A U.S. Spider web uncovered

A good example of the type of person currently involved in commercialised exploitive Karate in the USA can be seen in web pages which have been set up to crtitcise Mushindo Kempo and demonise its teachers by people who have never trained or met with any of them.
There has developed a little group of apparently weak minded people, mostly I suspect involved with the 'Boston mangler' or his supporters (that usually means people who teach predominately for money, fame, ego or power and who see recourse to the Buddhist teaching as a threat to their values). Such people come up with some ridiculous stories and tales designed it seems to mainly convince themselves and their misinformed students of their own - and I use this term hesitantly - 'bona fides'.

These people feel so threatened that they have set up 'chat rooms' and 'bulletin boards' on the web inviting people to write in and criticise our group. Several pretend to be official sites for Mushindo groups or activities. When students or teachers write in to complain about the site or present their own experiences of events which are very different from what the sites real owners want the world to believe, the messages mysteriously 'dissapear' in a very short time. Casual visitors never suspect they have ever been made or sent there. Even I, so many miles away from them, can see the inaccuracies and contradictions in the fairy stories and pseudo expert observations in these sites.

One particular trait they evidence is to attempt to cast doubt upon the author of 'Bodhisattva Warriors'. Most of this takes the form of a man or women writing in, under an assumed name and from a free account, telling some awful story concerning him.
This is deliberately done to draw peoples attention away from what the book shows & teaches and the values its revelations encourage. Its increasing sales terrify them.

Anyone who has read that book properly can see clearly how much its author knows and understands, no reader of it needs any convincing about its worth and integrity neither do the University dojos or Japanese groups around the world who use it for their their class teachings and references.
Those who have actually spoken or seriously studied with its author, dismiss these personalised criticisms as 'rubbish' and refuse to entertain or discuss them in such a manner. Shifu is a known and respected and humble person, he serves and is a member of many eminent groups, as well as being the author of many other impressive scholastic texts - look again at the credits and teachers listed in the books introduction.
The trouble is I suspect most of these 'spider webbers' either haven't read the book or have an educational standard or psychological position which makes it difficult for them to fully understand it.

As I was involved tangentially in helping in some of its preparation even I can repudiate some statements people have mentioned that are made. I myself know for instance that our school's official crest ('Sanshinmon') was registered here (and internationally) in 1958 - many years before certain people in the US ever tried to pretend it as their own. As we read in BW, our crest has been used ever since it was awarded to the King of Okinawa by the Chinese Emperor and by the pro-royalists in the Ryukyus since 1609. We also use it in the Buddhist manner, the right way up not back to front and upside down as Shinto & others did later (in Japan for instance).

There were many pictures not included in the early printings of the Bodhisattva Warriors, including many of our temple, monks, teachers and students etc in the Ryukyus simply because of space limitations. In future works some of these may be included.
All its pictures are credited as to their source, there was no need to take any from anywhere else - even if these inept 'spiders' allege they resemble others. Tourists take pictures from the same beauty spots all the time so its not unusual that some may look alike. All the photos credited to Kongoryuji library are actually held there (it has an enormous collection) from many sources and authors. Our Master Ui said once "We do not need photographs to prove we are alive!".

No, what we do need to see - and take especial notice of - is the real reason such silly things are suggested, it is not because there is any grain of truth in them but rather those those who say them are either obviously jealous and very worried.
Why is this ?. One reason is abundantly clear - as people take up Mushindo principles and apply them in their lives they become harder to trick or mislead and that means they give up ordinary dojo trainings. This causes a drop in the incomes of those who for many years have pretended they have monopolies in certain areas of teaching.
It was to overcome such unfair exploitation (as we can read in its early pages) that a marvelous book such as the BW was written. The regular fan mail I have seen from its readers show how much it is still appreciated in the US, likewise its continuing high sales.

'Spider webbers' of course can not copy Mushindo teachings in order to financially exploit them, for to do that would mean they actually have to study Buddhist philosophy and engage in some of its practices in order to try and manipulate them and this they cannot do without being easily exposed.
One British (fake) site has tried to bypass this limitation by devoting itself to pretending that Buddhism has nothing to do with Kempo and goes to extraordinary lengths manipulating some texts or rejecting others to try and 'prove' and encourage such a negative outlook. Again casual vistors do not suspect by whom or why the site was really set up

What is evident in the sub text of their backbiting is that they are unable to offer us a better resource text (or author) on the subject, unable to offer any constructive crticism or alternative equally erudite teacher or tradition.
They have become deeply and rigidly stuck in the physical and mental grooves they have made for themselves and, for them, there is no way out or beyond their deceptions except to come clean, own up and admit their errors.
Whilst there may perhaps be minor errors in the book, in its sanscrit grammar for instance, The only criticisms that should be made about it is 'when is the next volume coming out?'