.gif)
Robert W. Smith (historian)
Encyclopedia
Robert W. Smith was an American
martial artist and writer
most noted for his prodigious output of books and articles about the Asian martial arts and their masters. Smith's writing was an important factor in the spread of Asian martial arts such as judo, karate, and taijiquan into the postwar United States.
, he was sent at the age of three to an orphanage due to his family's economic distress. There he became a voracious reader. In high school, he learned boxing and wrestling. He joined the U.S. Marines at seventeen. While in the Marines Smith completed his high school requirements through a correspondence course. He was honorably discharged in 1946. Smith attended college on the G.I. Bill, eventually earning a M.A. in History from the University of Washington in 1953. Smith's interest in boxing and pursuit of Asian martial arts (especially judo) continued unabated. After a brief stint with the Red Cross, Smith joined the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency as an Intelligence Officer and moved to Bethesda, Maryland.
had fled to Taiwan (Formosa) after the victory of Mao Zedong
and the Communists on the mainland in 1949. Protected by the U.S. Seventh Fleet, Taiwan became the seat of government for the Republic of China - the only Chinese government diplomatically recognized by the U.S. Government until the 1970s. Smith worked as a liaison to the Republican government.
While in Taiwan Smith trained and studied with many masters of Chinese martial arts (e.g., baguaquan, xingyi
). Most importantly, he met Professor Cheng Man-ch'ing (Zheng Manqing), the "master of five excellences" - calligraphy, poetry, painting, Chinese medicine, and taijiquan. Legend has it that Smith had to keep knocking on Cheng's door for at least six months before Cheng would accept him as his first non-Chinese student. While waiting to study with Cheng, Smith studied with T.T. Liang. Cheng and his students would meet every Sunday in Taiwan for taijiquan and tuishou ("push hands"--which Smith often preferred to translate as "sensing hands"). Cheng moved to the United States in the mid-1960s and lived and taught in New York City for a number of years before returning to Taiwan in the mid-1970s. Smith and Cheng kept in close contact until Cheng's death in 1975.
Over the years Smith befriended many boxers and martial artists and sought many teachers. He was driven by a friendly curiosity that evolved over time into an expertise on Asian martial arts. He was one of the first western writers to introduce Asian martial arts to the West.
, and the Journal of Asian Martial Arts
, and served on the editorial board for Taijiquan Journal. Smith's articles whetted the appetite of the American martial arts community, which paved the way for Asian masters to then develop followings in the US.
Always written with a flair, Smith's numerous books and articles offer martial techniques, history, anecdotes, opinions, humor, and quotes from his wide-ranging personal training, research, and reading. Smith collaborated with his teacher Cheng Man-ch'ing on one of the earliest English taijiquan books (T'ai Chi, Tuttle, 1967), and with Benjamin Lo on a translation of one of the earliest taijiquan books: Chen Weiming's 1929 book T'ai chi ch'uan ta wen--Questions and Answers on T'ai Chi Ch'uan (North Atlantic, 1985).
Smith's memoir, "Martial Musings" (1999) was written much as he taught taijiquan, i.e., with a thousand anecdotal stories and a sharp sense of humor. He wrote, co-wrote, edited, co-edited and co-translated fourteen books on the martial arts and over twenty articles with a particular focus on China. He also wrote three books under the nom de plume of John F. Gilbey. "Gilbey's" first book, Secret Fighting Arts of the World, was a work of fiction parodying various martial arts tall tales, but was widely assumed to be non-fiction when it was first released.
Smith edited the first book in English on Shaolin Temple boxing. In addition, he wrote the first books in English on baguaquan and xingyiquan
, as well as the above-mentioned T'ai Chi. Smith thus, was a key figure in introducing Western readers to these three "internal" martial arts
of China.
Smith was also a frequent contributor of book reviews and opinion letters to Washington-D.C.-area newspapers.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
martial artist and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
most noted for his prodigious output of books and articles about the Asian martial arts and their masters. Smith's writing was an important factor in the spread of Asian martial arts such as judo, karate, and taijiquan into the postwar United States.
Early Life
Born on a farm in IowaIowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, he was sent at the age of three to an orphanage due to his family's economic distress. There he became a voracious reader. In high school, he learned boxing and wrestling. He joined the U.S. Marines at seventeen. While in the Marines Smith completed his high school requirements through a correspondence course. He was honorably discharged in 1946. Smith attended college on the G.I. Bill, eventually earning a M.A. in History from the University of Washington in 1953. Smith's interest in boxing and pursuit of Asian martial arts (especially judo) continued unabated. After a brief stint with the Red Cross, Smith joined the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency as an Intelligence Officer and moved to Bethesda, Maryland.
Taiwan
From 1959 to 1962 he was posted by the CIA to Taiwan. The Republican Chinese government led by Chiang Kai-ShekChiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
had fled to Taiwan (Formosa) after the victory of Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
and the Communists on the mainland in 1949. Protected by the U.S. Seventh Fleet, Taiwan became the seat of government for the Republic of China - the only Chinese government diplomatically recognized by the U.S. Government until the 1970s. Smith worked as a liaison to the Republican government.
While in Taiwan Smith trained and studied with many masters of Chinese martial arts (e.g., baguaquan, xingyi
Xingyi
Xingyi may refer to:*Xingyiquan, one of the major internal Chinese martial arts*Xingyi, Guizhou, county level city in Guizhou, China...
). Most importantly, he met Professor Cheng Man-ch'ing (Zheng Manqing), the "master of five excellences" - calligraphy, poetry, painting, Chinese medicine, and taijiquan. Legend has it that Smith had to keep knocking on Cheng's door for at least six months before Cheng would accept him as his first non-Chinese student. While waiting to study with Cheng, Smith studied with T.T. Liang. Cheng and his students would meet every Sunday in Taiwan for taijiquan and tuishou ("push hands"--which Smith often preferred to translate as "sensing hands"). Cheng moved to the United States in the mid-1960s and lived and taught in New York City for a number of years before returning to Taiwan in the mid-1970s. Smith and Cheng kept in close contact until Cheng's death in 1975.
America
Smith returned to Bethesda in 1962 and initially taught judo at the local YMCA, but later concentrated on taijiquan, baguaquan, and xingyiquan. Starting in 1962, Smith taught a popular free early Saturday morning taijiquan class at the YMCA. This continued for 26 years. During those years he worked, raised a family, taught, and wrote about martial arts. Smith retired from teaching in 1988 and he and his wife Alice moved to the foothills of the Smoky Mountains.Over the years Smith befriended many boxers and martial artists and sought many teachers. He was driven by a friendly curiosity that evolved over time into an expertise on Asian martial arts. He was one of the first western writers to introduce Asian martial arts to the West.
Smith's Writings
Beginning in the 1950s, Smith wrote articles for such martial arts magazines as Budokwai Quarterly Bulletin, [Judo], Strength and Health, Black BeltBlack Belt
Black Belt may refer to:*Black belt , an indication of attainment of a high rank of skill in martial arts**Black Belt Magazine, a magazine covering martial arts news, technique, and notable individuals*Black Belt Black Belt may refer to:*Black belt (martial arts), an indication of attainment of a...
, and the Journal of Asian Martial Arts
Journal of Asian Martial Arts
The Journal of Asian Martial Arts is a quarterly published magazine from Via Media Publishing Company that covers various aspects of martial arts from Asia, but also includes material from other parts of the world.- Content :...
, and served on the editorial board for Taijiquan Journal. Smith's articles whetted the appetite of the American martial arts community, which paved the way for Asian masters to then develop followings in the US.
Always written with a flair, Smith's numerous books and articles offer martial techniques, history, anecdotes, opinions, humor, and quotes from his wide-ranging personal training, research, and reading. Smith collaborated with his teacher Cheng Man-ch'ing on one of the earliest English taijiquan books (T'ai Chi, Tuttle, 1967), and with Benjamin Lo on a translation of one of the earliest taijiquan books: Chen Weiming's 1929 book T'ai chi ch'uan ta wen--Questions and Answers on T'ai Chi Ch'uan (North Atlantic, 1985).
Smith's memoir, "Martial Musings" (1999) was written much as he taught taijiquan, i.e., with a thousand anecdotal stories and a sharp sense of humor. He wrote, co-wrote, edited, co-edited and co-translated fourteen books on the martial arts and over twenty articles with a particular focus on China. He also wrote three books under the nom de plume of John F. Gilbey. "Gilbey's" first book, Secret Fighting Arts of the World, was a work of fiction parodying various martial arts tall tales, but was widely assumed to be non-fiction when it was first released.
Smith edited the first book in English on Shaolin Temple boxing. In addition, he wrote the first books in English on baguaquan and xingyiquan
Xingyiquan
Xingyiquan is one of the major "internal" or Wudang styles of Chinese martial arts. The word translates approximately to "Form/Intention Boxing", or "Shape/Will Boxing", and is characterized by aggressive, seemingly linear movements and explosive power...
, as well as the above-mentioned T'ai Chi. Smith thus, was a key figure in introducing Western readers to these three "internal" martial arts
Neijia
Nèijiā is a term in Chinese martial arts, grouping those styles that practice nèijìng , usually translated as internal martial arts, occupied with spiritual, mental or qi-related aspects, as opposed to an "external" approach focused on physiological aspects...
of China.
Smith was also a frequent contributor of book reviews and opinion letters to Washington-D.C.-area newspapers.
See also
- Cheng Man-ch'ingCheng Man-ch'ingCheng Man-ch'ing was born in Yongjia , Zhejiang Province . He died March 26, 1975; his grave is near the city of Taipei. Cheng was trained in Chinese medicine, t'ai chi ch'uan, calligraphy, painting and poetry...
- Donn F. DraegerDonn F. DraegerDonald 'Donn' Frederick Draeger was an expert practitioner of Asian martial arts, an author of several martial arts books, and a United States Marine...
- Dong HaichuanDong HaichuanDong Haichuan was born on the 13th of October 1797 in Zhu village, Ju Jia Wu Township, Wen'an County, Hebei Province, China and died on the 25th of October 1882 in Beijing. He is regarded as a skillful martial artist and is widely credited to be the founder of Baguazhang...
- Manuel VelazquezManuel VelazquezManuel Velazquez was a 20th-century anti-boxing activist who kept meticulous files on boxing-related deaths.-Early life:...
- GulamGulamGulam was an Indian practitioner of Pehlwani. Gulam participated in early catch wrestling tournaments in Europe. At 5 foot 9, 280 pounds, Gulam wrestled in Paris in 1900 at the time of 1900 World's Fair....
- Chen WeimingChen WeimingThis is a Chinese name; the family name is ChenChen Weiming was a scholar, taijiquan teacher, and author. He was also known by his name Chen Zengze 陳曾則, Weiming being his hao, a pen-name....
- Ernest John HarrisonErnest John HarrisonErnest John Harrison was an English journalist, author and judoka. Harrison was born in Manchester, England, on 22 August 1873. He wrote many books about the practice of judo. He died in London, on 23 April 1961....
Selected Bibliography
- Chen WeimingChen WeimingThis is a Chinese name; the family name is ChenChen Weiming was a scholar, taijiquan teacher, and author. He was also known by his name Chen Zengze 陳曾則, Weiming being his hao, a pen-name....
. T'ai Chi Ch'uan Ta Wen: Questions and Answers on T'ai Chi Ch'uan, Lo, Benjamin and Robert W. Smith, translators. (1929; translation North Atlantic, 1985) ISBN 0-038190-67-9. - Cheng Man-ch'ingCheng Man-ch'ingCheng Man-ch'ing was born in Yongjia , Zhejiang Province . He died March 26, 1975; his grave is near the city of Taipei. Cheng was trained in Chinese medicine, t'ai chi ch'uan, calligraphy, painting and poetry...
and Robert W. Smith. T'ai Chi. 1967. ISBN 0-8048-0560-1. - Draeger, DonnDonn F. DraegerDonald 'Donn' Frederick Draeger was an expert practitioner of Asian martial arts, an author of several martial arts books, and a United States Marine...
and Robert W. Smith. Asian Fighting Arts, Kodansha International, 1969; re-titled Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts upon republication, 1980 (ISBN 978-0870114366). - Gilbey, John (Robert W. Smith). Secret Fighting Arts of the World. (Tuttle, 1963).
- Guterman, A. and Robert W. Smith. "Neurological Sequalae of Boxing." Sports MedicineSports medicineSports medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with physical fitness, treatment and prevention of injuries related to sports and exercise...
, 4, 194-210. - Mason, Russ. "Fifty Years in the Fighting Arts: An Interview with Robert W. Smith," Journal of Asian Martial ArtsJournal of Asian Martial ArtsThe Journal of Asian Martial Arts is a quarterly published magazine from Via Media Publishing Company that covers various aspects of martial arts from Asia, but also includes material from other parts of the world.- Content :...
, 10:1 (2001), 36-73. - Martial Arts: The Real Story (Pacific Street Films, 2000). First broadcast on The Learning Channel, July 7, 2000.
- Smith, Robert W. Chinese Boxing: Masters and Methods. 1974, 1990. ISBN 1-55643-085-X.
- ---A Complete Guide to Judo: Its Story and Practice. (Tuttle, 1958).
- ---"Donn Draeger--A Lifelong Embodiment of the Samurai Code." Journal of Asian Martial ArtsJournal of Asian Martial ArtsThe Journal of Asian Martial Arts is a quarterly published magazine from Via Media Publishing Company that covers various aspects of martial arts from Asia, but also includes material from other parts of the world.- Content :...
, 8:3 (1999), 18-33. - ---Martial Musings. 1999. ISBN 1-893765-00-8.
- ---Secrets of Shaolin Temple Boxing. (Tuttle, 1964).