On Associations and Organizations

On my web site I list several associations that I have, or once was a member of. Of the five or so listed, there are only two I have ever been really active with, and only one that I still have some lose affiliation with.

There is also a disclaimer about my membership in these organizations, which it seems several people have misunderstood, and made comments about.

First of all, I don’t believe I am superior to any of these organizations or any member associated with them. I think many of these groups have many talented members, many of which have something to offer towards my growth as a martial artist.

I’ll be the first to admit I still have a lot to learn, not only regarding techniques and transmission of technical information, but also the business end of teaching and running a school.

My disclaimer is based on the fact that I do not support many of the political agendas of these groups, and/or agree with many of their policies.--policies such as Hall of Fame awards or promoting people to higher ranks. I especially disagree with when they try and promote people like me in their own art, something they don’t have experience in or the authority to do.

I also have no desire to be put in a position where other groups or individuals think I’m part of their political positions or agendas, or assume I agree with the way they conduct themselves, professionally or privately.

While I believe many of these groups mean well when they start, I think many get lost along the way, and their organization turns out to be little more than a way to generate extra income for those in charge.

You know the type of organizations I’m talking about. Those are the organizations that offer you all sorts of things such guaranteeing that if you join, then your student body will increase, and that you will be promoted to higher and higher ranks. They will certify you, help you with your curriculum, and advertise in the local media for you. They will give you stickers for your window and papers to hang on your wall to help you legitimize your school and tell others how your school is superior to the others in your area.

The problem is they don’t follow through with any of these promises. The papers they issue are meaningless, even to most of the public who doesn’t even know better. They can’t generate students: people are either interested or they are not. And, at least in my area, to get mentioned in the local media requires some major event, or a lot of cash to place an ad.

Unfortunately, these promises are very appealing to someone starting out in the business of running a martial art school, and are extremely tempting--myself included. After all, who doesn’t want to run a successful school full of students?

I was a cop prior to having a martial arts school. I knew nothing about the business end of running a school. I looked to many sources for help, some which were clearly the wrong ones to choose. However, making wrong decisions and learning from them is part of life. Hindsight is 20/20.

I also have the disclaimer because many martial artists have very fragile egos, and base their opinion of you on the company you keep. If they don’t like somebody and feel they are a political foe, worthless, a scammer, or fraud obviously you must be also.

That’s a ridiculous assumption, but it happens.

For example I know a jujutsu instructor whop travels the world teaching. He is invited to Japan all the time to teach, and is highly respected there. He was also in line to inherit his system of jujutsu from his teacher when he died.

However, with all these credentials, if you mention his name and that you like the guy locally, people look at you funny, question your integrity, and brush you off.

Now, their opinion has nothing to do with his skills as a martial artist, or as a teacher, and these are the only reasons why I respect this guy. Their problem is that twenty plus years ago he had a relationship with another guy’s wife.

I didn’t know him them, I don’t know the woman, and for me this is a personal/moral issue that has no bearing on the jujutsu he does. Okay, he may have made a bad decision, one can even question his moral character, but I don’t train with him to build moral development.

I don’t go to him to learn how to make passes at other people’s wives either, so if I like this guy and want to train with him why should I be automatically condemned for his past conduct? I have skeletons in my closet too, but I always have and always will conduct my personal life according to my morals and beliefs and not anybody else’s.

Another comment that has been made regarding my affiliations with the listed organizations is that my disclaimer appears to suggest that these groups recruited me, rather than the fact I sought them out.

Sorry to disappoint people who make this assumption, but that is partially true. Some of these organizations contacted me before I knew they existed, and even offered me free membership. I don’t know why they did, since I’m barely known, and don’t seek such attention. In addition I’m clearly not worthy of such special treatment either, as I have no special gifts, or have done anything to promote the martial arts in any special manner.

While I could make assumptions as to why they contacted me (MONEY MONEY MONEY), all I can state for fact is why I decided to join some of these groups (as well as others), and why I have disassociated myself with some over the years.

Part of this issue is based on youth and being a little naïve about other martial artists and the martial arts industry. It is also a case of not doing enough homework and research prior to making a decision to join or not join an organization. However, one of the major reasons I did what I did--and my justification for my earlier mistakes--is that I once many years ago had a desire to belong to a larger martial arts community.

My training was basically limited to one teacher. I didn’t have any prior exposure to martial art organizations, other styles, or the petty bickering over ego and politics between many instructors. Having had limited exposure to other arts and martial art practitioners, I was interested in exploring what others were doing. I wasn’t interested in getting involved with all the other associated factors that seem to have come into play over the years.

Like I said, I’ll be the first to admit I made some wrong decisions. One example is when I allowed myself to be inducted into one of the many Hall of Fames that are out there. Yes, at the time I knew it was very silly, but I enjoyed the silliness. I enjoyed the weekend learning from numerous other inductees, the banquet, and how serious they made such a meaningless event. For me, it was a fun excuse to travel away from home for a few days.

Then again I never put much emphasis on the award itself. I knew I paid for it. Any real award has to be earned, and the dinner, ceremony, and award (trophy or certificate) in honor of such an award is normally free of charge--at least for the person receiving the honor.

So far I haven’t done anything to deserve such an award, nor do I feel I ever will.

Lastly, the point was brought up why I am not a member of any Japanese martial art associations. That’s a good one, with a simple answer--an answer that goes back to the entire question of legitimacy to my school, my teacher, and our lineage. Simply put I lack the necessary credentials to even apply to most organizations.

Things might be different if I could afford to travel to Japan, and spend a few months/years there demonstrating what I know. But I can’t.

Of course, even if I were a member of some of these organizations I would still be caught between a rock and a hard place.

Simply put, no matter what organization I would choose, even if it was considered by most to be the most prestigious of them all, there would still be those within the martial art community who would question my choice of affiliating myself with them.

In other words you can’t please everyone, so I choose to please myself and not care what others think.