible that Seagal and Van Damme will work together, I hope their problems will be a matter of the past. In fact, at least on Van Damme's side, there is a disposition to be sympathetic to have Seagal in the movie:

In fact, as far I know, Van Damme has always said good things about Seagal, but unfortunately, it is Seagal who dislike Van Damme. In any case, let's to expect that these problems won't affect them when they work together in the Expandables 3. I'm looking forward to watch that movie!.

My reflection about all this is that Martial Arts should be a path for spiritual self-discovery, not a way to feel oneself superior or "better" than other people. In fact, most correctly trained and seasoned martial artists are good and nice people, they have been taught (and teach when they're senseis or instructors) to respect others, to be humble, to help other persons, to keep his fighting skills in secret or at least in a low public perfil and so forth.

 Exceptionally, however, one finds people like Steven Seagal who, apparently, think his skills make him superior to other people, including (specially) other fellows martial artists like Van Damme.

Hope Seagal's personality and previous problems with Van Damme won't be a problem for their presence together in the Expendables 3, the "Dream Team"of martial arts movies.