Category: Rank

Beware The Martial Arts Police

10/17/2020

Author: Bret Gordon

The cancel culture we see permeating the country right now, with corporations rushing to tell the world how "woke" they are while demanding the removal of anything deemed offensive, has infiltrated the martial arts. In the midst of COVID-19, we cannot lose sight of the real pandemic that has been plaguing our community since the dawn of the internet: the Martial Arts Police. We are all too familiar with the self-righteous individuals who spend their days behind the keyboard telling others what they believe is right and wrong. While the garden variety troll can be found commenting on various videos with such intellectual analyses as "tHaT wOuLd NeVeR wOrK iN tHe StR33Tz," select individuals appoint themselves to a higher level of authority, imposing their will across the entirety of their echo chamber and violently harassing those who do not submit to their demands. Ironic, since most of their targets are those who promote themselves to a position they feel is unwarranted or unjustified...

The simple truth is that while there are some generally accepted norms, there is not a single universal standard regarding anything in the martial arts. The standards, rules and regulations are established by the founder/headmaster and/or governing body of the individual style that is being taught. Their word is law, and they are the only ones with the authority to impose any sort of regulation on the members of that system/organization. Many popular styles are no longer centralized, with numerous organizations imposing their own rules and regulations upon their members that may or may not align with other branches of the same art. This is why rank, title and license are absolutely meaningless outside of the context they were awarded in... And why it's so confusing to me that there are people who actually spend their time trying to regulate and condemn others that do not fit into the confines of their understanding that they otherwise have no affiliation to.

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What Is A Diploma Mill?

8/20/2020

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Author: Bret Gordon

After our recent announcement that the US Association of Martial Arts will no longer be offering certification services to our members (click here), our detractors have tried to spin this as an admission that the USAMA was a diploma mill and now we have seen the error of our ways. This could not be farther from the truth, but it does bring up a rather interesting discussion that I'd like to expand upon.

Unfortunately, like the term "fraud," the concept of a diploma mill gets thrown around the martial arts community so often that it has lost all meaning. It is most often used to describe a school or organization that doesn't live up to the standards of the accuser. What the accuser doesn't take into account is that quality is subjective, and there are absolutely different levels to this. A degree from Harvard is worth more than one from your local community college. Both are still valid.

In contrast, a diploma or rank mill merely sells rank with bare minimum requirements (often simply a successful payment). They offer meaningless pieces of paper in exchange for a fee without any consideration. While I will admit there are plenty of schools who issue ranks merely based on attendance, I still wouldn't call them diploma mills. Just because they do not live up to my standards does not mean they are fake or fraudulent. Everyone's training goals are different, and we need to take that into account when judging others. Where it becomes a problem is when the issuing authority, whether that's the instructor or an organization, is dishonest about what is being offered such as saying you teach self defense but it's really cardio kickboxing, or an organization recognizing a rank/title you already hold but you present it as the source of your credentials. An organization acknowledging and recognizing something that has already been legitimately earned is not the same as an organization selling you a piece of paper no questions asked.

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What Is A Martial Arts Fraud?

8/13/2020

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Author: Bret Gordon

The most insulting thing you can say to a martial artist is that they are a fraud. It's right up there with being a pedophile, rapist or other vile criminal. Where martial artists pride themselves on upholding the virtues of honor, integrity and respect, the accusation that one is a liar, a conman or otherwise dishonorable is a blow that many never recover from. Unfortunately, the words "fraud" and "fake" get thrown around way too much in the martial arts community, almost to the point where they don't mean anything other than the accused belongs to a different group than the accuser. When we break it down, the actual definition of a fraud is:

So we can see very clearly what a fraud is and isn't. A fraud is someone trying to deceive others. Therefore, everyone who throws around the word "fraud" simply because the other person does not meet their standards, either in their skillsets or in their affiliations, is simply wrong. There is a difference between being a low-quality martial artist and being a fraud and since quality is subjective to begin with, everyone is entitled to their opinion. But let's explore this world of fraudulent martial artists even further, shall we?

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Licensed In Kodokan Judo

8/11/2020

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Author: Bret Gordon

As part of the never-ending charade of BSMA, one of the common lies spread about my teacher, Steven Hatfield, in the recent months is that he "admitted to lying about his Judo rank" and he misrepresented his affiliation to the Kodokan Judo Institute. All of this started when an error was made by someone else entirely when promoting a seminar Hatfield sensei was teaching at their school. In the promotion, this gentleman claimed that Hatfield sensei was a 7th Dan ranked by Kodokan itself. However, this was never something my teacher ever said or claimed. When Hatfield sensei first started teaching Judo at his school, he posted the following:

Clearly he listed himself as 5th Dan, a rank awarded to him by "Papasan" Jack Stern (more on that later). So we can immediately throw out the lie that he fraudulently claimed a 7th Dan. Now we come to the matter of claiming to be ranked by the Kodokan. This is another outright lie, at worst, and a misunderstanding at best. In the screenshot above, we see that Hatfield sensei is listing the art that he is licensed in as "Kodokan Judo" whose hombu dojo is in Tokyo, Japan. He is not saying that his rank comes from the Kodokan. Many judoka who wish to separate themselves from the sport often list their art as "Kodokan Judo" rather than simply judo, indicating they teach the complete art as it is traditionally carried on in Japan rather than as a sport as commonly perpetuated by the national governing bodies (USA Judo, USJA and USJF).

Now, could the way it is listed at the top be misunderstood? Clearly, or we wouldn't have had any issues in the first place. That is why Hatfield sensei agreed to change it to what we see above. But that is not admitting he lied, as his detractors like to tout, but rather clarifying the information to avoid future issues. Unfortunately, it has done anything but that...

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If Our Lineage Is False - A Shout Out To David Falcaro

5/10/2020

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Author: Bret Gordon

I need to give a quick shout out to David Falcaro, founder of Neji Gekken Ryu Sogobujutsu, for this wonderful video response a few years ago to the same trolls that are now plaguing me and my instructor with the same false accusations. To summarize, if the founder of our art never existed and we made all of this up, we must be the most amazing martial arts geniuses in history to have replicated such advanced material with no legitimate training or background. Thanks for the compliment!

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Spotlight: Otsuka Ryunosuke

5/8/2020

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Author: Bret Gordon

Occasionally, someone comes along and confirms everything you believe in. While there are countless historical examples of Asian martial artists reaching the highest level of their respective arts in record timeframes that would make the "time-in-grade" crowd start to seethe, I'll admit it's not as common for us wide eyes to do the same legitimately. However, when someone sets an undisputed precedent, in Japan no less, the results can't be ignored.

Born as Lösch Markus from Germany, Otsuka Ryunosuke moved to Japan in 2010 in search of classical martial arts. He met Otsuka Yoichiro of Hokushin Itto Ryu Hyoho, and quickly became a dedicated student and uchi-deshi. Just three years later, he was appointed Saiko Shihan (highest master) of the art. In July of 2014, Otsuka Ryunosuke earned Menkyo Kaiden (license of full transmission) from Yoichiro, who had since become the 6th Soke of the art. At that time is when he was taken on as an adopted son of Yoichiro and officially changed his name.

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The Purpose Of Certification

5/7/2020

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Author: Bret Gordon

One of the most misunderstood and abused customs of the martial arts is the issuance of various documents. Depending on the art or organization you belong to, it is easy to accumulate a stack of paper including rank certificates, licenses, titles and letters. In general, these are well-meaning and genuine symbols of acknowledgement from an issuing body to the recipient in recognition of meeting a certain standard. No one agrees on what that standard is. There are some commonly accepted norms, but there isn't a universal standard across all styles, systems and organizations. Anyone who tries to tell you there is, is flat out wrong... And that's ok! One of the most attractive things about the martial arts community as a whole is the diversity of the various arts, and truly being able to offer something for everyone, and meet everyone's needs and goals.

Now, with any type of "award" comes those who wish to abuse the system and acquire something they have not put the work in to earn. Unfortunately, this is something you'll never get rid of. There will always be people who circumvent the system, and that is just one reason why outside of the group they were issued in, they are meaningless. The truth is that certificates are only as valuable as the respect you have for the person signing it. The true measure of a martial artist is what they can do on the mat, and what they provide for their students and community. That being said, let's dive into what they actually are and represent.

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Forget Your Lineage - A Shout Out To Ryan Hoover

4/16/2020

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Author: Bret Gordon

I want to give a shout-out to Ryan Hoover from Fit to Fight® for one of the realist things that has ever been said in the martial arts community. In his video below, he sheds light on the unnecessary obsession with lineage and credentials that seems to permeate through the martial arts and is the source of countless internet trolls rushing to their keyboards to prove their piece of paper is more important than your piece of paper. The truth is that rank, titles or licenses never saved someone's life. The only thing that truly matters as a martial artist and instructor are your physical skills and knowledge, and your ability to impart that skill and knowledge to your students so they can protect themselves and their families. The rest is immaterial...

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The Myth Of Cross Certification

4/15/2020

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Author: Bret Gordon

As you progress as a martial artist, it is inevitable that your circle of affiliation will grow. You will develop a network of training partners and associates. You will grow strong bonds and friendships. You may even be asked to serve in an official capacity on the board of someone's organization. All of these are normal parts of being a martial artist, especially as the world continues to grow smaller thanks to high-speed internet.

Now as these connections grow, we begin to see another phenomenon: cross certification. What most people consider as cross certification is simply trading rank. Johnny has master rank in one style, Bobby has master rank in another style, and the two award each other black belt rank in their various styles to pad their resume. I think we can all agree this is simply bullshit. Rank itself serves only as recognition of one's progress according to the requirements of the system/organization, so receiving rank in something you have never studied is beyond pointless, not to mention outright fraudulent.

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Spotlight: Tanemura Shoto

4/11/2020

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Author: Bret Gordon

It is amazing what you can accomplish when you start young, meet the right people at the right time, and have an extraordinary level of dedication and personal drive, often going above and beyond what most believe to even be possible. Tanemura Shoto of Genbukan fame is one of the most well-known and respected martial artists of his time. To date, he has either fully inherited or been awarded Menkyo Kaiden (highest level attainable) in no less than 23 different martial arts styles and serves as the President of the Genbukan World Ninpo Bugei Renmei, Kokusai Jujutsu Renmei and the Nihon Kobudo World Federation. On behalf of the US Association of Martial Arts, I would like to extend an overdue congratulations to Tanemura sensei for setting the bar so high, and I hope one day to have half of his credentials.

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<<Previous

USAMA BLOG

Beware The Martial Arts Police

What Is A Diploma Mill?

What Is A Martial Arts Fraud?

Licensed In Kodokan Judo

If Our Lineage Is False - A Shout Out To David Falcaro

Spotlight: Otsuka Ryunosuke

The Purpose Of Certification

Forget Your Lineage - A Shout Out To Ryan Hoover

The Myth Of Cross Certification

Spotlight: Tanemura Shoto

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