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Before you can criticize me, you must pay me

If I want to learn your art, I have no problem in paying you to teach me, but why should I pay for your martial art class, book, video, seminar, etc. and make you richer before I may criticize your philosophies, concepts, beliefs, or martial art. If I learn about your philosophies, concepts, beliefs, or martial art for free, why do I need have to pay you before I may comment on them?  No “master” or “organization” seems to mind if you praise them without paying, however, if you criticize them, these same people think you should pay them first.

It is similar to an author who says he has found a common household item that, unbeknownst to parents, is killing thousands of children every year. If you want to know what the item is, then buy his book, otherwise he does not care how many children die.

Martial art “masters” and “organizations” sell books, videos, and home study courses that they say will permit you to learn and perfect all their special techniques. Apparently, they think a person may learn their art from a book, video, or home study course. However, when someone criticizes the “masters” or “organizations,” their defense is that you have to meet them in person or experience one of their classes in person before you may know enough about them to criticize them. Well! Which is it? If I may pay you and learn your art from a book, video, or home study course without ever seeing you or taking one of your live classes, then why is it that can I not criticize you for what information I may find for free without ever meeting you or attending one of your classes?

I find information that is put out by a “master” or “organization,” evaluate the information, and then present my opinion of what I have found to the martial arts community. If a “masters” or “organizations” cannot justify their philosophies, concepts, beliefs, and techniques without someone paying them first, then they must have something to hide, and it is not some trade secret know only to their “founder.”

Unproven methods or techniques are not necessarily wrong. Although unproven, methods or techniques that are consistent with established scientific concepts may be considered experimental. However, legitimate martial artists do not promote unproven procedures in the marketplace.

How do you know when a pseudo-master is a liar? Look him in the face!
Look at the above face with you head tilted toward the right.

The number of illegitimate organizations and pseudo-masters increases each year. They are not just a nuisance, they take money from unsuspecting students, they teach techniques that may get the students injured or killed in a self-defense situation, and they advocate illegal responses to self-defense situations. These pseudo-masters may claim that their macho egos had nothing to do with their reasons for founding a new martial art, but is it only a coincidence that nearly all of them are male and most of them are egotistical.

An old Zen parable says, "The finger that points to the moon is not the moon." The one who points to the truth does not necessarily speak the truth. The one who teaches a martial art is not the martial art. Do not mistake the finger for the moon.

A martial art is similar to a religion, it relies on believers. Christians believe that God loves everyone and that, in respect to non believers, God said "vengeance is mine." Militant Muslims believe God hates non Muslims and that he requires them to kill non believers. Each of the two religions have people who are ardent believers and think tat their way is the right way. Just because a person sincerely believes his or her religious belief is right, it does not necessarily make the religion right. Just because a pseudo-master sincerely believes his or her martial art is legitimate, it does not mean it is a legitimate martial art. Do not confuse belief with fact.

Most masters earned their status through legitimate means and they have no respect for  illegitimate organizations or pseudo-masters, no matter how much good they appear to be doing for the martial arts. Just because a fraud does some good does not make him or her less a fraud. Take the mafia dons for example. They are loved by the people in their neighborhoods for their generosity. The neighbors either do not know, have forgotten, or do not care that the dons got their power and wealth by illegal means; they only care what the dons are doing for them.

When it comes to evaluating a martial art, my basic premise is, if the techniques are as effective as claimed, why is it that professional fighters are not using the techniques to win and make more money. Granted, techniques that are inherently deadly cannot be used in sports, but if a unique punching or kicking style or some other special techniques are effective, then why do not the professionals use them. Why is it that professional fighters do not use an earth punch. As may be seen in UFC style fighting events or in street fights, what is effective in fighting is hitting the other person with a lot of basic punches and kicks while avoiding getting hit as much as possible. All the martial art BS put out by many “masters” exists only increase the egos and bank accounts of the purveyors of the BS.