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  1. #1
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    Default Donn Draeger correspondence on karate

    Once upon a time--as all good stories begin--there was a group of karate people on a distant island in the Pacific Ocean who wanted to find a much tougher and effective form of karate than the already legendary style that they followed. Being practical and intelligent folk, they wrote to the much-respected writer and martial arts historian Donn Draeger, asking for his help in finding the best karate teacher in the word so they could study with him.

    A man known for his no-nonsense approach, Draeger wrote back, "Morio Higaonna is the most dangerous man in Japan in a real fight!"...
    http://www.dragon-tsunami.org/Tsunami/Pages/ptrev.htm

    Is this letter, if it exists, published anywhere? I've seen essentially the same story on many homepages, but have seen no identification of with whom this correspondence supposedly took place.
    Nullius in verba

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    can't verify if teh letter exists- and if it does, if it is published... but I can say taht I have heard through reliable sources that Higaonna Sensei was recommended (by Draeger) to one of Draeger's own associates connected with the hoplological society or some such group. I would consider that a fairly serious recommendation.
    -Michael Fitzgerald.

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    Thank you for the information.

    Next question - did Draeger do any karate research in Okinawa? It looks as though he was acquainted with many of the karateka in the Tokyo area back in the day. Were these Japan-based practitioners the source of his research into karate, or was he able to visit Okinawa and pursue his research there?
    Nullius in verba

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    Quote Originally Posted by Todd Lambert View Post
    http://www.dragon-tsunami.org/Tsunami/Pages/ptrev.htm

    Is this letter, if it exists, published anywhere? I've seen essentially the same story on many homepages, but have seen no identification of with whom this correspondence supposedly took place.
    It is possible, but I had never heard of the supposed correspondence until reading that video review. However, it is possible that Donn Draeger may have mentioned the same thing several times over his lifetime.

    The quote, or words to that effect, comes from one of Donn Draeger's books, if I'm not mistaken, although I wasn't able to find the exact passage.

    I hope that helps.

    Regards,

    Ron Beaubien

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    FWIW, there's this interview with Hunter "Chip" Armstrong, who studied for some time with Higaonna. The relevant quote is:

    One of the things Draeger had told me was that if I was still interested in karate, as far as he was concerned, the best karate man he had ever met was Higaonna Morio, an Okinawan Goju Ryu man teaching in Tokyo.
    The article also includes some photos of Draeger, Higaonna, and Armstrong. Given Donn Draeger's travels around Southeast Asia examining various indigenous fighting styles, I almost have to assume he traveled around Okinawa, as well.
    Josh Reyer

    Swa sceal man don, žonne he ęt guše gengan ženceš longsumne lof, na ymb his lif cearaš. - The Beowulf Poet

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    Thank you, Josh. Not quite as dramatic as the earlier quote, but interesting. It does make me wonder if Draeger had researched karate in Okinawa. While Higaonna may have been an up-and-comer in those days, teachers such as Miyazato Ei'ichi, Higa Yuchoku, Uechi Kanei, and others in Okinawa were at the forefront.
    Nullius in verba

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    Quote Originally Posted by Todd Lambert View Post
    Thank you, Josh. Not quite as dramatic as the earlier quote, but interesting. It does make me wonder if Draeger had researched karate in Okinawa. While Higaonna may have been an up-and-comer in those days, teachers such as Miyazato Ei'ichi, Higa Yuchoku, Uechi Kanei, and others in Okinawa were at the forefront.
    Well, one thing to keep in mind was that Draeger's criteria for what made good martial arts were often different from the mainstream.
    Josh Reyer

    Swa sceal man don, žonne he ęt guše gengan ženceš longsumne lof, na ymb his lif cearaš. - The Beowulf Poet

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    I think it would pay to sniff around one of the websites associated with draeger's research (hoplological society). My understanding is that he (and his associates) were well aware of the difference between Okinawan and Japanese Karate/ other martial arts.
    also- as Josh pointed out- his group were serious about 'research' and from what I understand, were not easily impressed.

    Mr Keeley/ Mr Armstrong/ Mr Draeger and others devote/ed their lives to this research, I would say that a clear and unequivocal recomendation to one person for instructinon IS quite dramatic- though not as immotiveley phrased.

    I do recall though some mention of that phrase in one of draeger's books.
    I am sure there is someone on this forum that knows the answer- I would bet on it...
    -Michael Fitzgerald.

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