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\Local Martial Arts fraternity loses Grandmaster Stephen Monasingh


The local Martial Arts and sporting fraternity has suffered a big loss following the passing of 10th Dan Grandmaster, Professor, Dr. Stephen Michael Monasingh on Thursday after a period of illness. He was 67 years of age.

Grandmaster Dr. Stephen Monasingh being honoured by the Brazilian Military.

Grandmaster Monasingh has been involved in Martial Arts for over 50 years. He was also awarded a Doctorate in Oriental Medicine and recognised internationally for his work. Professor Monasingh who has been involved in various martial arts styles over the years, achieved 10th Dan Grandmaster status for the style he developed, Shin Kaido, which is the best workable techniques of several styles that he would have done, which includes Taekwondo, Karate, Judo, Jujitsu and Aikido.

Dr. Monasingh was Guyana’s representative on the International Karate Organisation based in Japan During the 1960’s and 80’s. He led the organisation in Guyana for several years and was also Vice-Chairman of the South American chapter.He was recognised both home and mainly abroad for his immense contributions and knowledge of martial arts and oriental medicine.


A soft spoken individual, Professor Monasingh was able to train his students successfully, getting the best out of them by learning their strengths and weaknesses and helping them to become better. He led the Guyana Taekwondo Association for several years. He also worked at the Brazilian Embassy as the Aide to the Military AttachΓ© for a number of years and was fluent in several languages.


Kaieteur Sport extends heartfelt condolences to his children and grandchildren and other relatives at this time of their bereavement.

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FM

My condolences. I met Monasingh once and was surprised of how small in stature he was. I am surprised that he was only 67, I was about 10 or 12 when I met him and wanted to learn how to beat black and putagee who were harassing me. But then I felt that his style was too long and drawn out and he taught control instead of aggression. I turned to boxing instead it paid immediate dividends as my piston like left jab, uppercuts and right cross were too much for the likes of  the bullies Cains and caribjs. 

FM
cain posted:
warrior posted:

this is no joke at one time the grounds man at YMCA trow him in a trench 

 

Druggie would have liked that. Being thrown into a trench would make him feel right at home.

At least I could swim but folks like yourself can never risk going on sea as you sink immediately,  on account of that gaping hole in your rear from years of intrusion of foreign objects. 

FM
Prashad posted:
Stormborn posted:

My condolences to friends family and the hundreds of students to whom this man was a guiding light.

We will miss you brother, teacher, friend.

Stormborn do you know where I can get more information on this Shin Kaido style.  I would like to take a look at it.

I do not know what it is. I have never met anyone who trained under the system. I know the Kyokushinkai system.  You can see the entire system on youtube.  One begins with the exercise routine and then on to the basic techniques blocks, punches and kicks. There are three beginners katas, five middle to advance katas and 3 strength or breathing katas. Everything in between is perfecting the techniques through combat training.

It is a complex system with emphasis on incorporating tiny circular motions for speed, mentally concentrating on the return so there is maximum impact at contact points with lots of beautiful kicking techniques. It's weakness is ground techniques. We have no system here. That is deemed to develop with mat work in combat.

In MMA they emphasize this a lot and much of what I know I developed in the last decade or so.  Maybe someone have formulated a system to cover this area but I have not trained with any one in the system for over a decade.I like Kyokishinkai because it is where I learned to fight and is the foundation from which I could examine, learn to appreciate and comprenend everything else. One needs a system to build from. 

I  became a good fighter by adding in the Wing Chun style. There is something mystical about the fighting style here. Only three katas, no kicks above he waist and absolutely impenetrable blocking system and striking from practically any position.  I also did five animal style Wu Shu and have come to the conclusion that Martial art styles are training platforms for a fighter to build his own fighting style. Five animal style is about grace and fluidity and ease of motion by assuming the strength of the animal.

Every style adds something you alone as a practitioner can apprehend and absorb because all the time you are becoming you that is at ease with doing something that works for you. Learning styles is a means to discovering you. I am not a proponent of the best style strategy but think you can only develop by learning a style completely.  I think any system will produce a fighting machine but studing different system produces a smart fighter. More styles studied and mastered create wisdom in the arts. In the end it is not about fighting but doing something you love. In the end it is not about any style but your style.

In playing the guitar, they say you should learn to play what other splay to build up a music vocabulary. If you study well the riffs of others and you practice enough the way they do it you will develop a way you would do it and soon you begin to play like only you can. It is the same with the martial arts.

 

FM
Last edited by Former Member

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