Totally Tae Kwon Do Magazine - Issue 17 - Usadojo

eing a true martial artist in every sense of
the word, is Shihan Marty
Manuel. He was a former top rated
competitor in the PKA and is a high
ranking black belt in Go Jo karate. Shihan
Manuel was stricken with a rare
disease that left him confined to a
wheelchair, but he still teaches every
day. My respect and admiration for him
and his students is second to none.
I have been to his Do
-Jo several times to
both train and watch
his students.
They are really, in all
sincerity, some of the
best martial artists I
have ever met and
been fortunate
enough to train with
in my life. Another
martial artists that I
have a tremendous
amount of respect for
and who has
really been an
influence on my
training, is
Grandmaster Leo
Fong, an outstanding
martial artist and a
true legend in the
community. There
are literally so many
that the list could
continue forever, but
to name a few
that have influenced my martial arts
journey, in addition to the people I
mentioned above, would be Sifu Paul
Vizzio and Benny Urquidez.
Karim Belgacem - What do you feel the
pros and cons are of today's martial arts?
Master Philip Ameris - I am old fashioned,
or at least that's what my sons and my
students tell me. They are always saying
how "old school" I am, so my views and
philosophies may reflect the many years
that I have been training. I
believe that, as a lot of people who have
been training as long as I have,
the number one issue that has had a
negative impact on the martial arts are
the lack of respect and the diminishing of
the master/student relationship.
I believe the meaning of a black belt has
been diminished by
people being
able to purchase it
without dedicating the
time, training, and
commitment to
their art. Respect for
traditional martial arts
and one's instructor,
must be something
that has to be
returned and
preserved for
traditional martial
arts to continue. And
again, this is not just
martial arts, but it is a
reflection on society
as a whole.
Responsibility for
one's self has really
been de-emphasized
and has made society
weak. Not being too
negative, I believe the
popularity of some of
the movies that
portray traditional martial arts philosophy
has benefited in getting people interested
in the arts.
Karim Belgacem - What is the most
important aspect of an instructor?
Master Philip Ameris - To give himself
totally to his students and to constantly
strive to improve his art by training and
living as a true martial artist.
Totally Tae Kwon Do - 11