When
I first met Sherman at a clinic Garry Gerossie
hosted, I partnered with a Shorin Ryu Black Belt who was there. Turns out he
was a friend of Garry’s, and he was at clinics Garry hosted, then at later one’s
we hosted together.
Then
he hosted clinics in Rhode Island with Sherman too. I attended about 4 of them
there.
But
this occurred at the first one.
Almost
all of those attending were from Rhode Island including local Isshinryu.
Several of them were adult black belts from another Shorin Ryu group there.
After
a while through Sherman’s presentation that day one of the adult young black
belts (of course young to me about 25 or so) asked Sherman how those techniques
would work in a real kumite.
Sherman
explained “I do not teach kumite.”
That
floored the black belt who asked “You do not teach kumite, then what do you do”
Sherman explained that he would just
stand with his hands hanging at his side.
That
black belt was incredulous and didn’t believe that was possible. “Well is
someone attacked what would you really do?
Sherman
just gave the same answer. Then when he observed the black belts inability to
believe what he heard, Sherman added, “Why don’t you
just attack me with full speed any way you like and I will respond but I add, I
will only use 50% power in my response.” After saying that Sherman just stood there with his arms at his side.
That
black belt just gathered himself together, then suddenly he lunged forward with
a lead punch towards Sherman face.
Then
just before he was at his half way point of his attack Sherman responded.
What Sherman did
was pivot counter-clockwise and while doing so his right arm rose and then fell
in an arc, very quickly. Sherman’s arm just cut across that punching forearm,
striking through that forearm with a crack.
You
just heard the strike and observed the young black belt's arm falling as he dropped to his knees in
pain.
Sherman
moved over and helped that black belt to his feet.
And
as he did so Sherman explained to him. “If you want we can do that again. But as I am getting older I
do not have as much in me, so next time I will have to use 75% power,
“ in a straight face.
That black belt declined the offer.
