Recently a dear friend brought a student to me, from another school, here in my area – a very well known school I might add – to train in my humble little training hall. The young man was approximately 8, and had received his "black belt." Proceeding on the word of my friend, I asked the young man to show me a kata. He did not know any, save some made-up non-sense in the "so-called" karate school.
I asked how long has he been doing "karate," and the answer was, three years. My basic math serving me right, he had to be 5 years old, to have started. Knowing my friend, I though may be he is joking with me, and having some fun at my expense. After all, I had been known to play some pranks upon my dear friends, from time to time.
But you see, "Karate" not "kara-dee" as pronounced here in the Southern California, and one might say USA culture, is a serious endeavor for me. There has to be some value to being a "black belt" beyond physical ability. The maturity and seasoning that it requires is way beyond an eight year old.
"No you don't understand!" said the young man, I have my little dragon black belt. WHAT THE....Excuse me, what in the heavens is that. I have junior black belts, and I can appreciate a young person in the ages of 10-16 having practiced 5-6 years, receiving a Junior Black Belt, for effort and physical expertise. I do put limit as to who I give it to, and there's a strict requirement, that must be met.
But to learn 2-3 kicks, and 2-3 punches, 3-4 stances and not really being to even deliver them correctly, does not a black belt make. There is a standard that needs to be considered. "Oh! but he has so much fun," and "it has helped him a lot," are not the answers folks!
Let me put it to you this way. I have a friend name Joshua Carter, he is by far, one of the best personal trainers I know. He loves his craft, and he is knowledgeable, he is a personal training black belt. He is around 40 something years old, and he is as hard-working as they come. In short, he knows his craft.
My son Ashkon, at 12 is very fit, and within a few months of training with Joshua Carter, could really become even stronger, and faster. Now that doesn't make Ashkon, a certified personal trainer.
I asked how long has he been doing "karate," and the answer was, three years. My basic math serving me right, he had to be 5 years old, to have started. Knowing my friend, I though may be he is joking with me, and having some fun at my expense. After all, I had been known to play some pranks upon my dear friends, from time to time.
But you see, "Karate" not "kara-dee" as pronounced here in the Southern California, and one might say USA culture, is a serious endeavor for me. There has to be some value to being a "black belt" beyond physical ability. The maturity and seasoning that it requires is way beyond an eight year old.
"No you don't understand!" said the young man, I have my little dragon black belt. WHAT THE....Excuse me, what in the heavens is that. I have junior black belts, and I can appreciate a young person in the ages of 10-16 having practiced 5-6 years, receiving a Junior Black Belt, for effort and physical expertise. I do put limit as to who I give it to, and there's a strict requirement, that must be met.
But to learn 2-3 kicks, and 2-3 punches, 3-4 stances and not really being to even deliver them correctly, does not a black belt make. There is a standard that needs to be considered. "Oh! but he has so much fun," and "it has helped him a lot," are not the answers folks!
Let me put it to you this way. I have a friend name Joshua Carter, he is by far, one of the best personal trainers I know. He loves his craft, and he is knowledgeable, he is a personal training black belt. He is around 40 something years old, and he is as hard-working as they come. In short, he knows his craft.
My son Ashkon, at 12 is very fit, and within a few months of training with Joshua Carter, could really become even stronger, and faster. Now that doesn't make Ashkon, a certified personal trainer.
What amazes me the most, are few things:
- How could anyone, sell the concept of black belt for 6-8 year old, and call themselves a martial artist, or a martial arts teacher.
- How could anyone, buy the concept that their child is a "black belt," at that age.
- How could a school call themselves Karate Center, when they don't even teach Karate. I looked it up, they teach Wing-chun (kung-fu, and I bet they are bad at that too), Kali (Filipino stick fighting), Hapkido (Korean mix of Tae Kwon Do and Aikido), and few other "Arts" to spice up their curriculum.
The student, will grow up, and if they ever go to a real karate school, they are going to find out how little they know. Their diploma is no good anywhere, save the four walls that they got it in. Their so-called master, is a master businessman, and not a martial artist, and their teachers are trained to "sell" and not "teach."
Sad and pathetic, isn't it! To pay all that money, to spend all that time, energy and talent, to receive a useless piece of paper and a belt, declaring something one is not.
I told the young man, that he had to start practically from the beginning. But, that I will help him move a little faster up the ranks, up until a point. He left, upset and disappointed, never to return. Wasting four years of their life, to MAC-KARATE/MAC-DOJO.
What surprised me, is how close they young man's family lived from me, they knew of me, and knew me well enough. But, chose the "fancy school." Why, I don't know. May be his friends go there. Maybe they have colorful uniforms, may be they do backflips, and gymnastics. Whatsoever those reason have to do with an intelligent decision about your time, money and value, is beyond me.
I am not trying to beat my own drum. Train with me, or don't, but at least, go train with a legitimate instructor, whatever the art. It does not have to be me. Remember:
- Karate is Japanese, if they don't teach Japanese karate, it is not KARATE!
- If they don't teach 7-8 traditional katas/forms before black belt, YOU ARE NOT A BLACK BELT!
- If they don't take you to an outside tournament, they are not worth their salt.
- If you say OOS/OOOS/OUS and don't know the darn meaning, or they say it means yes! or something like that, they are not informed.
- As a general rule, karate is taught in four major system Shotokan (what I teach), Shito-ryu, Goju-Ryu and Wado-ryu. Minor styles exist, but not as wide-spread as the four above.
- If you are not learning any of the four styles above, you are most likely not learning karate.
Here is what IS Karate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBP8-6DtBBs
Notice the difference in pointless yelling, low, useless stances and hand gestures, in the former, and outstanding balance and transition and crisp movement in the latter.
Seek the best, not the busiest. Seek the most knowledgeable, not the fanciest. Seek the most humble, not the richest. See the WAY! Not the destination.
Best Regards.
Notice the difference in pointless yelling, low, useless stances and hand gestures, in the former, and outstanding balance and transition and crisp movement in the latter.
Seek the best, not the busiest. Seek the most knowledgeable, not the fanciest. Seek the most humble, not the richest. See the WAY! Not the destination.
Best Regards.
Bruce Hojati
The parents spend $8,000-12,000 dollars over 4-5 years, and they get what turns out to be a diploma, not worth the paper it is written on. The confidence they think their child built, is a façade. The technique is a sham, and the value is nothing. One may consider the value of baby-sitting service, but that is one expensive baby-sitter.
ReplyDeleteExcellently Stated sensei.