Steve in MAI

I used to love MAI but it seems to me that there's more than a touch of an 'old boys network' about who features in it.

It's strange that a guy with Steve's pedigree, background and vast knowledge doesn't get put on the front cover! Who did they go for? Please don't say Dillman.....

I buy the digital version of MAI, only to read that specific pages (68 to 71).
What talk after to read Mr. Morris´s interview?
Concise, direct, clean, honest. A great introduction to Morris Method too!

Thanks (again) Mr. Morris!

Yeah, I agree that it is an old boys club magazine. Same faces, same poses.

The only reason I did the article was because I'd been persuaded to commit to doing SENI, even though I've turned down SENI in the past. The article came as a result of my decision to do the course at SENI on my own and not with Mick Coup. It's going to be hard enough trying to fit all my stuff into 2 hours without both of us trying to do that, so we decided to teach separately. Tony Pillage managed to get me a two-hour slot on the Sunday. But at that point I was told I needed more publicity to raise numbers for the course, and that MAI would be a good medium for that.

But on the back of that, I was promised front cover (not the bottom corner) or I wouldn't have done it. I was also offered free advertising, which I haven't taken up. But I did anticipate that some contact information for me would be supplied in the piece, as it is in other articles, along with DVD sales, etc. Instead, it's just an advert to for SENI with no reference to my contact details at all. All references to Primal were removed from Malcolm Martin's article. There wasn't even a mention of me in the editorial.

I've got mixed feelings about it, both about the MAI article and about SENI. This old boy's club, they'd like me to join it, but I'm not going to do that. When we first started out with Primal, there was so much hype but once it became clear that I wasn't going to join the mutual appreciation society, then everything went real quiet.

And so anybody out there who might be thinking I'm selling out--I haven't.

For me to do what I do in the martial arts, I've got to stay outside of it. Because what's inside of it is bullshit. I'm trying to change that.

Don't say you're pulling out of SENI Mr. Morris.

It's crossed my mind. The whole thing is about numbers. Most of the numbers are being accrued through instructors drawing on the students that they have already got. I haven't TOLD my own guys to turn up, although they're welcome to--but it's been suggested to me that I should tell my own people to come to puff up the numbers. But I'm not going to do that. I'd rather that they attend Primal, because Primal is where I'm at. SENI is just a form of advertising for me. The whole point was supposed to be to bring in new people, but it seems to be more of a popularity contest.

I know you're planning to attend, Rob, and if my numbers are OK, I'll be there. But at the moment, my numbers are on the low side compared to a number of instructors with far less experience/abililty than me (in my 'humble' opinion). And if the numbers are low, then that's obviously reflective of what people want.

As it would appear now, the pressure point guys and guys with big organizations are getting the big numbers. I'm not interested in competing with that.

At this point in time, I'm intending to be there. But I haven't got absolute confirmation on the numbers yet, and I do have mixed feelings about doing it. I went into this one on good faith and I feel like I'm in a really awkward position now. If I cancel, it's the same old, 'Steve Morris the prima donna' bullshit. But if I go and I get some patronising comment like, 'Oh, you did pretty good considering you're an old-timer just re-introducing yourself to the martial arts community' then I'm liable to pop somebody.

That's the honest truth.

From a purely selfish point of view I don't want to spend the dosh if you're not going to be there, I'll go to primal instead. I'm going to do the Mick Coup one on sat, haven't booked either yet though was going to do it this week.... not sure now!

I'll PM you when I know a bit more.

MY BROTHER AND I ARE ABOUT TO BOOK ON THE SUNDAY COURSE WITH MR. MORRIS BUT OBVIOUSLY IF THE SEMINAR IS OFF WE WILL NOT BOTHER WITH SENI , SO ANY UPDATES WOULD BE APPRECIATED , IF ITS ON WE WILL BOOK THIS WEEK , CHEERS

Steve

Currently you have 23 people paid and booked on your seminar, which considering we have 3 weeks to go is a great number. Out of the 12 seminars available you are currently in 5th position as far as bookings are concerned. If you look at who is above you ie Mick Coup, Dan Henderson, Steve Rowe and Ondra Musjil and Hoyce Gracie.

Tony, we need to seriously talk about this one privately.

Sorted. We're going ahead.

If I'm going to do it, let's do it. Let's see if we can raise the numbers, since that seems to be what this marketing is all about. Some of you guys in London who have trained with me in the past, I'd like to have your support.

Or for that matter, anybody from anywhere.

PM me or e-mail me.

The tickets are available from either me at 02476 331239 or on the senishow webite via paypal.

More about the SENI course over on the SENI sticky thread.

right, thank fuck for that I can get it sorted now, see you on the 24th.

one more thing cov ma . How do get the gold wristband thing?

Same way just give me a bell on 02476 331239

regards

Tony