Author: Bret Gordon
Especially here in the States, anyone can go to their local martial arts supply store (or online), pick up a black belt and open a martial arts school without any legal implications. Because martial arts instruction is not overseen by the government (thank God) and rank is so subjective, the government doesn't recognize this as fraud. Therefore, aside from a bad reputation and a painful lesson in humility, there are no repercussions for doing so. This leads to a large range of quality among martial arts schools and, more often than not, students of the lesser quality schools get a bad taste in their mouth and write off all martial arts for good.
In Japan, the government recognizes the Dai Nippon Butokukai and the Kokusai Budoin as governing bodies while in Korea, they oversee the Kukkiwon (Taekwondo only). While I am adamantly against a single governing body that oversee's all martial arts on behalf of state or national governments, I believe every instructor should be certified by some organization with a reputation for quality control.
In Japan, the government recognizes the Dai Nippon Butokukai and the Kokusai Budoin as governing bodies while in Korea, they oversee the Kukkiwon (Taekwondo only). While I am adamantly against a single governing body that oversee's all martial arts on behalf of state or national governments, I believe every instructor should be certified by some organization with a reputation for quality control.
