Periodically, I get email from pseudo-masters complaining about my definition of what constitutes a pseudo-master, questioning what gives me the right to tell potential martial art students that “pseudo-masters” exist, and even making threats of legal proceedings or physical harm. sponsorsHere are some of their comments and my responses:

Quite often masters only instruct part-time because they will not sell out their integrity by giving out black belts like the McDojos to make money.

You seem to imply that people who operate large, successful martial art schools have sold out their integrity, and the integrity of their arts, for money. While this may be true in in some cases, there are also many large, highly successful schools that have high standards. While some may seek the easy way to get a black belt, such as by just declaring themselves one or by buying rank online, there are others who prefer to earn it the traditional way so that it means more to them. There are several “old school” martial art businesses in my area that have been successful for decades.

“I would suggest that you be very careful about the accusations you level at some masters in an attempt to discredit them. Often what you reveal does not achieve these intentions, but only reveals a misguided lack of insight or lack of experience on your own behalf.”

What you are saying is that my revealing the way pseudo-masters defraud people is misguided. Are you saying that it is wrong to discredit frauds? Are you suggesting that we should just accept what every “master” or “soke” claims and not question it? Should I tell people it is wrong to question a “master’s” credentials until they have been defrauded by him, or, should I tell them to be aware of fraudulent instructors and tell them how to verify an instructor’s claims and credentials? How is wrong to discredit a “master” who claims false education degrees and titles? Just because someone founds a “new” martial art (new usually means it is just a new combination of other arts with a different name) it does not mean we should automatically believe what the “master” says and put years of our time and money into pursuing the art only to find the rank awarded by “master” is worthless outside the front door of the “master’s” school.

“Certification began with someone make up rank and giving it to others. Since all ranks are made up so what is wrong with my making up rank?”

I agree that all ranks were made up, but so was every manmade thing in the world, including college degrees, medical licenses, real estate licenses, etc. What makes these things valid is their widespread acceptance as indicators that the persons holding them are authorities on the subjects. Just because a storefront martial art “organization” awards rank and title certificates to anyone who pays the membership fee does not make the certificates valid. Some “masters” collect these certifications from every “certifying organization” on the Internet in a feeble attempt to appear to legitimate.

“Rank doesn’t really matter; what really matters is what’s being done in the classroom and in life. 

It easy to say that all that matters is what’s being done in the classroom and in life, but that does not make it correct. This is what we say to people who fail to achieve something. This is what the instructor says to the new students who failed a rank testing. This is what a coach says to players when they lose the game, but he knows that what really matters is winning and being successful, especially if he wants to keep his job. You can tell the bar association that, although you did not earn a law degree, you really worked hard in the classroom and you are a good person in life, but that will not get you a law license.