I want to get started, need some guidance

[JusticeZero]

What was it that was so "dodgy" about me or my class?

10th degree black in "my own art" often - not always, but the majority of the time - signals a highly ego-filled teacher with questionable qualifications who feels that that combination of factors will look better than anything else to the layperson, plus, being in their "own art" with no other ties means that there is no-one to measure against and no possible quality control (which is a major reason why someone might create "their own art" in practice..)

[kunyongdo]

JusticeZero...You are correct, in that there are a lot of people running around with "self proclaimed 10th dans", and a lot of them are in it for the money or "fame" or whatever comes with it. But, I didn't create my own system to be famous or get peoples money. I have worked for over 10 years putting my system together. I created it because after 25 plus years of studying various arts, I have realized that the systems I was practicing had to many gaps, so I poured my families knowledge into one customized art. Which is what a lot of great traditional masters of the past and present have done. Just because you have never heard of my style or me, doesn't mean that its not valid. And what exactly makes a style valid anyhow? Do you really think being recognized by a federation or a so called governing body makes you a better teacher or makes your style more valid? I think not. There are plently of "qualified" instructors that got rank from the WTF, ITF or JKA, or some other so called "governing body", that can't teach or fight worth a damn.

There is really nothing new about what I (or any other person claiming to be a founder) am doing. How do you think the traditional styles of the past have come to be? They all started from someone with a martial arts background (and that varies from person to person) and a dash of creativity. Don't be so harsh to judge. I'm not asking for you to acknowledge my art, it's up to people to make their own choices and go from there.

[kunyongdo]

Here is an interesting article that I read awhile back regarding this very issue. Enjoy.

http://www.ndcma.com/Page8.html

[Sam]

Kunyongdo - i dont think JusticeZero was saying that you were less valid because of founding oyur own style, neither was he callign you a fraud.... he was just mentioning that going to a class where the instructor is self promoted to 10th degree in their own art, you should look at the class for the quality of it - not the qualifications of the instructor, and look for similarity in ability between similar grades.... i think he was just saying be weary rather than actually insulting anyone.

[kunyongdo]

I understand that, but thats not how I received his message.

It's just I hear this type of thing being said a lot by traditionalists (I'm not saying that he is one, because I don't know him), and if they just did some research they'd understand that when the art they practice first started out, it started out much in the same way that my family created Kun Yong Do.

New students should be weary when approaching any class, weither the instructor is a 1st Dan or a 10th Dan in my opinion. Belts do nothing, other than hold up your pants. You can't always judge an instructor by his "rank", because as I stated earlier, I've seen 5th and 7th Dans that are horrible teachers and cannot do half of the techniques that they teach.

Everyone is entitiled to their own ideas and theories I guess. Take care.

[Sam]

I agree - i was just saying there was no need to jump to conclusion or anything at al.... either way it doesnt matter now...

[Lonesome]

Sorry kunyongdo, offending you was not my intention. I guess I am just a little wary of that kind of stuff after some other situations that I've seen. And the "Lifetime Membership" certificate made me question it. Anymore, it just seems like you don't see many new arts, but instead new schools teaching the old arts. I understand that everyone has to start somewhere though, and I agree that we cannot judge until we see. I am unable to do so this summer, but I may check the class out in the future, because it seems like it is offered every summer. Good luck with the class and the art.