Martial Arts Business, Marketing and Management Resources for Martial Arts School Owners and Karate Instructors

Mixed Up Martial Arts

Posted August 24th, 2009 by Stephen Oliver

I just returned from Washington, DC. While there I attended a NASKA World Tour tournament (The U.S. Capital Classics) met with about 25 school owners representing around 5,000 students, and then met several times with my instructor Grand Master Jhoon Rhee.

Meeting with Jhoon Rhee and my other events during my quick trip reminds me of several important aspects of martial arts instruction in 2009 and beyond.

One of my favorite Jhoon Rhee quotes is “Martial Arts without Philosophy is Just Street Fighting.” Now, he’s obviously a visionary and at times out of sync with where things exist currently in the martial arts community due to focusing on where how he sees the future unfolding.

We discussed his development of Musical Forms (Martial Ballet.) He explained that in the 1960’s he foresaw that martial arts “fighting” would no longer be necessary in the future but rather to preserve martial arts the “art” must be preserved over the “martial.” He then explained that his concept was 100% congruent with our American Founding fathers and with the true purpose of human evolution. Quickly as he saw my skepticism he pulled out a manuscript of his soon to be published biography and pointed out this quote:

“I must study politics and war, that my sons may have the liberty to study mathematics

and philosophy, natural history and naval architecture, in order to give their children a

right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, tapestry, and porcelain.”

John Adams quotes (American 2nd US President (1797-1801), 1735-1826)

Now, that’s really interesting.

To me it seems that in the 1970’s and 1980’s most martial arts instructors had come around to Grand Master Rhee’s way of thinking. We practiced the “DO” arts to facilitate personal development. The movie “The Karate Kid” shared principles and values that were clear about developing discipline and confidence and avoiding violence.

To my great disappointment it seems that many practitioners and instructors have lost sight of what Grand Master Rhee keeps clearly in focus. Martial Arts Practice today for the vast majority should be purely about personal development. Clearly our armed forces and police need effective fighting technique, but frankly that’s more often about modern weapons not about unarmed combat (hopefully.)

And, if you don’t want to take Jhoon Rhee’s word for it (or even John Adams) how about another kick-boxing and point-fighting legend Joe Lewis? He’s perhaps the ultimate “old-school” tough guy still training students throughout the world. What’s he have to say?

In one aspect of what is called “martial arts,” the MMA stuff, many black belts come across as heavily tattooed, cartoon looking hoodlums, who respect violence and feel free to curse and to exercise degradation against others on national TV. The media has gone from completely ignoring us in the early sixties to seemingly only granting visibility to those who believe that it’s in vogue to condone violence, and/or that it is okay to send kids the message that adults accept the use of violence as a means to resolve problems. This is not the message that parents in martial arts wish to have their kids taught to value or with which to have them exposed. Just as “Pro Wrestling” is not real wrestling, in a way, perhaps MMA is not real martial arts.

Violence by definition is a “loss of self-control.” Martial arts teaches self-control; therefore martial arts is not violent—people are. Guns (for the gun control freaks) do not kill others—bullets do.

We need to wake up—black belts are leaving the martial arts in droves. We need to revalidate and grant dignity to the meaning of the old definition of what is a black belt. Either it does not mean anything any longer (in this fanatical M.A. marketing atmosphere) or it has become the finish line which determines at what point in ones journey does he call it quits. SAD!

Joe Lewis

It’s vital to recognize that Martial Arts Training is always about developing high quality physical skills. It’s about fitness and self-defense. However, those mostly arise from the mental and emotional development that goes with rigorous practice of martial arts.

And, to add another point that Joe Lewis makes. The first, second, or third degree Black Belt must be a starting point for personal development. Just as a high school diploma should be a start to one’s learning through life. For a beginning student achieving Black Belt is an appropriate early “bench-mark” to beginning quality personal development for life. It’s not an end in itself.

Quality schools will (and, do) constantly expand and enhance the definition of what a Black Belt (and, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th Degree Black Belt) is and must attain. Marketing for Martial Arts schools should be about attracting quality students – never about watering down the achievement and recognition of students and never about lowering standards of excellence.

By Stephen Oliver, MBA

8^th Degree Black Belt.

Publisher – Martial Arts Professional Magazine

CEO – National Association of Professional Martial Artists (NAPMA)

Founder/CEO – Mile High Karate

Posted in Blog - Stephen Oliver, Martial Arts Business Blogs No Comments Tags: Jhoon Rhee, Joe Lewis, martial arts, martial arts business, MMA, Stephen Oliver, UFC

RE Mixed Up Martial Arts.

Posted August 24th, 2009 by Stephen Oliver

Dear Steve:

Finally, someone had the guts to tell it like it is. I just read your cover article of this Month’s Nampa “Mile High Maverick.” It was so eloquently written and I was so impressed that you had the guts and leadership to finally say what so many martial artists have been thinking since this “mixed up martial arts” nightmare has begun. I only wish there were more martial arts leaders in our community who would come forward. My husband and I decided toboycott this year’s Maia Convention solely on the basis that Maia decided to headline and feature Dana White as the keynote speaker as well as the Leader of our Industry!!! I doubt that MAia or Century cared much because quite frankly money talks.

Imagine have far we have come full circle. When I first attended the inaugural Napma Convention in Clearwater, Florida back in the early 90’s, is the entire opposite of what we as professional martial artists were be trying to accomplish and set as standards for the future for our industry. To have attendees of our martial arts profession be a part of this current spectacle is unthinkable and quite frankly ridiculous. It is like having an Alcoholics Anomymous Convention coexist with a Budweiser Convention. Give me a Break…. How can you teach and preach self discipline, control, respect and leadership when all you see the UFC promoting is violence, vulgarity, pornography and lacking any self control by beating the crap out of your opponent? Are these really the LIFESKILLS we want to market to our students and communities?

When Maia and Nampa were first formed, the purpose was to promote and educate martial artists how to run professional martial arts schools. Clean up your schools, dress like a professional, provide superior service to our students, become a role model in our communities. How can we support this nonsense? We have definitely traveled back in time about 25 years. Wake Up!!! Is this really the direction we want our profession to go?

Just because UFC is profitable doesn’t mean you have to jump on the MMA bandwagon. If you have been teaching good quality martial arts which should include self defense skills with the best in ground self defense training, that is where we as an industry should go. Educating our students on how to defend themselves in an attack requires training from many disiciplines. That is why Napma from the onset brought in many expert instructors in different styles so we could train with the best and teach our students the best martial arts self defense skills available. The purpose of many martial arts schools is to teach good self defense both stand up and ground, not beating the crap out of someone for sport.

Selling illicit drugs and alcohol is extremly profitable. Are we going to sell that in our dojo as well? The greatest freedom I ever experienced as a martial arts school owner was realizing what our school did well and what has sustained us in business for over 30 years.. Teaching good quality martial arts, changing people’s lives for the better and making a difference in my community. Sorry, call me old fashioned or old school, but I plan to take the road less traveled.

I am what I am and I would rather concentrate on what I do best. From a business perspective, we all know we can’t try and please everyone and try to market to everyone. That is why Mercedes Benz doesn’t sell Kiah’s nor does McDonald’s sell Filet Mignon.

Calling all martial arts leaders and school owners… Do you have the character and discipline to fight for what is right? Don’t we teach that philosophy in our schools?

I challenge all PROFESSIONAL MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOL OWNERS to walk the talk.

Thanks for your leadership, Stephen Oliver.

Stacey Mejia

Acadiana Karate