Is TKD really TKD anymore?

[terryl965]

I went to visit a friend school last night and behold to me he is now a certified MMA school as well as Gumdo and Tai Chi. Go figure it has only been a year since last being there and all he did was TKD. He got his Gumdo certification in six weeks doing it two hours on saturday - His MMA certificate and making his school part of this org was a weekend seminar and paying the fee to say they belong to that group. His Tai Chi certificate came from his instructor he has been seeing for a few years so I do not know how long it take to be an instructor in Tai Chi so that maybe legit.

I just find it funny throw some signs in the window pay a fee and take a few classes and you too can become a multi instructor in the M.A.'s.

 

[dancingalone]

It's very common I'm afraid. I understand some TKD/TSD orgs and supplementary associations also offer instructor certification in additional material like 'joint manipulation', XMA, and 'groundfighting essentials'. Hopefully the process involves more than a weekend seminar though.

It is a natural outgrowing as TKD/TSD dojang compete with other martial arts schools for customers. No one wants to appear obsolete.

I do find the phenomenon somewhat odd. I have taught many of those things myself as part of a past curriculum but I've never found it necessary to be 'certified' in them to be credible to students or to the public. Aside from showing my expertise on the mat, shouldn't my dan certificates be enough?

 

[SahBumNimRush]

Nothing new, and certainly nothing unique to TKD schools. How many years has it been since the first "mail order" certification came out in Black Belt Magazine? It's all about integrity and/or marketing. There's a "dojo" down the road from my house that teaches JKD, Kali, Karate, BJJ, MMA, and Navy Seal tactics, Airborne Rnager tactics, and a laundry list of others. All but the "sensei's" Karate training was through weekend seminars and mail in certs.. .

He has one of the most successful "dojo's" in town in terms of number of students, but none are what I would consider serious students. The serious students train at the handful of smaller traditional schools.

We've gained several of his students over the years, who decided they were looking for something different. We've also lost a couple of students (young rank) to them because they wanted to learn how to fight with a sword or how to fight like a "Navy Seal." BTW, the "sensei" in question never served in the armed forces.. .

 

[StudentCarl]

For me, performance counts most for credibility, but organization affiliation matters if the organization is credible. I presumptively give a Kukkiwon dan certificate more credibility than a guy with paper from somewhere I've never heard of. I've seen certificates with bizarre stuff on them, from incorrect Hangul to claims of WTF approval.

 

[dancingalone]

For me, performance counts most for credibility, but organization affiliation matters if the organization is credible. I presumptively give a Kukkiwon dan certificate more credibility than a guy with paper from somewhere I've never heard of. I've seen certificates with bizarre stuff on them, from incorrect Hangul to claims of WTF approval.

I think there's a slippery slope there if people start comparing orgs and trying to decide which is more 'credible'. I prefer the old way of personal lineage though certainly demonstrated skill trumps all.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Ashida Kim lives...

 

[Tez3]

I'm curious to know who gives MMA certification? It's never been an organised sport/style in the way of others who had an originator and spread from them. I'm not sure who could certify an MMA club other than an insurance company for insurance purposes. I'd expect an MMA club/gym to have coaches in you were involved in MMA comps and knew what they were talking about as far as training, rules etc were concerned. Anything calling itself an MMA 'school' I'd stay well away from.

 

[SahBumNimRush]

I'm curious to know who gives MMA certification? It's never been an organised sport/style in the way of others who had an originator and spread from them. I'm not sure who could certify an MMA club other than an insurance company for insurance purposes. I'd expect an MMA club/gym to have coaches in you were involved in MMA comps and knew what they were talking about as far as training, rules etc were concerned. Anything calling itself an MMA 'school' I'd stay well away from.

I don't disagree, but this month's issue of Black Belt magazine has an ad for MMA instructor certification... . Don't remember the org off hand though.. .

 

[clfsean]

I'm curious to know who gives MMA certification? It's never been an organised sport/style in the way of others who had an originator and spread from them. I'm not sure who could certify an MMA club other than an insurance company for insurance purposes. I'd expect an MMA club/gym to have coaches in you were involved in MMA comps and knew what they were talking about as far as training, rules etc were concerned. Anything calling itself an MMA 'school' I'd stay well away from.

Well I will certify your MMA club for a discount price of $299.99 ... :sp76:

 

[SahBumNimRush]

A quick search shows at least two sites that offer it:

http://mmacertification.com/

http://mixedmartialartscertification.org/

 

[terryl965]

Yea I was told to come for the weekend and pay 499.00 and I can get my certificate saying I am certified to teach MMA.

 

[terryl965]

Arts Certification course level 1	US only	International	Full Tuition	Payment Plan
Academy 6 weeks 1 Certification (? more info) $800.00 $1000.00 apply now! apply now!

Mixed Martial Arts Advanced Certification course level 2 - Tuition

Mixed Martial Arts Advanced Certification course level 2 US only International Full Tuition Payment Plan Academy 6 weeks 1 Certification (? more info) $800.00 $1000.00 apply now! apply now!

There you go 800 and you are certified

 

[chrispillertkd]

Yea I was told to come for the weekend and pay 499.00 and I can get my certificate saying I am certified to teach MMA.

If you got that certificate you'd be certifiable.

Pax,

Chris

 

[Bill Mattocks]

If you got that certificate you'd be certifiable.

Pax,

Chris

There is a dojo near me that teaches a style that is not named but for an investment of $10,000, they will teach you the style (no former MA required) in six weeks, award you a black belt, and help you open your dojo franchise. I only wish I hadn't wasted my life on real martial arts. Dang.

 

[SahBumNimRush]

The only "MMA" cert that I've seen and consider to be worthwhile, is JCS's MMA Strength and Conditioning Training Specialist. Which involves zero combat application and 100% program design/cross training for the athletes. It's basically a CSCS (http://www.nsca-cc.org/cscs/about.html) program specifically geared towards combat athletes.

http://www.ihpfit.com/shop/details/287/mma-level-i-cert-

It is something I've actually considered taking, not that I have any experience in MMA, nor do I have any wish to be an MMA athlete. However, from my background in sports medicine, it can be beneficial in my other career outside of MA's (and I'm sure there would be some crossover benefit for my students when it comes to cross training program design)

 

[Archtkd]

Yea I was told to come for the weekend and pay 499.00 and I can get my certificate saying I am certified to teach MMA.

Yes sir, and that's the "real deal" compared to that "ballet, dancing, kiddie, no-punch to-the face and zero sef-defense" thing you have studied and taught for years. This is seriously making me consider my dojang business plan B: Adding Shank-Do Kwan to the mix, which wil be taught by my friend Matata X. He's a 13th-Slize in the art, which he learned from his mentor and Supreme Grandmaster, a lifer at the Colorado Supermax. My own expertise in Rungu-Fu, the original fighting style specializing in using the rungu, a revered Kenyan wooden weapon of the club family, might come in handy. I am the founder of the Global Rungu-Fu Federation (WRF) and it's only 10th Dan.

 

[mastercole]

The only "MMA" cert that I've seen and consider to be worthwhile, is JCS's MMA Strength and Conditioning Training Specialist. Which involves zero combat application and 100% program design/cross training for the athletes. It's basically a CSCS (http://www.nsca-cc.org/cscs/about.html) program specifically geared towards combat athletes.

http://www.ihpfit.com/shop/details/287/mma-level-i-cert-

It is something I've actually considered taking, not that I have any experience in MMA, nor do I have any wish to be an MMA athlete. However, from my background in sports medicine, it can be beneficial in my other career outside of MA's (and I'm sure there would be some crossover benefit for my students when it comes to cross training program design)

If you have not already, you might consider learning the modern training methods of Taekwondo instead. Much of what you see happening in the video is very similar to Taekwondo's modern training methods. There are specific exercise routines for speed, strength, agility, explosiveness, etc to improve every aspect of Taekwondo skills.

I recommend this because you already are a Taekwondo practitioner. We learned the modern training methods from the best Taekwondo coaches and athletes on the planet, my athletes do them everyday.

If you are interested, we are about 4 hours away from you. Drive up and spend a weekend or a day, my coaches will give you the whole curriculum, no charge.

 

[SahBumNimRush]

If you have not already, you might consider learning the modern training methods of Taekwondo instead. Much of what you see happening in the video is very similar to Taekwondo's modern training methods. There are specific exercise routines for speed, strength, agility, explosiveness, etc to improve every aspect of Taekwondo skills.

I recommend this because you already are a Taekwondo practitioner. We learned the modern training methods from the best Taekwondo coaches and athletes on the planet, my athletes do them everyday.

If you are interested, we are about 4 hours away from you. Drive up and spend a weekend or a day, my coaches will give you the whole curriculum, no charge.

Thank you very much Sir, I would very much enjoy that.

 

[Tez3]

I can see the point in courses for training fitness, conditioning etc that can be used for martial arts not just in TKD or MMA but with no actual governning bodies for MMA such as other styles have it would be hard to find out whether the certificates for MMA 'instructor' had any value. I know in the States there's 'governing' bodies as far as the MMA rules for fights etc but not for the licensing and/or governing of actual gyms and clubs. Sounds like a good scam to get into if you are of that mind.

 

[Buka]

The man that started it all back in the sixties, John Keehan. Rock on, Count Dante, rock on.