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Views About a "Grandmaster" Written by Ron Gatewood (January 2001) There is great controversy about Bill Lasiter using the title and I have heard pros and cons about the feelings of many individuals who feel strongly about both sides of the issue. If I qualified I personally would choose not to use the title. Each of us must decide as we can call ourselves whatever we want. We can break away, start our own system, change it's name, and change the rules. If Bill meets the qualifications Grandmaster Woo set down he has every right to use the title. I do not consider Bill the leader of San Soo but a brother Master who met certain conditions and accepted a title which each and every one of us can obtain if we meet the requirements. I think those who made the promotion handled the whole situation poorly as most of the Senior Masters were not asked what they felt or were not even invited. My personal opinion is that Grandmaster Woo created these rules to eliminate very young Masters - he felt that the title Sifu should not be used until you are in your 40's (instructor or not). I have talked to other Kung Fu systems who have not heard of our rules. I have contacted several Grandmasters of various Kung Fu schools and am awaiting their qualifications. If I receive helpful information I will pass it on. It is important to understand that Grandmaster Woo changed both his ideas and the rules as the school grew. His first answer about belts was, "I don't give belts, I have a black belt and it holds up my pants". As time went by belts were added and we were told he would be the only black belt. The highest we could go would be brown belt. A few years later our current system came to be. If those rules were the only qualifying method of becoming a Grandmaster that would mean that all Buddhist Monks who are celibate could not hold the title and that just doesn't seem to make sense. The main point of this message is if Bill chooses to take the title of Grandmaster and knowing Bill for all these years I'm sure that he would have met the qualifications before calling himself that, let's get on with San Soo. Quit cutting each other up, accept it, and move on. In the scheme of our Art does it really make a difference? Jimmy H. Woo was such a strong leader that there is no one that can wear his shoes. We as an Art are at present leaderless and I believe the only answer would be a voting council of Masters. I fear that this will never happen. Your leader is your instructor and learn as much as he has to offer and treat your brothers with respect, not as an opponent.
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