TMAs and belts; the path to doom

[Latecomer]

Originally Posted by JitsFever

Well, that was extremely depressing to read. I think if BJJ ever becomes a mockery like a lot of that TMA bs is, I'll probably hang myself. If I ever have someone stifle a chortle at me like I do to TMA guys when they tell me their 8 year son is a bb in such and such, I would be more than upset. Especially if I make it to Black and I know that it was legit but they can't see it and I get lumped in with the "newly watered down americanized bjj"

Never let someone stifle their own chortle, it's up to you to stifle it for them with a rear naked choke.

[lechien]

Originally Posted by Balto

Kyokushin is a very small percentage of all Karate schools, and as a Karate guy you know that too.

That is exactly the point. If you just say Karate, nobody thinks of Kyokushin because there is about a 99% chance it's not. You have to say Kyokushin specifically.

It's like having to say that you do Sparring BJJ, not Kata BJJ like almost every other BJJ school.

That is not cool.
I did not want to get drag into it.
But many old school karate are semi contact.
Well anyway.
In BJJ my requirements will be 6 months per stripes of regular attendance. After three stripes, you are considered for the next belt.
You get the belt after 2.5 years and deal with the consequences.

[Draiman]

Originally Posted by lechien

That is not cool.
I did not want to get drag into it.
But many old school karate are semi contact.
Well anyway.
In BJJ my requirements will be 6 months per stripes of regular attendance. After three stripes, you are considered for the next belt.
You get the belt after 2.5 years and deal with the consequences.

so you don't hand over blue belts under 2 years with regular attendance, even if the student is a regular competitor, winner or not? that's great, the skills will be too solid and worthy of the belt

[crazyjames1233]

imo the only martial arts that have any relevance in self defense are ones that frequently use sparring to test their moves use against a resisting opponent. Judo, wrestling, bjj, boxing, muy thai, etc. Some TMA's do this as well but many water sparring down too much (TKD is probably the worst offender in this case.)
It sounds like a real shame what happened to your Karate school. But i think that happened to a lot of TMA over the years as well which is why the first UFC's went down like they did.

[evansusmc2]

Anyone ever see the movie, The Foot Fist Way ?

Yep, that was pretty much an accurate portrayal of Karate, TKD etc etc in the 1970s - 1990s.

[Calibur]

Originally Posted by lechien

That is not cool.
I did not want to get drag into it.
But many old school karate are semi contact.
Well anyway.
In BJJ my requirements will be 6 months per stripes of regular attendance. After three stripes, you are considered for the next belt.
You get the belt after 2.5 years and deal with the consequences.

Wow. That sounds pretty terrible. Promotion at a set time frame without considering hours of training or just PURE ABILITY.

The stupid assumption that everyone will progress at the same pace. Some people won't have to work hard to get to brown belt. Some people will have to toil at blue for half a decade because for some reason, they're just not getting it. Now you could say that not getting better within 5 years means the student needs assistance, but I say a teacher who promotes off time cards can't offer much assistance anyway.

Doesn't matter I guess. Paying customers don't like the concept of "you'll get the belt when you get the belt" or "you're just not good enough". They love the idea of curriculums, time frames, belt tests and being able to tell people they are ranked in BJJ while theyre watching the UFC with their church group at Wings & Things.

So substitute the word terrible for profitable. prepare to deal with the consequence of having the weekend warriors want the purple belt because the college student who started after them just got one too.

*SIGNED*

Another jaded BJJ guy who watched his original traditional karate school turn to shit to market to the masses.

[soda_popinski]

BJJ may head down this path but hopefully we can stay more like wrestling and Judo. The things we have going for us: sparring is a huge part of our curriculum as is competition and we have the internet, which TKD, Karate, etc didnt have the 80s when Karate Kid came out. TKD cant really start allowing sparring or parents might not be sending little johnny there any more.

I mean if one guys tries funny stuff in the BJJ community its all over him (though for some reason people on here stick up for them). TKD doesnt have that, otherwise about 99% of their schools would be closing down. When 5 year olds get black belts for remembering a series of dance steps, there is something seriously wrong. I refuse to even tell people I do a martial art. I tell them I train UFC or MMA or cage fighting because otherwise they picture me dancing around a room with a bunch of 12 yr olds breaking boards and yelling at a mirror.

[ElKarlo]

It's not ALL karate. It's the vast majority. In fact it's a few basement and odd location dojos that tend to stay good.
I have seen good tkd schools. Problem is as a newb how do you find it? It's petty hard to unless you are in the community.


Karate used to be all about fullbcontact. Look at it now.

Ari and his bad back can mean reduced sparring. Just let that roll for a few years and see how good bjj gets

[ElKarlo]

YouTube will keep the hardcore going. But a lot of people just don't know nor care.

Next thing will be association only tournaments. Just you watch

[Estebanantonio]

Originally Posted by lechien

That is not cool.
I did not want to get drag into it.
But many old school karate are semi contact.
Well anyway.
In BJJ my requirements will be 6 months per stripes of regular attendance. After three stripes, you are considered for the next belt.
You get the belt after 2.5 years and deal with the consequences.

Something like that for us 20 classes per stripe for white belt. Qualified to test for blue after 100 classes (20 classes at the 4th stripe) Then 100 classes per stripe for colored belts or 500 classes to qualify to test for next belt(100 classes as a colored 4 stripe). Testing at each colored belt.