 Casel Draws Praise
I was so impressed by the article you wrote on master Tayari Casel in the July 2006 issue. I was fortunate to be there at many of those fights back in the day and a group of us who were studying karate at that time actually began taking kung-fu classes in the New York/New Jersey area as a result of seeing the Battle of the Giants fight at Madison Square Garden involving Tayari Casel and "Little" John Davis [Moses Powell's student]. We also enjoyed watching Tayari win every tournament he entered in. His exploits in New Jersey/ New York are legendary.
For the first time we got to see how kung-fu was applied in an "actual" fighting situation. For so long our kung-fu friends would say, "I would love to spar you, but my techniques are too deadly," when in actuality they didn't know or really understand how to apply these techniques outside the form.
Now let's be real: We all know the techniques of kung-fu and the Chinese arts are very exotic and flowing, unlike the simple and direct techniques of tae kwon do and karate. So it would take a lifetime to try and understand what and how to utilize, for example, the techniques in a chang chuan form with which to defend yourself.
Tayari Casel was the American master who showed all of us how to utilize kung-fu, capoiera and groundfighting in the real world in real fights with live opponents both in tournaments and in the street. I also had the opportunity of watching Tayari defend himself in a real-world streetfighting situation against several opponents. At the time he was working in a security position, and believe me, I will never forget it. It was something out of this world. It is what began my love affair with kung-fu.
I hope your magazine can get Mfundishi Tayari to demonstrate some self-defense techniques for the kung-fu world. Although we love the beauty of wushu, after being bombarded with it we long for the real thing. And believe me from personal experience, Tayari is the real thing. He brought kung-fu to the tournament circuit and popularized it, but he never was recognized for it. I have studied kung-fu and wushu in China and I love the acrobatic maneuvers, but the real world we live in calls for us to do articles with masters who can share real self-defense and martial arts experience.
Edward Jockey Anderson
Plainfield, N.J.
Fortunate to Know Casel
I wanted to tell you how much my family and I enjoyed reading about Mfundishi Tayari Casel in your July issue. My son Harris is one of his students here in Silver Spring, Md., and we feel so very fortunate to know this man.
He has quite an extensive competitive history in martial arts, but to us, his true talents lie in what he passes on to his students. He not only teaches them the correct forms, punches, kicks, etc., but also lifts their spirit and self-esteem to great levels. He believes in the potential of his students to be the best they can individually, and he asks for and accepts nothing less.
Anyone walking in off the street to the Tayari Casel Martial Arts Academy instantly feels the nurturing and spiritual guidance provided by this amazing man. I thank you so much for giving him the acknowledgment he so well deserves.
Andrea Baylin
Via e-mail
A True Champion
I was very pleased to read your article in the July issue of Inside Kung-Fu about Mfundishi Tayari Casel. I think that he is one of the greatest living martial artists ever and should be commended for his numerous contributions to the establishment and development of the martial arts in this country.
His groundfighting techniques are legendary and I can't think of another human on the planet with better sweeping techniques! Thank you Inside Kung-Fu for a rare look at one of our truest champions.
Akinyele Olutosin
Via e-mail
Great Insight
I read the article by Stephe Watson in your July issue entitled "I Can't Stand It." I really enjoyed the article. He really seems to have a bead on what's going on and has offered a lot of insight into my training. I hope there will be more articles by him in the future. Thank you for listening.
Name Withheld
Via e-mail |
