Non Korean Geandmasters

Comment

Comment by Wael on December 31, 2011 at 10:36pm

Kevin, I have experienced something similar. I have a training partner who was never interested in anything I had to say, maybe because I was five years her junior in this particular art. She wasn't rude, just wasn't interested in partnering with me and would always contradict me if I spoke up. But I train very hard and lately I've noticed that she pays attention when I speak, and has even asked me to demonstrate techniques. And as you said, I don't feel superior in any way, I feel the added responsibility.

Comment by Kevin Luttrell on December 31, 2011 at 10:03pm

Training experience means a lot, I agree I have seen it too. I also think that when a person gains a certain amount of experience he is viewed differently among his peers. I know over the years, I have experience various stages of training and experience, and during the different stages, I noticed how I was treated by juniors and seniors changed along the way. My peers also treated me more as a senior, and it took awhile before I noticed. It was kind of weird for me when my seniors made it clear that I was accepted into their circle. I was offered more opportunity to share my art with their students and in more public forums. Teaching along side them, and asked my advise during senior instructor training sessions. Once I figured out what was actually happening, It was very humbling and a great honor at the same time. Looking back, I hope I can lead my students with the same graceful timing that my instructors have nurtured me. Its a great honor but a much greater responsibility....some are never trusted with. I take it very seriously.....on another note.....I believe judging others and questioning their rank and abilities in a public forum reflects poorly on black belts as a general rule.......we should never dishonor anyone on purpose......it a huge sign of disrespect.....they fail on their own because most can see right through them and they end up without students and instructors wont deal with them.

Comment by cd-fletch on December 31, 2011 at 8:12pm

i dont think it is so much about how many years as apposed to how you train.  when you have the time and how often you train. i have met people that say they have been apart of martial arts for 20 years then find out they practiced once a week for 5 years then didnt go to class but maybe twice a year after that. can you honestly say you have 20 years of experiance?

then you have the guy who attends class four days a week and practices at home as well. i dont see why in three years that same person cant have as much or more sxperiance than the first guy. not to mention those who have the gift to pick up new moves and be able to remember what he learns easily and is coordinated as well.

Comment by George Petrotta on December 5, 2011 at 4:37am

With 48 years in the Korean Arts and at age of 66, I believe my 8th Dahn that I received from Seo, In Sun to be legitimate. Still training modestly in Florence, SC, USA.

Comment by Kevin Luttrell on November 28, 2011 at 2:23pm

I agree, and I will also add that most times its our treatment of others that reflects negatively on the martial arts as a whole in addition to those so called "grandmasters" who are not honorable who would reflect negatively because of their lack of honor. I am of the opinion that HONOR is the most important thing and even when warranted, a persons willingness to degrade another person openly reflects poorly on not just one "martial artist" but two.....and what real difference will it make? Most of those "fake Grandmasters" dont last long anyway and if they do....there is a valid reason. I have learned that just because one persons opinion is that "So and So isnt really a GrandMaster" doesnt make it truth....So I believe its better to leave Grandmasters to themselves.....their GrandMaster Peers usually weed the fakes out pretty quick. The rest of us-I believe to still be students and we should pay attention and learn how to best handle those situations with Honor and professionalism.

 

Comment by William Milewski on November 28, 2011 at 10:55am

Our GM (whom still wishes us to call him Kwanjahnim) has studied for over 35 years and is an 8th in Sin Moo, 8th in Sun Moo (our style) and a 7th under the WKF.  He trains and teaches daily, travels to Korea to train, continues to train with Ji Han Jae, Seo In Sun and others as well.  I believe that he has the legitimatacy to be called a GM. 

Daniel, we cannot always take our own experiences as the model, each persons path is different as are their training opportunities.  

Comment by Kevin Luttrell on November 26, 2011 at 8:19am

The same thing can be said about the Presidency and the office of President. I think its our duty as black belts to recognize rank and maintain honor for the position regardless of our personal opinions. For many reasons, but the positions of Black belt rank and titles for instructors, are symbols that are bigger than any of us and people can eventually recognize those who are real and maintain high standards of skill along with moral foundations of honor. The others eventually fail due to their own shortcomings.

 

Comment by Kevin Luttrell on November 26, 2011 at 8:14am

Hello,

I used to feel the same way....and dont get me wrong, I think there are plenty of people who get their rank nefariously...but in retrospect.....individual martial artists have moved away from certain principles in todays martial arts world. This causes big Ego's and a lack of respect for people. When this happens you get rogue black belts who want to keep training and so they form their own school or association. The commercialism and lack of regulation call these people to self promote in order to stay in business due to the customer perception. In the end its not really about rank, its about honor and of course skill on the mat.

Comment by Daniel McCullar on November 23, 2011 at 7:47am

I really don't feel like it is. There are some Non-Korean Gms that I respect a great deal, but there are so many more who's rank I question, as well as their training. I would treat everybody with respect, but I have had to many bad encounters to be any other way. As for a lot of Korean Gms, yes that is true and I feel pretty much similar there. But let us look at how things are right now.

 

Hapkido as an art has existed for roughly 60 years. To be a Grandmaster then one would expect that a practitioner would need to be training for a certain amount of time. 

Yet so many Grandmasters out there, Korean and Non Korean do not seem to have the time under their belts one would expect.

 

I have been a martial artist for almost 32 years. I have been a Hapkidoist for most of that time. I wouldn't expect to attain 8th Dan for at least another 20 years. (With certain very specific exceptions)

Comment by Wael on November 22, 2011 at 9:36pm

Really? Isn't that a bit harsh? I'm sure there are many non-Koreans who have been training for decades and attained high rank as a result. Some of the Korean grandmasters attained their rank quite quickly, so I don't see why they would be any more skilled than a non-Korean with similar experience.