Certification

[Sens55]

Quick question: How important is it for a school to be affiliated?

 

The reason I ask has to do with my training. I am studying under a 6th Degree Blackbelt in Moo Duk Kwan. Not Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan, but Moo Duk Kwan. I know he's legit because I witnessed him being given his 6th degree. It was brought over from the Korean MDK group when the Korean National Demonstration Team was in town (not the Tigers but basically the same).

 

That, apparently, is part of the problem. He had always been affiliated with the Korean MDK group. But, apparently after Hwang Kee passed there has been some turmoil there and they don't want to deal directly with independent U.S. schools. He's looked into dealing with the U.S. MDK group, but they want have him get "recertified" by a 2nd Degree somewhere here in the Midwest, charge him a large sum and then dictate what he can or can't teach. He doesn't want to do that, so he's looked inot other affiliations, but, for now, we're unaffiliated.

 

Now, as far as my training goes, I'm happy. I know he's got a lot to teach and he's willing to do that. I don't plan on changing, I'm just curious to know if there are any "legitimacy" issues I may have to face later when I finally (after sooooo many years) get my blackbelt.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Martial_Artist]

Legitimacy issues? What's that? Either you know your stuff at a blackbelt level or you don't. A rank or certificate isn't going to fight your fights. You are. Affiliation, legitimacy, certification, mean nothing if what you're learning is real.

[SandanPJ]

It won't really matter until you wish to open a school or wish to train under a legit master. Then on the other hand if you know your stuff, then that will show....One way or another you can be a certified blackbelt...

[Stoppy]

We have very similar problems in the UK. The olympic commitee only recognises one governing body. But this body does not hold the most numerical members. A similar problem occured when a fourth dan, recently made comments on the validity of my masters cirtification and authenticity. I have been training with him from day one and due to fighting requirements and missing gradings im still only a 3rd dan after 18 years of training, but I have seen with my eyes the Master take exams with highly respected Korean Masters and so on and so fourth. To cut it all short we practice the codes instilled into us from day one.

 

Ettiquette, Modesty, Perserverence, Self Control & Indomitable Spirit.

 

When following these, its difficult to reposte' such claims, but peices of paper dont seem to be worth the hundreds of pounds (euros?) they cost.

 

In the end a belt is there to hold up your trousers. Respect the person not the belt colour. We all have to earn respect

 

Black belts earn respect from white belts and vice versa ..

 

Stoppy

[karate_woman]

I don't think it matters. As for legitimacy, you'd probably be checked out by any new instructor anyway; they wouldn't just take your word on it that you were a black belt. When you do a bit of training with them your skills will speak for themselves. If they try to pull a fast one like it sounds one organization is trying to do to your instructor (having a lower rank recertify a higher rank even for $0 - which wasn't the case, - makes you wonder), you'd be better off walking away from such a place.

 

As for opening your own dojang in the future, if he hasn't found a new affiliation by then you can probably just affiliate with your instructor and leave it at that. Unless I've missed something, his own certification is legit, even if he's no longer affiliated.

[Sens55]

Thanks guys. That's what I thought. I don't place a lot of stock in a certificate, belt or anything else. I trust my instructor and what he is teaching and plan on sticking around. I have never cared one iota for the politics of it all, and as such I am ignorant of that aspect. I just wanted to make sure that my ignorance didn't have unknown surprises down the road. I would still stay with my Master, but if there were issues, I'd be prepared.

 

Thanks again for the input. I truly love this board.

[tsdstud]

I don't know about legitimacy and all but I feel lucky to have it the way I do. I know my instructor and the whole hierarchy from him up to Hwan Kee. and I do like how they set forth rules on what to teach, it keeps everything uniform. But that's just me

[ZR440]

It's a common problem within the Korean systems that just seems to get worse. But, as long you are happy in your training who cares what the other organizations think.

[sk0t]

I agree with Martial_Artist. You either know your stuff or you dont.

 

Legitimacy issues should only concern you if you feel you are losing something because you are not affiliated with someone. If you are looking for the satisfaction of knowing that your instructor runs with a bigger crowd then I think you should start playing Little League or something.

 

The martial arts isnt about system legitimacy it is about training legit...