Accreditation???? But why?

[Mike NSW]

Why do martial art Instructors need accreditations from 3rd party organisations that claim to be the "governing body of martial arts" ?

[Yarinage Sensei]

I concur with you whole-heartedly, Sensei Hewett

Time is the truest test of credibility.

You are 100% correct, in my opinion, that the spirit of the instructor and students when training regardless of the location is really the basis of the "DO". Nothing magical about a specific building. I've learned many a technique in some rather unique places.

Students (and Instructors) need to realize that accreditation in and of itself does not 'nullify' nor does it 'enhance' what you've learned. Only your mindset of the topic limits your potential.

Great consumer alert though. Many people would fall for that. Kinda reminds me of all the great masters produced by that one single add in all the comic books back in the '60s. Us old guys remember that one. I met a few of those proponents later in the '70s. They'd have been better off spending their money elsewhere. I wasn't really able to have an intelligent dialogue with one of those "masters".

There are many good organizations out there in the world. The internet is an awesome tool.

Students, network with your instructors and get involved with various tournament circuits and organizations. Accreditation, really comes from professional and peer acceptance. Garage Door Dojo training is great! I've known many a Garage Door Dojo Ryu stylists that walked the walk, to talk the talk at local and state tournaments. Not a bad investment.

The "Do" of the arts is the development of character, not the stroking of the ego. (My extreme analogy) Accreditation comes when the tournament director compliments you for your outstanding attitude in performance. After that, it's your consistency in being there and becoming a part of a whole.

The nice thing about Garage Door Dojo Ryu is the low overhead! Thank the Creator for simplicity.

Big Hooah to you Sensei!! AIR CAV!!!!

[Mike NSW]

So would it be 'fair' to say that whether your accredited or not, each has it's advantages and disadvantages.................?

[April]

I believe that instructors should have accountability. How does a new or prospective student who knows nothing about martial arts know whether the school they are considering is taught by someone who is who they say they are, or has the expertise they claim to have? There should be some way for students to check references, in a manner of speaking.

I tell people looking for a martial arts school to pay attention to the instructor's connections. Are there photos of him or her with others of rank? Are there other people with rank who will say, yes, this individual has the rank s/he claims to have. The nice thing about belonging to an accredited organization (large, has history and roots, can prove the rank of its members) is that there are dozens of people (or more) who will say, "Yes, I know this person." There is also a downside to being part of a large organization, but I don't want to get into that right here and now.

Basically, it's too easy to fake rank, and I've seen too many cases of self-proclaimed instructors setting up their own school. Their students suffer for it because they aren't getting what they are paying for. But there are plenty of ways we as consumers can get cheated, which is why government gets involved sometimes. I don't believe the government should get involved in deciding who can teach martial arts, so maybe the answer is simply to try to put the word out to prospective students: check an instructor's references before signing up.

[john wagner]

this subject is a deep one. instructores should not only have accountability for what they teach. but for what is done with it. example if the student mis uses it. or they are not able to defend themselves

[James M. Gray]

April

You are right and their are movie stars that claim also. Van Dam never received the black belt he claimed to have.Nor the championship.

[James M. Gray]

Eric

I am suppose to train with Kimo Wall, Troy Price and two others today. I feel like rank in martial arts is just like a road sign telling you how far you have gone down the road to your journey. If they say that they are a higher grade and you see where they are on the road you know that they are not close to the destination they think they are going. I found out a long time ago that "it is all on us". The journey we have cannot be compared with someone else. They have chosen their destiny.

[Eric Eubanks]

True, but as a Martial Arts Society we all suffer from the actions of those who miss represent who and what they are. For instance, every time I talk to prospective students about taking classes with me in the art of Shuri-Ryu the first response is usually something like this, "Oh, that's what that guy teaches that raped one of his students. How long did you study with him before you left?" Then when they see that my students perform nothing like his students do they just assume that since they learned his methods first that what I teach must be wrong in some way. My instructor has the honest rank of 9th Dan in Shuri/Shorei Ryu and I have just turned in my research paper as the last part of my hopeful promotion to 5th Dan. Until I changed to teaching Shorei-Ryu I lost many prospective students due to the other teacher's bad reputation.
It is important to remember that we all, regardless of style or association, are members of and represent the martial arts world at large not just ourselves. I have several private students that have trained with other teachers in the area that come from many different backgrounds from Aikido to Zeigler-Ryu. I find that every time I take on a student from another school I am always compared to their previous instructors whether good or bad. I take extra time and effort to make sure that what I teach is legit and that if I do not know something I am honest about it. In that way if my student's life path takes them to other teachers they have a good foundation in the basics and transition well to any other style they choose. Those who are less than honest or who makeup false information not only dishonor their students but also the whole Martial Arts Community at large.

[James M. Gray]

Eric

You are right we are all under the micro scope. We have to be extra carefull about everything we do. The only thing we have is our name and it is up to us to keep it clean.

[James M. Gray]

Eric

You are right we are all under the micro scope. We have to be extra carefull about everything we do. The only thing we have is our name and it is up to us to keep it clean.

[James M. Gray]

Eric

You are right we are all under the micro scope. We have to be extra carefull about everything we do. The only thing we have is our name and it is up to us to keep it clean.