Do you think martial arts has 'sold out'

martial arts has changed so much , it is a leasure industry now.
it
is now a HOBBY of the masses , were grades art brought and sold , and
ability does'nt seem to matter , and PERSONAL progression overtakes
ability .
maybe it's just my synical view lol, what do you think

cheers
matt.k.f.s

ur right in some ways but i think its more
money orinated now i think to some money is the only thing but there
are still people who train and work hard to pass there knowledge on.

Jediwarrior

Martial arts has sold out to a degree. Fortunately there are still some
instructors that actually care about the grades they give their
students.

Malcy-Malc

i agree in both instances , it's just such a shame about the mc'dojo situation

but it has become a money game .
matt.k.f.s

The main art I've trained in has even sold out in my eyes. Maybe i'm
being harsh, but when it's plainly obvious that standards has slipped,
both in attitude and ability.
It pisses me off when grades are
handed out to people that don't deserve them, grades that I had to work
my ass off at the time for, now are pretty much given away! To me it
almost diminishes the art, and ruins it for the people gone before them.

Malcy-Malc

Greetings Friends,

I have been writing a
set of essays for my students. One of the toipics I covered was this
very thing. Here's the essasy I wrote. lemme know what you think :

QUOTE

Chapter 9 Of ranks…….. Ask yourself this question, ‘What does rank mean to you?’ I hope to try and explain how rank is viewed within the Mahoutsukai Dojo. The easiest way to how a person is judged with regards to rank is; “Better to care about what is in someone’s head rather than what’s around their waist.” Don’t judge someone based on what rank they are until you have had an opportunity to judge them on the mat. To often have we found high ranking belts that had neither the skill, knowledge or experience to match the rank Often ranks are given with the attitude of; “you are not currently worth this rank, but you have the opportunity to live up to it” It is not my position to say this is right or wrong. I, personally, don’t agree with it. Would you give a medical student the title of ‘Doctor’, telling him that he is not quite ready? But he has the opportunity to live up to the title. Even more frightening would be the title of ‘Pilot’  I feel that if a rank is awarded, that person should have the skill, knowledge and experience to match that rank. Within the Mahoutsukai Dojo, this is how rank is judged. The higher the rank, the more knowledge and skill one would be expected to have. The higher the rank, the fewer the mistakes one would be expected to make. A 9th kyu practioner would not be expected to have a great depth of knowledge nor to practice a movement flawlessly. A Shodan would be expected to have a reasonable degree of knowledge and a skill to match it. Although a Shodan would still make mistakes in a movement, he should make them to a lesser degree than the Kyu grade. This does not mean we expect people to be completely flawless within their taijutsu. We are all human and we all make mistakes, but Dan grades should not be making mistakes in kamae or ukemi or kihon. These are skill that should be learned and mastered at Kyu level. Dan grades try to put all of the above and more into practice As mistakes are made, lessons should be learned and those mistakes should become less. The whole idea of moving up through ranks means that a practioner is improving. If someone is improving then they are making fewer and fewer mistakes. When you are awarded a rank you are starting to walk a path. As you progress along that path, improving your skill and knowledge, gaining experience, at some point you are going to be ready to move onto another level and start the path again. This is a ranking system. As we said at the start, the golden rule is not to judge anyone by their rank or belt. Watch them, listen to them and then make your decision. Just because someone wears a lower rank than you, does not mean they are lacking in experience or knowledge. Upon saying that any person that holds a rank in the Mahoutsukai Dojo should have the relevant knowledge and skill to go with it, but this does not mean they do not have MORE knowledge than their rank may lead you to believe. The rank they hold means that at the very LEAST, they should have the skill, knowledge and experience for that rank. This is one of the most important tenets of the Dojo.

Merlyn