Introduction by Dave Turton
I have been involved in the crazy world of the Combat Arts, since I was a boy. Starting with Western Boxing and Wrestling whilst at school, way back in 1959, Progressing through many of the more familiar Martial Arts, such as Judo, Karate, Kempo, Ju-Jitsu and others, I am now, at the time of writing, a 8th Dan Black Belt in several systems. Travelling this road, I have encountered more than my fair share of 'Characters' .. Some of these encounters were pleasant, some informative, and some decidedly un-pleasant. All left their impressions upon me, and I suppose, by their simple existence, had, to varying degrees, some influence in developing my persona, and certainly my outlook on life. I have also been privileged to have crossed paths with some of the 'Big Names' of the Martial Arts, some becoming good friends, others .. less so. Some became students of mine, more so after they had already established their own skills, and wanted more. But, as I will be doing enough 'name dropping' in some of the ensuing chapters, now is not the place to pamper my ego, by trying to impress you with the various characters I have been lucky enough to know. I have certainly met my share, and am grateful for it. I like to talk, as my family, friends, colleagues and students, will no doubt vouch to. Over a coffee, I have been know to spin a yarn or two. The subjects of these Yarn Spinning sessions, were often anecdotes and stories of some of the individuals involved in the martial arts. On more than one occasion, someone listening, would comment "Dave, you could write a book" .. Often I would reply .. "Yes, I probably could". However, the comment to me at least, was more about the number of tales I could tell, rather than any literary ambitions I had harboured. This, now existent book, would probably have laid dormant in the deep recesses of my brain for quite a while, awaiting something that would give it life. As so often happens in this existence, it was a chance remark, on the occasion of my 54th birthday that did the trick. As usual in a break in a training session, I was chatting away to one of my students, re-telling for the umpteenth time, some little tale, when this young student, bless him, remarked that as I was now at this advanced stage of decay, and likely to shuffle off this world quite soon, (The way youth looks at age is remarkable, I felt 54 was still only just middle aged, whilst this 20 year old thought it was close to getting a telegram from the Queen), that I should get all my tales down in print, before I became another statistic in the Deaths column. I was only mildly, and amusingly, offended, but he had sown the seed, and now I have done the deed. Before we look at some of the antics of the characters in the mad martial arts world, I have to mention here, that to the best of my knowledge ALL these stories are true. Most are ones I was witness to, so I can personally vouch for these. Others are stories told to me by people of whom I have the greatest respects for their ability to tell the truth. So I believed their stories., and now pass them on. Because the stories are true, in nearly all cases, the names have been changed, some haven't, because they are happy to have the stories told. Others because they are no longer with us. Of the 'Less-than-nice' people mentioned, well I am not their Judge, and I haven't added any extras that may try to glorify their deeds. I simply report the true events. I will leave it up to you to decide their places in society. I have also tried not to be a 'fisherman' in the telling of these tales. Embellishment is neither laudable, nor necessary. I hope these stories will stand by their own truths. Poetic Licence, MAY just exist in the odd one or two, that are interesting, but needed filling. For the most part however, I am simply delivering the stories, verbatum. Enjoy them, they all happened, and all serve to emphasise that old cliché that "Truth is most certainly, stranger than Fiction" The simple fact is, that an activity like the martial arts, often brings out the best and the worst, of the many facets of human behaviour, and with apologies for pinching and adapting the title of a Clint Eastwood Western, read on and meet ... "THE VERY GOOD, THE SOMETIMES BAD & THE DOWNRIGHT UGLY"
Dave Turton .. Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Chapter 1 : "Setting the Scene"
Chapter 2 : "Merv the Perv".
Chapter 3 : "Russ the Puff the Postman"
Chapter 4 : "Ray 'L' .. Fighter!"
Chapter 5 : "A Martial Arts Murder".
Chapter 6 : "Muscles & Madness ..Part One".
Chapter 7 : "Iron Bar Bernard"
Chapter 8 : "Tales of a Real Master"
Chapter 9 : "Entertaining the Public.. Part One"
Chapter 10 : "Entertaining the Public .. Part Two"
Chapter 11 : "A Miscellany of Muscular Madness"
Chapter 12 : "Liars, Cheats, & Conmen"
Chapter 13 : "The Good Guys"
Chapter 14 : "A few more characters"
Chapter 15 : "Just Me!".
Chapter 16 : "The Final Countdown!"
Chapter 17 : "The Epilogue"
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