Avoiding the quacks of the expanding martial arts scene
By Adam Tatelman, Staff Writer
People misunderstand when I say I like to fight. Iām not the sort of person whoāll break a bottle over a toothless bikerās head in a seedy bar, although the thought crosses my mind from time to time. No, I enjoy the sense of camaraderie that comes from a good match against someone whoās as good or better at kicking ass than myself.
Due to the popularity of UFC-type programming thereās been a reinvigorated interest in the martial arts. Tons of dojos have opened throughout the Lower Mainland, and many are ideally situated for the busy Douglas College student who wants to get some cardio in after three grueling hours of CompSci inertia. Martial arts are an especially efficient form of exercise, as they address a number of different aspects of physical fitness simultaneously. Cardiovascular endurance is a givenāif youāve ever watched a boxing match, you know what I mean. If you want to train your flexibility but find yoga pants chafe, you might try something a little more combative. Muscular endurance is covered by the calisthenic nature of most fighting drills, and even oft-neglected aspects like agility and coordination are promoted by footwork and striking precision.
Ideally, the martial arts are an oxymoron in form, substance, and name, teaching you both how to fight, as well as the control to know you shouldnāt choose to lightly. Iām okay with that. What Iām not okay with are McDojos. You know, the ones that make you a certified black belt after three months of noncommittal attendance. These supposed masters churn out students who have a false sense of confidence and are not prepared for self-defence scenarios, then pocket excessive fees for their substandard instruction. In 1930s Foshan, martial arts practice was a social community event. It could be that we are experiencing a similar renaissance here in the West, but in any affluent time there are bound to be a few bottom feeders leeching off the success of true experts.
As a āShodanā(first-degree black belt) in Canada Shotokan Karate, I have attended over 10 years of practice with a professionally run non-profit martial organization, so recognizing the signs of McDojo quackery is a simple comparison. For this column I plan to visit a new dojo each week, then determine if itās just in it to make a quick buck, or to honestly teach someone something
In times long since, the great masters of martial schools would seek one another out and duel. The outcome of these duels was kept a secret; winning or losing was immaterial, because it was the experience of testing oneself that mattered. I admit it makes me giddy to think that I may be embarking upon a modern rendition of such a martial pilgrimage. Any kid who ever wanted to be a Power Ranger could relate.
There are a lot of styles out there that I want to practice, so this article is perhaps in service to myself as much as those who might take a recommendation from it. After all, a decade of only karate is bound to get a little stale. Tune in next week for my comprehensive review of Academie Duello, the downtown school for Italian swordplay.
