If this Fuzhou Suparinpei I learned from Simon is indeed the real deal evolved a few generations, then the differences Toyama Sensei viewed make perfect sense to me. Whether or not it is a direct descendant, I've always felt that the material at least had the same DNA.One original Suparimpe taught by Shuu Sensei was shown to Toyama Sensei about 30 years ago by two elderly Chinese gentlemen who studied in Kanbun Sensei’s original dojo in Nansoue. The visit by these Chinese gentlemen is known to many who studied in the Futenma Dojo in the early or mid 70's. The dojo in China remained open after Kanbun Sensei left. It's fair to assume that Shuu Sensei assigned another of his top students to teach there in Kanbun Sensei’s stead, otherwise Toyama Sensei’s two elderly visitors would not have been able to perform Suparimpe. They performed in exactly the same manner that Toyama Sensei performs (posture, timing, extensive use of a UechiRyu-like Sanchin stance, large circular blocking movements, etc.). Performed in that manner, many techniques and positions nearly identical to UechiRyu could be seen.
Toyama Sensei described their body physiques even in their old age to be much the same as his own, and resembling Kanbun Sensei's physique.
In August 2005, Simon Lailey demonstrated a Supraempi form for Toyama Sensei. Sensei recognized it immediately as technically the same 108 form, but modern changes affected the performance so it was not as similar to the UechiRyu taught by Kanbun Sensei. With the few changes suggested by Toyama Sensei, Simon's performance would very nearly match the one seen 3 decades ago.
Anyhow, documentation of the source of this statement would certainly be a nail in the coffin of the "Simon conspiracy theory." Somehow my experience with Simon seemed a bit too credible and plausible for me to believe some fantastic story of his making up such a form. He's a good martial artist, but not THAT good...
- Bill
Alas, I work in industry these days. Little do most people know that published works in the peer-reviewed literature are team efforts, with numerous eyes and hands on the final product. (hence the expression "peer review") For many professors, the grad students' work isn't even acknowledged - even when they do the bulk of the work. (Been there, done that on the receiving end.)