Sad news.
His writings were some of the first I read when my interest in Judo started, while a schoolboy. He wrote ocaisionally for the small Judo magazine, the first martial arts publication in the UK. His book Complete Guide to Judo was a big influence, and from then on I was hooked by his writing style. Later, with Donn Draeger, he wrote Asian Fighting Arts. Back then, decades before the internet, there was no advance notification of forthcoming books. I remember going into Foyles bookstore on trip to London, and finding the newly published Asian Fighting Arts. I read and re-read it avidly.
I long suspected that "John F. Gilbey, author of Secret Fighting Arts of the World, was, in fact, Smith; and had this confirmed when I finally got to meet him. As a book reviewer he visited the massive Haye-on-Wye festival, and while in the UK, too ythe time to pop up to Livery pleasant dinner [in Chinatowne of us had a very pleasant dinner [in Chinatown of course] and Bob very kindly autographed a couple of books for me.... so my copy of Secret Fighting Arts is autographed by "Gilbey" himself.
Robert W Smith was a great influence on the developement of firstly Judo, then Chinese Internal Systems in America. Through his books he introduced thousands of us to unsung masters and arcane methods. Smith and Draeger, two great writing partners, are now re-united in Valhalla.
Subject: Robert Smith 
Sat 02 Jul 2011, 18:07
