Teaching martial arts does not qualify you to be called Professor, unless you happen to be a College-level teacher in a certain field.
Quite frankly, I find your repeated challenges of Professor Covert's title to be disrespectful, and a bit narrow minded. When you say, "teaching martial arts does not qualify you to be called a Professor," that is your personal opinion and should be stated as such. Your profile says that you are a 4th Dan in Taekwondo. I find it hard to believe that, after this many years in this field, you have not encountered
many instructors from various organizations who use this title. This concept could not be new to you, so it is apparently something with which you personally disagree.
Professor is often used in a variety of Martial Art instructorship programs, not just Taekwondo, and it is not something that is only
correctly used pertaining to college professors. My instructor was at the rank of 7th Dan a few years back, and held the title of "Professor Smith." Now he is 8th Dan Grandmaster Alvin Smith. In a couple of years, I might be eligible to test for 7th Dan, and upgrade my instructor level from Chief Master to Professor. I would hope that other Taekwondoists would show the courtesy, and respect of any rank or title bestowed on a fellow Martial Artist by their Grandmaster.
It is true that many WTF or Kukkiwon affiliated Grandmasters do not use this title, but many do. Sr. Grandmaster Edward Sell (Kukkiwon 9th Dan) has decided to structure his U.S. Chung Do Kwan instructorship ranks with certain titles. The title of "professor" is one of them. By some of your comments, it appears that you have had a bad experience with Sr. GM Sell, or at one of his tournaments. That is fine, but I hope you do not choose to come here to bash him or his organization. He has legitimately earned his degrees (including the 9th Dan), and I feel he deserves the respect of his credentials, and life-time achievements in Taekwondo.
Question: What does a 9th Dan call himself?
Answer: Anything he wants!
So, what does a 9th Dan call the instructors under his leadership? Anything he wants. Sr. Grandmaster Sell chooses to issue the title of professor of Taekwondo to his 7th Dans if they pass the instructorship test, so who is to say that he is wrong? Personally, in my opinion, I concur that the Taekwondo title is of an equally legitimate value to any College professorship if the requirements for such a title are of a high standard of Taekwondo education. Sr. GM Sell has a very high standard for the instructors in his organization.
Respectfully,
Chief Master D.J. Eisenhart
artyon: but there seems to be less and less in michigan any ways just wondering if any one knows of any tkd events here cause i like to may compete in a few
Last Fearner, when did he get promoted?
