Posted by: dandjurdjevic
Yamaguchi and Urban - 06/10/08 11:01 PM
Here is an article from http://www.martialforce.com/grand_master_peter_urban_article.htm about Yamaguchi and Urban. I'd heard the story before (perhaps whoever told me read it from this source).
Quote:
It was later, while returning to Japan with his wife to attend a GoJu Kai TaiKai, that after asking his teacher’s permission to form an American GoJu organization, that Urban was to hear the words that would change his life and the face of American KaraTe history forever.
In answer to Urban’s request, Yamaguchi supposedly quoting BuShiDo, said that, “No white man can ever achieve nirvana.” (Authors note: Although the word nirvana is not mentioned in BuShiDo, one must keep in mind that Yamaguchi was also a master of Yoga, and a priest of the Shinto religion, so his methodology, spirituality and belief system, was a mixture of the afore mentioned and a Meiji period education.)
Being that his teacher sited BuShiDo as the source of his answer, Urban rebutted by saying “But Sensei, according to BuShiDo, Japan can never lose a war…”
Needless to say, this resulted in an uncomfortable situation, with an angry Yamaguchi, and a dejected Urban, who later came back to Yamaguchi’s table with a knife, and began to perform the archaic customary ritual of apology in which one cuts off the little finger of the left hand. Yamaguchi’s sons wrestled the knife from Urban to prevent him from doing so, and Urban left the taikai one teacher short instead of one finger short.
Many do not know that the next day, Urban and his wife were visited at their hotel by Yamaguchi and his wife. Yamaguchi explained to Urban that he had no choice but to think the way he did, because of the way he was raised and educated. The two parted ways, not as enemies, but knowing that they could never see each other again.
(Note: The author wishes to express that there is absolutely no disrespect meant to the memory of Gogen Yamaguchi)