Bill Beason October 5 at 12:36am
Chester, I was speaking with Franklin earlier...and we spoke of Fred. Although I communicated my condolences earlier...I would like you to read some of my thoughts that i hope will be relayed to the NY martial arts community at some time in the future if a memorial is held for Fred. Please pass this on to his children and other relatives, indicating my appreciation for your brother. Family don't always know how much a great person a father or a mother could be to others...because they only see them as Dad or Mom...but in some ways, for us Fred was a Dad, or an Uncle or a brother or friend...but in the very least...an example...you know that someone is special if so many events and memories exist of them for their contributions in whatever aspect of profession or art that they pave their endeavors...and for Fred Miller to be such a vivid memory to me...and to countless others...is a testimony as to his abilities and his contributions to a genre that recognizes and remembers those that are exceptional...you know that there have been thousands of martial artist over the past 40 yrs...hundreds have been good...but only few have been great...Fred fits into the last catagory...be well...Bill Beason
To tell you the truth...I don't even think Fred Miller even knew who I was...other than that kid from Bennett's Dojo that was a challenge for his best students...Darren Lloyd and Franklin Puello...Whether he knew me...of me... or was clueless of me...I knew, and respected...and admired Fred Miller.
He was cut from the same fabric that so many of the early 1970s great NY area martial artists came from...In my time, I saw the greats... Sheldon Wilkins, William Oliver, Ron Henderson, Ron Brown, Rupert O'Brien, Errol Bennett, Philip Macrae, George Aschkar, Tayari Casel...Mutakibir...Each who stood out for something special...a uniqueness that was theirs and theirs alone...
Sheldon...gentlemenliness, while he made opponents miss time after time then he would score...Oliver...his feet, his timing his punches...the complete package...Ron Henderson...his impeccable timing and real creator of the blitz!...Ron Brown...the ability to hit and not be hit...Rupert...possesed the reverse punch that all these men dreaded...Bennett???it didn't matter what he used...it consumed his opponent! Left side...right side...perfect balance of technique...Phil...the lightest of the big men...but as strong as the rest...Aschar...lighting fast hands and tremendous kime...Casel...Mongoose like reflexes, Abdul Mutakibir...Grace, and Strength...a deadly cobination...
But Fred Miller...always made me pause...and i would like you all to pause now...for a moment and think of one memory of Fred Miller...
perhaps you thought of his tattered gi...or his tattered obi...maybe you remembered his droopy eyes that made people think he was tired...maybe you thought of him in the corner of the gym sweating as performed spinning kick after spinning kick after spinning kick each as fast as the other...with his KIA which was all his own...can you hear it?
maybe you remember him luring an unsuspecting opponent into a handshake...but all the they got was a front kick in the stomach instead for their trouble...
he was not a brawler...he was a technician...each move was purposeful...unwasted effort.
maybe you see his catstance...and curled up fists on guard...looking awkward to some...but proving to be dynamic to all!
maybe you see him performing Kata...one which he no doubt practiced thousands of times...
maybe you remember seeing him... standing victorious...accepting his awards...Kata Grand Champion...Kumite Grand Champion...
no doubt...we have seen Fred Miller in all aspects of physical nature of martial arts...but then have come to realize sometime after that...that he had influenced you in some manner...without even saying a word...
thats how i feel about Fred Miller, I don't think that he ever said a complete sentence to me that i can recall, but i know that i have learned so much from just looking at him...and that what he did...and who he fought and those he taught contributed in some way to who i became.
If you saw Fred...whether you realize it or not...he is kind of responsible, perhaps in a very small way or in a very large way...who you are...because if you remember Him...you learned from him...
Thank you Fred Miller / sleep well...you were the Cat that Roared!
My deepest respect and condolences...
Bill Beason
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