Spartacus Maximus

The actor is a British-Chinese from London. He has trained in karate, Hung gar Kung fu, gymnastics and predictably, Wushu. His biography and background info is easily found online.

As it is a movie or television programme meant to entertain audiences, it is more than likely a fictional choreography put together for that purpose. Something akin to modern Wushu adapted for the screen. Wu Tang is not a specific system and includes a variety of different schools. Just like there is not a single "shaolin" system. To get the first clue as to what he might be doing, read the series credits carefully to find the name of the action/fight choreographer and look up the person's background. A search on IMDB, the Internet movie database could have information.

They may not agree on the minor details but they should agree on the core if they are evaluating and grading other people within the same system. Otherwise there is no point in having a governing body of any kind. This is an all too common issue when evaluation is done by a national governing body such as in most European countries. In the end, the only judgement that truly matters is that of one's own teachers and the opinions of those one can trust.

Logic, pure and simple is the best way to determine what choice to make in this case. If the system one wishes to teach is so different from what one was originally taught and the differences make it distinct, it no longer makes sense to continue calling it by that name. The same reasoning applies if one quits a governing body to become independent, start a new GB or join another.

Martial arts movies have an entirely different appeal when one can understand and identify the difference between what looks good on film and how it might look in real life. A few years ago there was a documentary explaining from a martial artist point of view how to adapt techniques for the movies.

What does one practise and what does one want to pass on is the answer.

Probably Kuro Obi, aka ,Blackbelt. It is one of those rare movies where the actors are actually genuine martial artist. Both main actors are Dan grade holders with good skills. Although a specific style is not mentioned in the movie, one is trained in Goju-ryu and the other is in Shotokan. As a second choice not too far behind, all the karate themed movies starring Sonny Chiba from the mid 60s to 70s. Sonny China is trained as a stuntman as well as karate, possibly Kyokushinkai.

So scientific opinion seems to confirm that being evaluated by another person is always more accurate than any self-evaluation. This must also depend on the evaluator's impartiality, honesty and skills.

Serious injury, chronic pain or advanced age are all good and legitimate reasons to stop any kind of activity which might cause worse harm. However the question assumes that the person has no health problems. So, besides health or age issues, for what sort of reasons would someone refuse to teach or decide to quit teaching?

As a general rule of thumb for cotton karate/judo belts, the thicker and wider it is, the harder it is for it to keep a knot and the longer it takes for them to become supple enough not to come undone. Soaking it in lukewarm water for a while can help, but it might not be such a good idea if there is fancy embroidery work sewn in.

Passed a certain point in one's training is it really possible to accurately evaluate one's skills and progress or is there invariably a tendency to overestimate or underestimate oneself?

Cooking is also quite a bit of fun...and venison is delicious!

Isolation is something that comes from within the mind. Although it is a good opportunity to practise concentration and test one's mental endurance, going to a mountain or other such place is not necessary, nor is it the only way. A martial artist who is able to train with the highest level of concentration, dedication and focuss in spite of whatever noise or distractions around, can do it anywhere. Doing it surrounded by urban life noises and stress is probably more challenging than in a serene mountain environment with a gently gurgling stream or waterfall.

What reasons would likely be cause for refusing to instruct anyone or quit teaching despite being qualified to do it? Martial arts history includes several accounts of reknowned experts who, for a variety of reasons quit teaching or refused to take students for a time. The founder of Uechi-ryu, for example, quit teaching for many years after one of his students killed a neighbour.

Curiously, there are no karate dojo anywhere around offering the same system or a similar one despite being located in an area with a high density of martial arts representation. Shorin ryu in all its variations is probably the largest in Okinawa and has quite a large presence in several countries, too.

Well the way the school in Japan is structured is that the martial arts teaching is done by instructors who are recognized by their own governing body for the ryuha or system they teach. They may or may not also be qualified to teach an academic subject. In other words, the martial arts are everywhere and many but not all professors are involved in martial arts. Students graduate with a degree plus a grade in whatever martial art they have trained in for the duration of their programme. In the case of a basic 4 year undergraduate level it is X major plus a minimum of shodan in a martial art taught at the school. Bearing in mind that a student has scheduled training daily as well as in their free time as much as allowed. That's the best explanation without going into fine detail.

There is always a choice and making that choice is up to the individual. The results of those choices good or bad is nobody else's fault. To be influenced, one has to be open and receptive to that influence. Realizing and accepting this is the first and most important step towards being able to hold onto personal convictions; without blaming whomever or whatever is different for one's own lack of judgement. That is what the author/host of the video spectacularly fails to understand. There are countless martial artists with a huge variety of personal beliefs who have trained for their entire lives under instructors who held their own beliefs. Yet the majority of these did not "convert" and kept their own. Consider for example, the first generation of Western students of East Asian experts who trained on location in China, Okinawa and Japan. When one's personal beliefs or philosophy is firmly rooted, merely having an instructor who follows a different one will not be enough to change it. Especially if, as most people do, said instructor is very minimal and private on exposing such deeply personal thought. Even if the instructor is fairly open about it, as long as there is no preaching or other type of pressure to adopt whatever it is the instructor believes.

If sweating makes a cotton gi difficult to move in, it is more than likely due to being the wrong size or wrong fit. If all else fails, maybe a custom fit might be the best way to go. Different brands have different cuts, so trying to find a good fit takes more than one try. It is highly recommended to try before buying one if at all possible, and check that the full range of movement is un hindered. Also consider the cling factor of cotton when damp.

There are also two similar institutions in Japan, but these are supposedly fully accredited and recognized school with regular academic degree programmes. Students have the option of training full time in one or two martial arts in parallel to whatever academic field they choose. Basically it is like other college/universities except all the clubs, teams and other non-academics are martial arts related.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with integrating one's personal view with one's personal practise of martial arts. Nor is it condemnable to be open about doing this. What is unethical and reprehensible is using the martial arts(or anything else) as a tool to promote dogmatic thinking based on negative personal experiences. This is willfully using a false image for profit and/or self-promotion.

There are only a few "mainstream" or "common" Korean systems . The ref are either eclectic blends of these or offshoots. There is a very large number of these taught mostly in USA and founded by Korean experts who immigrated there, Korean Americans and their first generation students since the early to mid 70's

It seems that Willie Nelson trains in a Korean system. Perhaps Tang Soo Do.

Experts like him are invariably paradoxal people. Despite a lifetime of training to develop frightening skills, they are very modest and mild mannered. A few years ago there was a popular martial arts themed television programme where a couple of amateur martial artist travelled around the world sampling different systems. At the end they would have a friendly challenge sparring match with someone from that system. At the end of the Okinawa episode, both hosts were very disappointed because ALL the Okinawan experts very flatly, but politely rejected their request to spar.

The best general answer to this is: however long is necessary for the candidate to demonstrate what the instructor asks to see. Many dojo have a physical fitness part where candidates are tested for endurance with a predetermined number of push-ups, sit-ups or running. These almost always make up half or more of the time. Personally, experience includes both the 4 hour marathon type of test as well as the shorter one based on the demonstration of designated kata, pair and group application drills and breaking(boards, tiles, bats etc). Each candidate is finished in under 30 minutes.

Correct again. Everything he describes is just plain ordinary instruction by a somewhat eccentric instructor. All of this is then interpreted as "evidence" to support the author's own distorted views. Anybody who has been involved in martial arts training or teaching for long enough has some experiences with more or less eccentric types. However there is a wide gap between being eccentric and cultish. It is very easy to to see how people like the author of the film might liberally assign their own meaning to certain cultural aspect of martial arts taken out of their context. Usually this s done to further their own agenda, promote their view or out of sheer ignorance. Things like: bowing to instructors= a servant type relationship Having portraits on the wall= worshiping those depicted Grading ceremonies= rituals Use of unfamiliar foreign language terms= incantations, prayer