Preparations - street smart training
I will post a photo of MY NEW DOORSTOP in the website gallery. I am quite happy with it. It was given to me by a US national karate champion who used to train members of The Royal Hong Kong Police, Special Branch.
Why am I happy with my doorstop? Well, in two hours this weekend Robert Campbell of the Action Asia Foundation taught me a whole bunch of useful tips and techniques to make sure I help myself stay safe on the trip.
And he gave me a doorstop. It is an ingenious thing. At night it is for making it hard for people to open doors if I’m on one side of them and they’re on the other. During the day it’s for poking at people I don’t like. Pretty handy!
But it was hard to explain to Marta, a nice evening league lady, who noticed me fingering it whilst having a coffee at the tennis club later today. It was also hard to explain why I suddenly stood up pushed Ka Kee to the floor. Not a nice way to treat one’s double’s partner!
But I can see the simple stuff I learned can really work. Thanks Robert!
Robert didn’t teach me any karate, or kendo or live blade sword fencing, or any other martial art. But he could have, as he’s mastered about 18 styles. He went to Taiwan to study Chinese opera in the 1970s. Opera? I also was puzzled. Well, Rob knew that Taiwan’s opera performers were actually the top martial arts fighters in the world, taught by masters from China, who’d moved en masse to Taiwan after 1949. Under their guidance, and after stints in tough places in Japan etc, Robert went on to become US national karate champion.
Robert now works for the Action Asia Foundation as well as for his mentor and friend of many years, Gordon Oldham at the law firm of Oldham, Li & Nie.
Thanks A LOT Robert and also to Gordon Oldham at the Action Asia Foundation. I hope I don’t need some of this stuff too often, but will use your tips and have the best chance to stay safe!