Angry White Pyjamas

[Melanie]

I have just finished reading this. What an excellent book. It makes me wonder if any of it was based on fact? Anyone read this and know?

I do wonder though, how they became Blackbelts in a year...but that's another discussion :)

[LilBunnyRabbit]

Its an absolutely stunning book, and autobiographical by all accounts.

They became blackbelts in a year by working their asses off solidly around eight hours a day, all week. At least I think they did, I read it a while ago and I'm somewhat inebriated right now so I couldn't say for sure.

[Andrew Green]

Originally posted by Melanie

I do wonder though, how they became Blackbelts in a year...but that's another discussion :)

Shodan soesn't mean as much over there. I've heard of it done in a lot less for teachers who where required to have a base in martial arts, something like 8 weeks. No they wouldn't meet our standards, so what?

Many of the Marines that trained in Okinawa came back with dan rank, often more then just Shodan. And they usually where there for only 18 months.

[Saz]

Who's the author?

[Greyghost]

wow...what a bizarre coincedence... ijust picked this book back up...i read it about two years ago and have loaned it to just about everyone i know who does MA....i have just got it back and have started reading it again....

and if you think your sensei is hard..!!!!!!!!

[LilBunnyRabbit]

Robert Twigger, also wrote The Extinction Club, and I think his other one was called something like How to Be a Man.

[mattsylvester]

Hiya,

1. Black belts are not the be all and end all in Japan as they are over here. Most people training in an art over there for a year will get a black belt. It's just not an important aspect over there.

2. Working on the basis that most students do 36 hrs of training each grade, grading every 3 months (I SAID MOST!) you can see that training 5 days a week for 5 hours means that you do 300 hours or nearly 10 months of average student training in the first quarter alone! That means that they do indeed come close to the usual 3.5/4 years required for a black belt.

Breaking it down, students training 36 hours every three months do 144 hrs of training.

Students doing it full time do 1200 hrs of training or 8.3 years worth of training in 'normal' student time. Well worth a black belt methinks :0)

[pgm316]

Thanks for the recommendation Mel, I bought the book recently, not finished it yet but enjoying it! Its a lot more enjoyable than the "how to" type books I used to read, the ones that are like reading a Haynes car manual and its very dubious what you can gain from them anyway.

[Jim]

Just *finally* got the book yesterday and I'm up to the fifth chapter now!

Interesting side note, it says in the inside cover of the new print that it's currently being made into a movie by Miramax (the company who makes the Kevin Smith movies and 'Good Will Hunting').

I wonder who's going to play the Main Character? Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Lee? Hopefully they don't 'Americanise' (no offence) it too much. I'd like to see an English actor with a Oxford accent play the title role just to keep it close to the book.

Any suggestions for 'Fat Frank', Chris, Paul or Robert Mustard?

[Freeform]

Bought the book on Saturaday after being told it was the 'Bible' of all seriuos Aikidoka, and I can't put the damn thing down, its great!!!

Hey, do you think Segal will be asked to be in the film?

Col

[pgm316]

I've had the book a while now, but I'm a slow reader :( so don't spoil it for me!

Theres some tuff sounding guys over there! Mustard sounds like one you wouldn't upset! ;)

Ben Stiller for Main character, he'd put over the suffereing well, just remember how he did it in something about mary :D

[Freeform]

Come on, the main character has to be a Brit!!!

[Tintin]

I just like to put in my application to play the lead in the film. All backing greatly appreciated!!!

[Greyghost]

i don't think there making a midget version.?!!!!!

[Freeform]

Can he do Aikido? - Yes!!!

Can he act? - Yes (I know its my round but I'm poor... ;) )

Can he convey suffering and pain? - Yes!!!

But can he put on a convincing English accent? - It doen't matter, its a hollywood film!!!

:)

[Tintin]

Yeeeeess! Looks like I have all the qualifications!
You're right about the height thing though.

Hmm....

I know, lets make it a kids show. With a name like angry white pyjamas, it already sounds like one.

One thing though, if its a kids show, can I have megatron & optimus prime prints on the P.J.'s?

[Greyghost]

is he tall enough to reach the door handle to the studio door? - no

will he have to stand on a box to be level with the other actors - yes

do they sell clothes big enough to fit him in baby gap? - yes

does he have any concept of how gravity works - not really.

could he be a stunt double for Yoda in Attack of the clones - yes

am i ever going to let him have my address - not on your life!!!!



respect Tintin....

[Tintin]

Oooooo,

Just 'cos I played the piano on your teeth with big sticks.

:D

(Not to mention your nose, fingers, spuds......)

:D :D :D

[pgm316]

He should be English, very true FF!

How about Hugh Grant, that posh stutter would be hilarious while taking a beating.

[LilBunnyRabbit]

Ah, but all of the famous actors are short.

[Jim]

Yeah, Hugh definately needs a pounding.

[Jim]

Anyone do a websearch on Robert Mustard?

I did...

http://www.aikido.ca/burnaby/

Challenge!

[Jim]

And once you've seen that, have a look at this:

http://www.aikiweb.com/books/detail.html?book_id=64

;)

[pgm316]

In the book it mentions the proverb “Its better to live on your feet than to die on your knees”, well that’s kind of obvious, but I always thought the proverb was “Its better to die on your feet than to live on your knees” ???

I still can’t get over how hard they train on that riot police course, its more like torture than MA’s. The only thing that might get me through is knowing the course is for 12 months. If there was no set end date I’d not stay a month!

[LilBunnyRabbit]

Personally I've always thought it should be 'It's better to live on your knees than die on your feet.'

[Greyghost]

i always thought it was better to live in a detached villa than waddle around like toulouse la trec

[Tosh]

Hi Guys,

First post here it is

Just as a side note for Tin Tin's application Me and my Girlfriend met Robert Twigger last year at a book sigining and he couldn't have been over 5' 7" so your well in for a shout,

However you must relaise that you would have to learn to "fall badly" to get the part. :)

[Tintin]

5'7" eh?

Hmm, not too far off. If the camera can make people like Tom Cruise look taller I'm sure it'll do the trick for me as well :)

Good to have you on board tosh_spice, enjoy the forums.

[gingerninja]

Originally posted by Tintin
5'7" eh?

Hmm, not too far off. If the camera can make people like Tom Cruise look taller I'm sure it'll do the trick for me as well :)



5'1' more like, I've seen bar stools taller than Tintin:D

[Spike]

Hello Bill

[gingerninja]

Hi Spike,

Any chance of borrow the video of the cross training day?

[Greyghost]

yeah spike ....

hand it over buddy.....cheques in the post

[Spike]

Sure, as soon as I finish putting the Dave Green Eskrima Seminar at the back of it you can have it.

[Freeform]

Me, me, i want one too.......

[pgm316]

Originally posted by tosh_spice
Hi Guys,

First post here it is

Just as a side note for Tin Tin's application Me and my Girlfriend met Robert Twigger last year at a book sigining and he couldn't have been over 5' 7" so your well in for a shout,

However you must relaise that you would have to learn to "fall badly" to get the part. :)

Hi Tosh,

What else can you tell us about Robert Twigger? I've nearly finished reading the book, its really interesting, although he doesn't give too much information about himself away.......

[Tosh]

Without taking any of the reviews of the book in mind he seemed like a pretty reasonable and observant bloke.

I've also read Big Snake and Being a Man… in the Lousy Modern World they are both pretty interesting reads. Although I wouldn't take his thoughts on life as a blueprint for everybody else.

He had quite a few funny anecdotes and seemed guinely interested in why me in my girl had taken up TKD and the factors surrounding it.

Plus there was free wine. I wouldn't recommend Being a Man to everybody but Big Snake is a good story if you have ever felt like just packing up and travelling somewhere.

[pgm316]

Thanks for the info Tosh, I might give Big Snake a read sometime. He seems like an interesting guy, from his book he seemed inteligent, but also like he could get short tempered at times. Wonder how his MA/Aikido training is going...........

[YODA]

I saw the TV documentary of Big Snake - very interesting but I must say Mr Twigger came across the kind of guy that would sell his Granny for a good story.

[Tosh]

Originally posted by YODA
I saw the TV documentary of Big Snake - very interesting but I must say Mr Twigger came across the kind of guy that would sell his Granny for a good story.

Well, he was/is a journo!! :p

[pgm316]

How much are Granny's going for theses days? :D

He definitely doesn't always come accross in the best possible light! Doesn't effect his books from being an interesting read though.

[GB-UK]

Has anyone heard any news on the film version of the book? I cannot find anything on it at all.