Written by Steven Oliver - one of the most successful school owners in the world

Mixed Up Martial Arts
>
> I just returned from Washington, DC. While there I attended
> a NASKA World Tour tournament (The U.S. Capital Classics)
> met with about 25 school owners representing around 5,000
> students, and then met several times with my instructor
> Grand Master Jhoon Rhee.
>
> Meeting with Jhoon Rhee and my other events during my quick
> trip reminds me of several important aspects of martial arts
> instruction in 2009 and beyond.
>
> One of my favorite Jhoon Rhee quotes is "Martial Arts without
> Philosophy is Just Street Fighting." Now, he's obviously a visionary
> and at times out of sync with where things exist currently in the
> martial arts community due to focusing on where how he sees
> the future unfolding.
>
> We discussed his development of Musical Forms (Martial Ballet.)
> He explained that in the 1960's he foresaw that martial arts "fighting"
> would no longer be necessary in the future but rather to preserve
> martial arts the "art" must be preserved over the "martial." He then
> explained that his concept was 100% congruent with our American
> Founding fathers and with the true purpose of human evolution.
> Quickly as he saw my skepticism he pulled out a manuscript of
> his soon to be published biography and pointed out this quote:
>
> "I must study politics and war, that my sons may have the
> liberty to study mathematics and philosophy, natural history
> and naval architecture, in order to give their children a
> right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, tapestry,
> and porcelain."
>
> John Adams quotes (American 2nd US President (1797-1801), 1735-1826)
>
> Now, that's really interesting.
>
> To me it seems that in the 1970's and 1980's most martial arts
> instructors had come around to Grand Master Rhee's way of thinking.
> We practiced the "DO" arts to facilitate personal development.
> The movie "The Karate Kid" shared principles and values that were
> clear about developing discipline and confidence and avoiding
> violence.
>
> To my great disappointment it seems that many practitioners and
> instructors have lost sight of what Grand Master Rhee keeps clearly
> in focus. Martial Arts Practice today for the vast majority should be
> purely about personal development. Clearly our armed forces and
> police need effective fighting technique, but frankly that's more often
> about modern weapons not about unarmed combat (hopefully.)
>
> And, if you don't want to take Jhoon Rhee's word for it (or
> even John Adams) how about another kick-boxing and point-fighting
> legend Joe Lewis? He's perhaps the ultimate "old-school" tough guy
> still training students throughout the world. What's he have to say?
>
> In one aspect of what is called "martial arts," the MMA stuff, many
> black belts come across as heavily tattooed, cartoon looking hoodlums,
> who respect violence and feel free to curse and to exercise degradation
> against others on national TV.  The media has gone from completely
> ignoring us in the early sixties to seemingly only granting visibility to
> those who believe that it's in vogue to condone violence, and/or that it
> is
> okay to send kids the message that adults accept the use of violence as
> a means to resolve problems.  This is not the message that parents in
> martial arts wish to have their kids taught to value or with which to have
> them exposed.  Just as "Pro Wrestling" is not real wrestling, in a way,
> perhaps MMA is not real martial arts.
>
> Violence by definition is a "loss of self-control."  Martial arts teaches
> self-control; therefore martial arts is not violent-people are.  Guns
> (for the gun control freaks) do not kill others-bullets do.
>
> We need to wake up-black belts are leaving the martial arts in droves.
> We need to revalidate and grant dignity to the meaning of the old
> definition
> of what is a black belt.  Either it does not mean anything any longer (in
> this
> fanatical M.A. marketing atmosphere) or it has become the finish line
> which determines at what point in ones journey does he call it quits.
> SAD!
>
> Joe Lewis
>
> It's vital to recognize that Martial Arts Training is always about
> developing high quality physical skills. It's about fitness and
> self-defense.
> However, those mostly arise from the mental and emotional development
> that goes with rigorous practice of martial arts.
>
> And, to add another point that Joe Lewis makes. The first, second, or
> third
> degree Black Belt must be a starting point for personal development. Just
> as a high school diploma should be a start to one's learning through life.
> For a beginning student achieving Black Belt is an appropriate early
> "bench-mark" to beginning quality personal development for life. It's
> not an end in itself.
>
> Quality schools will (and, do) constantly expand and enhance the
> definition of what a Black Belt (and, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Degree Black Belt) is
> and must attain. Marketing for Martial Arts schools should be about
> attracting quality students - never about watering down the achievement
> and recognition of students and never about lowering standards of
> excellence.
>
> Stephen Oliver, MBA
> 8th Degree Black Belt