U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame????

“	Originally Posted By: nkyshaolin Just curious, do you know what were the credentials in getting inducted? The reason i'm so interested is I know this guy from 10 years ago and he didn't know martial arts from his arss. now 10 years later he's a 5 degree master and has all these acalades. I've never stepped foot in his gym so i'm not bashing him as an instructor but i find it odd that he is some kind of hall of fame martial artist....	”

To get inducted into most hall of fames like this you have to be nominated by a certain amount of people. The person that gets the most nominations wins. For example if you get 130 people to nominate you for say for example man of the year and I get 120 people to nominate me then you would win this prestigious title......lol. There are no real qualifications. You could send in as many ballets for yourself as you wanted and just put a different name on each and no one would be the wiser to it. I was nominated for Sifu of the Year by the Florida Martial Art Brotherhood Association and had no clue who had given my name for this. I had to go to Florida and attend a banquet that cost $125.00 to get the award if I wanted to have a chance of getting this award/title but I figured it was a money making scam so I didn't go.

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Mark R.
Political correctness sucks!!!

Good lord ... having to pay to pick up your own award...

Another thing I didn't see was who is selecting the inductees. A legit organization would have a peer review group that is a cross-section of accomplished MA'ists.

Also it's real easy to make your list look good by selecting some famous martial artist, inducting him for free and sending him the plaque. I could start a hall of fame right now and induct, I dunno ... Tito Ortiz. And Charo.

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"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

“	I personally know many people that have been inducted there and can say without a doubt their criteria is questionable to say the least.	”

I just nominated myself as a 100 degree black belt in Rexkwon do .....waiting on confirmation. I'd say that the criteria for nomination is pretty weak.

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I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany.

“	Originally Posted By: nkyshaolin I just nominated myself as a 100 degree black belt in Rexkwon do .....waiting on confirmation. I'd say that the criteria for nomination is pretty weak.	”

Congratulations!!! Hope you enjoy the banquet & recognition...

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Terrorists aren't overseas. They're at the gas pump.
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I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. -- Kung Fu-tzu (Confucius)

“	Congratulations!!! Hope you enjoy the banquet & recognition	”

Thanks! I'll probably go with formal wear but i'm definitely wearing the American Flag Bandana...I expect all of your votes!

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I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany.

Only if you're buyin' the drinks.

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"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

I would deffinately tell your cousin to look around. And tell her not to look for awards. I've noticed that some of the best schools around make sure that there awards and such arent the first thing you see. Plus Im skeptical, irregardless (sp?) the style, of anyone that claims to be a 5th degree ion only 5 years. He could be good you never know. But WM has already said there requirements are not that strict.

“	I would deffinately tell your cousin to look around. And tell her not to look for awards. I've noticed that some of the best schools around make sure that there awards and such arent the first thing you see. Plus Im skeptical, irregardless (sp?) the style, of anyone that claims to be a 5th degree ion only 5 years. He could be good you never know. But WM has already said there requirements are not that strict.	”

Agreed 100%! I have had that same experience with some schools i've attended. As for his degree ranking it is very suspect IMO. I'm not naming his style for the sake of keeping the respectable practicioners of that style from being blasted, but if he truly is a 5th degree in that period of time i'd have to raise an eyebrow about their cirriculum.

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I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany.

Their is the possibility that he just took to it that well, but IMO part of the "black belt levels" is time and practice. Also, with the exception of claims made by a founder, two schools in the same style can be completely different from one another and therefore a style shouldn't in itself be bashed. Now when a founder of a style makes extravagent claims the style will come under fire, but I've seen two Okinawa Kempo schools that was apart of the same style and could almost not recognize them. So what I'm saying is that though a schools curriculum may be suspect a style shouldn't be.

“	Originally Posted By: Green_Horn I would deffinately tell your cousin to look around. And tell her not to look for awards. I've noticed that some of the best schools around make sure that there awards and such arent the first thing you see.	”

Most of the schools in my system, you'll see a few trophies or medals on display near the altar. But as you say, one should never judge a school based on the trophies. Another thing you'll see -- often a lot more of than trophies -- are "appreciation" plaques given to the sifu/school, and a lot of small square-ish banners with the names of other schools or associations on them. They're tokens of appreciation & fellowship usually given out at tourneys, banquets, etc. Not that those should hold any more weight than trophies, other than to indicate that the head instructor gets out once in awhile. But I think they are more telling than any Hall of Fame membership.

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"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...