| Did you know that most adults quit martial arts | | | | nothing to do with combat. |
| training during their first 100 days? When asked | | | | In fact, the martial arts action star, Jackie Chan, |
| why they quit, the number 1 answer was, "the | | | | attained his skills in just such a school. In his |
| lack of realistic self defense training!" | | | | autobiography, he tells of how his father took him |
| But, how is this possible? After all, isn't the reason | | | | to this school, which focused on producing martial |
| you learn a martial art is so you can defend and | | | | arts actors and stunt men. |
| survive against an attack in a real self defense | | | | And, even if a particular martial art was initially |
| situation? | | | | developed for combat, there is no guarantee that |
| In this article, I want to talk about some of the | | | | it was not "watered-down" over time and |
| myths and false-beliefs that make up what I call, | | | | converted into a system for meditation, fitness, |
| "The Karate-Myth." Because, it is these beliefs, | | | | or any of a dozen other non-combative purposes. |
| assumptions, and illusions about the martial arts - | | | | Myth #3 - All martial arts instructors can teach |
| and the people who teach them - that can put | | | | you how to defend yourself. This is probably THE |
| you in even more danger! | | | | most dangerous assumption of them all. Because, |
| Myth #1 - A Black Belt means you can defend | | | | even if the person has achieved the rank of black |
| yourself. Just like a college degree, this false belief | | | | belt (see my comment about buying one above), |
| focuses on the symbol of knowledge, rather than | | | | and he or she studied a combat-oriented system |
| the ability to produce results. A black belt, or | | | | of martial arts... |
| whatever belt, sash, patch or certificate is being | | | | ...this is still no guarantee that this person knows |
| used to measure rank and progress in a particular | | | | what it's like in a real attack situation. |
| system, is just that - a symbol of progress | | | | There is a belief that trophies and tournament |
| through a syllabus of skills and training material. | | | | fighting is the best way to test your self defense |
| In the case of my own Warrior Concepts | | | | skills. I completely disagree. In fact, the very |
| Mastery System, any particular rank, just as with | | | | system of rules and "fairness" that exists in any |
| a college degree, says that the student has the | | | | sport, including boxing, mixed martial arts and UFC |
| necessary tools and knowledge. However, it will | | | | fights, and martial arts tournaments, runs |
| be up to that person to be able to put that | | | | contrary to the reality of "no-rules" on the street! |
| knowledge and those skills to proper use in a | | | | The black belt around a martial arts instructor's |
| real-world situation - it is the student's | | | | waist is a sign of his progress and rank - the |
| responsibility to "make it work." | | | | amount of information he or she possess and can |
| As a side note, please remember that it is easy | | | | share with you. It does not represent the |
| for anyone to go online, or into a martial arts | | | | experience - the real-world knowledge they |
| supply store, and purchase a black belt. The point | | | | earned in the "school of hard-knocks." |
| here is that the ability is not contained in some | | | | While it is true that there are charlatans out there |
| magical "black belt." Ability is reflected in the | | | | who are misrepresenting themselves. And, there |
| thought, words, and actions of the person who | | | | are countless schools of martial arts advertising |
| possesses them - regardless of whether or not a | | | | "self-defense" in their ads and store-fronts. |
| belt is ever worn! | | | | But, it can be our own misconceptions and |
| Myth #2 - All martial arts were designed for self | | | | self-imposed assumptions that prevent us from |
| defense. Again, here is another false-belief that is | | | | checking them out and insuring that what you are |
| born of assumption, not research. There are | | | | learning is indeed what you will need to win! |
| many schools of martial arts that have absolutely | | | | |