Since taking over design duties on MAI, I've been in a position to observe the world of martial arts with an unbiased eye for several months now and I have to say, no other hobby/sport/lifestyle choice features a similar amount of politics, posturing and feuding between various associations and practitioners...

Is there some way of amalgamating all these warring factions so they can use their resources for the betterment of humanity or are viewpoints and disagreements too entrenched to overturn now? I'd imagined the rise of cross-training and mixed martial arts would have rendered such differences moot, but instead, it's just created another faction for traditional martial artists to rail against!

I look forward to your learned observations on this subject...

I've been involved with Karate and Martial Arts for 33 of my 40 years, and as far back as I can remember there have always been those who want to control and police Martial Arts for there own purposes, usually with the propaganda that they are doing it for the greater good of the grass roots Martial Artist.

I've been around the block long enough now to realise that those who wish to be involved in Martial Arts politics don't have the best interests of the grass root Martial Artist at heart. Most of these people, or 'Paper-Tigers' as Alfie Lewis once famously described them, only have their OWN interests at heart.

To give you an example, let's look at the Scottish situation for Karate.

In Scotland the 'official' Karate 'Governing Body' is called the Scottish Karate Governing Body, which in turn is affiliated to the World 'Governing Body', The World Karate Federation.

On two occasions now I have had the opportunity to join the SKGB.

On one of those occasions, the Chief Instructor of one of the associations I was going to join (who happens to be a 42 year veteren and 7th Dan to boot) was told that if I joined his group, and if I continued to associate with, and compete at, non SKGB/WKF sanctioned events, then his group would be expelled from the SKGB due to breaches of WKF Statutes (ARTICLE 21.9).

I respect this 7th Dan too much. He was a former Coach to me back in the 1980's when I was in my teens, so I decided to remain outwith the realms of the SKGB/WKF.

As long as peoples egos can be bolstered, and as long as people have access to a flowing cash-cow, then unfortunatly, we are always going to have the bain of Martial Arts politics and control freaks.

At the end of the day, what is wrong with me introducing elements of BJJ or Krav Maga to my students?

What is wrong with my students competing under Karate, Freestyle, Kickboxing or Lei-Tai events?

What gives these control freaks the right to determine what is, and what isn't legitimate Karate, and how I teach it?

Hmm. On the one hand, I appreciate the need for a certain level of governance in order to maintain and catalogue the standards and evolution of a martial art, but it seems that there is far too much fragmentation and not enough cohesion between such bodies. There will always be a schism between different martial arts to a certain degree, but the fact that there may be 10-20 different associations all preaching a different version of how Karate should be practised puts me in mind of the way the major religions are re-interpreted by various folks. As a point of interest, we have an interview in the June issue of the magazine in which this very topic is debated. I hope it adds fuel to the fire...

nemo mk2 wrote:


Why?

It matters not one iota to me if there are dodgy schools or systems (McDojo) around. As long as I teach and coach in a safe and responsible manner, I don't see why I can't just be left to get on with it.

It seems to me that the big Governing Bodies have conned people into the hype that they spout; that they are somehow the only true route to the true font of knowledge, which always comes at a price.

Over the last 30 odd years, I've built up a good network of Martial Arts friends. I can obtain Disclosure to comply with Children and Vulnerable person laws. I can aquire member-member/PI/ and Public Liability insurance. I can obtain coaching qualifications. I can obtain first aid qualifications.

And you know what?

I've done all of the above, and I've done it without the need for whatever accronym du jour is the 'Governing Body' of the day.

If less people were sheep, and more were shepherds, then this archaic system which we have clung onto in the UK for last 40 odd years of 'Governing Bodies' and politics will at last vanish, and people can get on with studying, teaching, training, and competing in an open, and fairer enviroment.

The best people to speak to on this topic are MAI collumnistSteve Rowe, and MAI Contributor, Gavin King.

Steve's article on Standards in martial arts teaching in the april issue touched on many of the points you raise, Alcatraz. I imagine it was Bob's meeting with Steve that has prompted the article in next month's issue.
In the original topic I posted, I was thinking more of the differences between various styles of martial arts - for example, the ongoing rivalry between the two TKD federations or the various styles of Kung Fu and Karate practised around the globe as well as the associations which govern them...

I think at a grass roots level, you'll find that people don't really give a monkey's about who governs what, or who sets the rules.

I know of Karate guys (I'm one of them) who'll train with whomever has the best, or most interesting methods. I know of Lau-Gar guys who train with Kali and BJJ practitioners, and Judo guys who train with Wrestlers of other formats, just to get the best 'flavour' for themselves; to improve themselves if you like.

It's only once you get 'above' the class or school instructor level, that the 'Do this, and not that,' mentality comes into play.

Yes, you do get 'Sheep' instructors who will stick rigidly to the rules set out by their own 'official' Governing Body, but you know what, these type of people exist in all walks of life.

Their ego prevents them from rocking the proverbial apple cart, let alone upsetting it. They feel that they may have too much to lose if they don't follow the propoganda that has been laid out before them.

I'm betting that very little, if any of the politics you mentioned in your opening post occured at the grass roots level.

Would that be a god bet?

I imagine that would be a pretty good bet. MAI being what it is, attracts a certain amount of attention from people with an interest in self promotion... although we also strive to cover grass roots martial arts, I suppose we are also forced to walk a political line to some degree... That said, we must also be seen to be completely impartial. I'm off to think of a topic to post that will be less likely to get me in hot water with my employers!

nemo mk2 wrote:


Ahh, Bob and Roy are a couple of softies. I think that they'll be glad that you've given the site more activity of the last few days than it's seen in the last few months.

A hint for you to pass on to Bob...Tell him to use his editorial in the paper edition to promote the site.

Sport England have enough problems of their own without wasting any more time or money on the Martial Arts. I'm afraid it's all down to 'buyer beware' these days.

Just to bump this topic slightly. Whatever happened to the English Karate Governing Body (EKGB)? I think when I started we were affiliated with them but I'm not sure they exist anymore.