The legend of how the Black Skull System of Martial Arts was created is riddled with controversy and littered with vague references to super human beings who first practiced the Way of the Black Skull. Historians disagree on many aspects of the beginnings of the Black Skull System and the resulting secret society. Even within this writing the reader will detect apparent discrepancies with so-called established historical facts. However, the following account is thought to be the truest available today.
  
 
Many centuries ago, in the Northern Region of Tibet, where few humans reside even today, a Holy Lamaism Monk named Bhut Lhasa was leading his yak through the high,wind swept
 
 

mountainous passes of the Himalayas looking for a very rare and powerful herb to take back to the monastery. This herb only grew above the fifteen thousand-foot level and only at the base of mountain glaciers. The herb’s life span is dictated by the movement of the ice as it slips down the mountain, crushing everything in its path. But if found before it is destroyed by the ice, its pulp properly prepared, the herb is said to heal any wound instantly and when consumed as a tea each day, to extend a man’s life for many centuries. Brother Bhut Lhasa was a healer and it was his duty to gather and prepare the healing medicines for his order. He was also possibly the greatest warrior monk to ever live. No one could match his deadly fighting skills. Most of the techniques he is said to have mastered are now lost. For example, it is said he had mastered the legendary “Triangular Leap for Life.” Many so-called modern masters of the martial arts have died, or been rendered permanently paralyzed, attempting to learn this technique. It is also said that Brother Bhut Lhasa had also mastered the Nine Sacred Consummations. A feat which only three warriors in history have ever accomplished.

  
 
It is a known fact that the Yeti, commonly known as the Abominable Snowman, love to eat yaks. It is their favorite food source. During the middle ages the yeti population was thriving in the high Himalayans and the monks all knew to be very careful when walking their yaks. Unfortunately for Brother Bhut Lhasa’s yak that day, a particularly hungry and aggressive yeti sprang from ambush landing squarely on the yak’s back. Killing it instantly.Brother Bhut Lhasa was a sincere believer in the Way of Lamaism and did not believe in unnecessary violence or the sending of any soul to the
 
 

next plane of existence before its natural time to depart. Therefore, Brother Bhut Lhasa slowly backed away from the yeti with the intention of taking another path to harmony and to the mountain glacier. The yeti quickly consumed the yak and the yak’s pack, then looked with hungry eyes

towards Brother Bhut Lhasa. With a tremendous growl, threatening to shake loose the freshly fallen snow pack in the passes above, the yeti leaped nearly thirty feet through the air with the intent of breaking Brother Bhut Lhasa’s back as he had the yak’s back.Brother Bhut Lhasa employed the “Triangular Leap for Life” easily escaping the primitive attack and almost magically appearing to the rear of the yeti, but the yeti was fast and turned to face his opponent. The two stood as stone monoliths,watching for any
 
  weakness in the other. Slowly Brother Bhut Lhasa circled to the right to set the wind and Sun into the yeti’s eyes. Thus began the greatest hand-to-paw-combat battle ever recorded between Monk and Beast. For three days they were engaged at the fifteen thousand-foot elevation in the Northern Himalayan Mountains. During the battle over a thousand Giant Redwood Trees fell and there were sixteen known avalanches and numerous earthquakes-all attributed to the disturbances resulting from their battle. Historians disagree at this point. Some say Brother Bhut Lhasa broke his sacred vow never to use the Sixth Level Consummation Technique, known as the Digit Thrust and Claw, to end the stalemate. Others say Brother Bhut Lhasa only employed the Third Level Consummation Technique, known as the Torque and Regress Movement, which is only approved to use in extreme lethal circumstances, but could arguably be proper in this instance. In any case, the yeti’s fur, skin and muscle were instantly stripped to the bone and its head fell loose from its shoulders, rolling across the frozen tundra. The epic battle between Monk and Beast had ended.
Brother Bhut Lhasa stood on weakened legs looking down on the body and skull of his worthy opponent as darkness fell in the frigid apex of the world. Knowing he could die in his depleted condition, but still mindful of honoring the once great yeti he had defeated in battle, he collected the skull, wrapped it in his hand-spun cotton shirt, and placed it in his backpack. Bare chested, wounded and exhausted, Brother Bhut Lhasa limped and crawled, descending from the glacial Himalayan plateau, day and night, finally arriving at the monastery near nightfall on the sixth day.During this period, Genghis Khan swept across Asia on his mission of death and destruction towards the Middle East and encountered the Lamaise Monastery. Khan’s army immediately attacked the monastery and lay siege. Khan threatened to kill every living soul within its walls if the monks did not open the doors and surrender all their worldly goods and their freedom. It was exactly at this time that Brother Bhut Lhasa returned, himself near death, to find the monastery surrounded by the barbarian Khan Army.His deeply seated warrior mentality took charge of his depleted body, pushing out all thoughts of weakness or pain.He realized the grave danger his brother monks were facing and knew only he could save them.After dark Brother Bhut Lhasa crept into Genghis Khan’s camp until he was standing in the exact center. He saw that every soldier was dressed in full armor and carried all manner of edged weapons. He knew that even with his expert martial arts skills he would need some protection in the event a stray arrow or lance should find its way to him before he could dodge or block its trajectory. Searching his pack all he could find was the yeti skull. It was considerably larger than a human’s head so he slipped it on, using it as a helmet. No one can argue that Brother Bhut Lhasa must have presented a frightening figure that night, his muscular chest still covered with the dried blood of the yeti and wearing the skull as if it were his own head.
Brother Bhut Lhasa let loose his deadly kiai of combat, immediately drawing the entire army’s attention. The ensuing battle lasted until the sun crept over the mountain peaks surrounding the monastery and touched the blood soaked flatlands. By this time, the exhausted Lamanise Monk had single handedly pushed the Khan’s Army back through the pass that lead to the monastery. There came a brief lull in the fighting. Brother Bhut Lhasa assumed the Sword Defense Stance among the twisted bodies of the fallen Khan Warriors he had killed during the night and prepared himself for the final engagement.
Until this moment, the Khan’s Army had been fighting a dark shadow. With the coming of the crimson sunrise, they could clearly see Brother Bhut Lhasa’s scarlet-blood stained clothing and the yeti skull firmly protecting his head. Blood had soaked deeply into the skull and had became one with its molecules. When the energy from the sun touched the blood-soaked skull in the thin, frozen air and combined with the extraordinary internal power being generated by Brother Bhut Lhasa, the skull instantly turned black. Khan’s Army faced an apparition of death that could not die. An invincible warrior, challenging them to battle. Khan’s Army fled in uncontrolled terror through the pass. But Brother Bhut Lhasa would not allow Khan’s army to escape so easily. He emitted a terrible battle cry that loosened the snow in the passes, creating a huge avalanche crushing over half of the fleeing army. Only after Brother Bhut Lhasa was satisfied the Khan Army had been defeated did he allow his mortal body to fall dead from his wounds and exhaustion.
Khan’s Army never returned to the Lamaise Monastery, and never again molested any brother. To this day, when martial artists meet (not knowing for sure if the stranger is a Brother of the Black Skull, and not willing to offend him if he is) they bow holding one closed fist in the open palm of the other hand. Thus displaying that the Black Skull is protected by Brother Bhut Lhasa and his powerful force lives on today and surrounds all living things.
It is said the monastery still exists and the monks still practice the secret skills known only by them and a select few masters. In honor of Brother Bhut Lhasa’s sacrifice they changed the name of their order to The Black Skull Martial Arts Society. It is also said the blackened yeti skull sets in the main prayer hall of the monastery. The Black Skull is a reminder to the monks of the awesome power and responsibility of their secret martial arts skills.
The Black Skull is a constant challenge from the greatest warrior who ever lived-Brother Bhut Lhasa, who asks the question: When necessary will you face your death squarely and destroy evil without fear?
Are you man enough?