Martial Arts Flim Flam

[LWPD]

This is another informative thread from the 'way back' machine...this time from the now defunct Submissionfighting.com circa 2000. The focus is on fact and fiction in Martial Arts Training. Enjoy!

Flim Flam
Credit Mark Tripp

Well... I guess we have to do this.

I understand why people do not like a debunker. They have invested time and energy into something that they honestly believe in. It would be wonderful if there was some occult power we could tap into that gave us powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal man.

But it just isn't so.

On this thread, along with the help of David Ross and Scott Shonnon; we are going to tell you about the things we have seen; how it was presented; and what the truth is.

It won't be pretty; but it will be the facts

The old adage “Let the buyer Beware” has never been more relevant than now, when looking at the Martial Art business. The vast number of movies and television programs depicting some form of Martial Art are overwhelming. This has led to a growth in public interest nationwide; While at the same time it has created a huge influx of total frauds representing themselves as experts to the general public. Whenever there is great public interest in a product or service that can be faked or duplicated, the crooks always show up to try and gyp you. An example that most of us know is the name “Rolex”.

Now Rolex is famous for quality watches, and those watches are a fair trade item; Which means there are no discounts from the list price from the factory. BUT, because of the name “Rolex”, and the quality associated with it, people still buy counterfeit watches with the name Rolex on them; JUST TO IMPRESS THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY! Because of “Ego”, and people wanting to be something they are not, the country is loaded with counterfeit Rolex’s. This is the exact same reason this country is loaded with even more counterfeit martial artists, schools, and phony Black Belt instructors. (more)

How do you know if you’re receiving legitimate, effective Martial Art, instruction? That is the question! Here are some of the major “Warning Signs” to look out for!

1. If the name of the style is just Karate, or Japanese Karate, or American Karate, or Korean Karate, etc. Real Karate instructors are very proud of their particular style, and the History of that style. All real martial art styles have a recorded and verifiable history.

If a school’s style is an exotic name, that they are the only teachers of, there is a good chance it is a phony made up system. Also, quite often a student of a legitimate Karate style, receives a rank much less than a Black Belt, then starts his own school! Naturally they self-promote themselves to a very high grade Black Belt, and begin issuing rank certificates in their own “style”. Sadly, although these ranks are printed on fancy paper, they have no validity anywhere, except at that one school. Worse, the students are not being trained by a true master of the system, which could have fatal results in a street encounter!

Yes, there have been instances when legitimate, talented, and high ranking martial artists have broken off from the original group and started their own school and style. One such example would be Jigoro Kano, who broke away from Jujitsu and founded Judo in 1882. The problem is that the public thinks this is a common occurrence. In point of fact, this is a rare event, and should be questioned by a prospective student. Research will show that the founding masters of Aikido, and many current karate systems, were all high ranked Judo/Jujitsu experts before they started these new systems. They did not wake up one day and say “I think I’ll create Aikido today!” They had a traceable history in some real Martial Art. (more)

2. If there is no body contact or “free sparring” in the dojo.

You must have some form of “free practice” (Randori or Kumite) in order to measure your progress and the validity and quality of your techniques. Phony teachers have used excuses like “Our techniques are too dangerous to practice”. Or, “we do real self-defense, not sport here”. What a bunch of baloney that is! ANY instructor that discourages his students from safe, practical sparring is a fraud! This person is afraid his students will be exposed to real techniques, or learn their so called “deadly techniques” WILL NOT WORK IN A REAL FIGHT! Also an instructor that won’t allow his students to be “cross trained” or work out with other styles is afraid they will lose their enlightened students fast! Now if you are able to train in different styles at the same club fine; BUT, if the instructor insists you do NOT compete, or work out at any other club, be suspicious!

3. If you are not able to observe a class, or talk to the students UNLESS you join, or you cannot take a small number of lessons to see if a program is for you!

The fear and insecurity of the instructor must be that you, (or the friend you bring with you), may be qualified to critique the class and you will go elsewhere. A confident and competent instructor will welcome visitors and spectators. It is the best way to increase membership in a real dojo!

Another reason for avoiding spectators is that the exercises are obviously causing injury to the students. An example is insisting the students punch a padded board until their hands and knuckles are covered in blood! Then the next student is required to step up and punch the same bloody board and pad!!! Have these people discovered a cure for Aids or Hepatitis-B that only they know of?

As a group it is very easy to be brainwashed into acting macho or tough in this sort of an environment. Giving up your personal belief in what’s best for your body to one of these “experts” is an accident waiting to happen, and should cause you to seek professional counseling quickly!

To Be Continued

[LWPD]

Flim Flam In Martial Arts
Credit Mark Tripp

4. The school requires you to follow their special “health program”.

Now there is nothing wrong with helping a student with diet and exercise, that is one of the main benefits of the martial arts. However, when the student is forced to use special “supplements” (Which they must buy from the school); Follow unusual diets (many of which have been found to be unsafe); Or submit to “treatments” (such as acupuncture or chiropractic) as a part of their training, then something is very wrong with this picture! You should check with your Doctor before beginning any exercise program, and consult with them about any of the above!

5. Beware of large ads.

Full page ads in the newspapers or TV guide mean excessive costs passed on to the students. Exciting pictures of people flying through the air, trap a lot of new students. When you answer such an ad, you are given an appointment with what people in sales call “A professional closer”.

This persons job is to get you to sign a long term contract for lessons. The cost is anywhere from $1,800 to $5000, and once you sign, you’re stuck! People have lost their TVs, furniture, even their cars over these contracts. Still sound like a good deal? Also, none of these types of schools ever allow their students to compete with other schools or train anywhere else!

6. Holding multiple high ranking Black Belts in several different styles.

Checking this out is not easy because magazines such as Black Belt run ads from phony paper mills who offer fake Black Belt certificates. For a fee, anyone can be any rank they want in any system they want! Keep in mind, legitimate martial art groups, do not need to advertise in Black Belt magazine, any more than the US Army needs to run ads in Soldier of Fortune to find soldiers! Imagine a person saying they are a General in the Army, an Admiral in the Navy, a General in the Air Force, and a General in the Marines! What would you think of that person? We know you can’t be a General in all four branches of the military, and neither can a person legitimately be a 10th Dan in several martial arts.

There is a weakness in some people that allow the con-artist to prey on them. By claiming to be a 10th Dan, or Soke, the con-men suggest they are masters of any art you could possibly want to learn. As soon as public interest leans towards a style, they claim another master rank in that as well! As soon as your cash arrives, you can be a master in anything too! If a 10th Dan isn’t enough, you can even get Bachelors, Masters, and of course, Doctorates in Martial Art studies. These papers are worthless to any legitimate accredited college or university, but perhaps these people enjoy staring at these papers and dreaming about greatness.

7. Mystic mind-sets or stunts

If the school claims to knock people out with a shout; hold you to the floor with “mental energy”; Or my favorite, knock out street lamps with KI power, find another school. We, along with James Randi, have offered $100,000.00 to the man claiming to knock out street lamps to demonstrate this skill under test conditions, we’re still waiting for him to try. Real self-defense skills are grounded in reality, not mysticism.

8. Check out the Resume carefully!

Many schools list famous martial art legends as their “Senseis”. They insinuate they have been taught by these famous people to give credibility to their fraudulent certificates. In fact, they have only been at a lecture or clinic, and had their picture taken with these famous people. Call the people in the Picture and ask them if they know the person in question!

The best example of this is a local “Sensei” who claims to be an expert in Judo, and also claims to have trained with Judo/Sambo expert Ron Tripp. This man spent less than 20 minutes, in Dr. Tripp’s living room, talking about Judo, and Dr. Tripp showed him one throw. Remember, they were never on a mat, and never had a uniform on! This man has no legitimate judo skill, and Dr. Tripp plans to let him know as much on his next visit to Detroit!

9. Weapon Masters

Many phony masters offer clinics in various martial art weapons. They offer to make you a master of the sword, staff, or whatever, in a few short days, or even hours. It just doesn’t work that way.

Also, weapons training is very good as long as the weapon is capable of being carried and used in todays society. Swords were great, until about 100 years ago. Learning the sword is great fun, but impractical for modern self-defense. Six or four foot staffs are tremendous weapons, as are double 24” sticks, but when was the last time you were carrying them around with you, on a daily basis? If you feel the urge to train with ancient weapons, do it. But why would you train with a cap and ball pistol when you have a modern one to master?

10. Closed Competitions

If the school only competes within the same school or satellite schools connected to the same instructor, beware! Punching and kicking air is only a small part of proper training, but too many frauds use it as the only training! Attending large open tournaments with several schools in competition is a good way to measure how your school rates with the other schools in your area, or the country. How does your school do overall? Do the other schools treat your instructor with respect? You can get a feel for the reality or fraud real fast in this environment.

11. Negative comments about EVERY style but theirs.

The ideal complete fighter would be both a striker and a grappler. If you are training with anyone who tells you that you don’t need to learn both methods, get out of that school fast. Remember the founders of the real systems were all cross trained.

Continued...

[LWPD]

Flim Flam In Martial Arts
Credit Sifu David Ross

OK, I'll do my part here. First, I'll focus on the Chinese martial arts. Sadly, these arts tend to have some of the worst offenders, because of the general ignorance about real Chinese martial art.

1. Traditional Chinese martial arts do not have belts, formal ranks or international organizations. If someone tells you they are a brown belt, black belt, 5th degree black belt, etc in TCMA, be very suspicious. Some people have adopted these ranks as they are surrounded by these sorts of ranking schemes but if they do, and they are honest, they will explain that to you.

In TCMA, there are many organizations but they tend to be groups of teachers who know eachother and tend not to evaluate credentials and skill levels. Membership in many of these organizations sadly means NOTHING.

TWO MAJOR EXCEPTIONS; The North American Chinese Martial Arts Federation (NACMAF) does extensive background and skill evaluation before issuing ranking.

In San Shou, the international governing body is the IWUF (International Wushu Federation). San Shou people should have some affiliation with them.

2. TCMA must include both striking and grappling. If not, you are learning a watered down, commercial, drive in movie version of so-called kung fu. No nice way to say it.

3. TCMA involves contact sparring. Every old school I have ever been in had a box of boxing gloves in the corner. Again, the drive in movie, death touch fantasy, forms driven, make a buck easy crowd don't like this but the fact is that the old Chinese masters all fought and embraced fighting.

4. Ranking and legitimacy in TCMA is conveyed by close relationship to an instructor. This relationship is shown by pictures of teacher and student together; teacher seated and student standing beside and behind. By formal adoption, a ceremony which MUST have a witness (a BIG NAME type, another instructor), involves signing a contract in a red ceremony book and taking pictures with the student kneeling before the instructor. Any REAL instructor will be more than happy to show a prospective student these things. I have them up on my web site for example

By certification. Often in Chinese (heck, my teacher spoke no English) but all you need to do is find someone who can read Chinese to check it out!

5. People talk a lot about DIM MAK, death touches, Chi blasts, vital point striking, etc. I really wonder how many of these people have studied a real TCMA to an advanced level with a legitimate Chinese teacher?

My teacher, raised in a monastery, WORLD FAMOUS, named by the Chinese government a LIVING TREASURE, a former hand-to hand (military san shou) instructor, surviver of the war against the Japanese, The Chinese civil war and the Cultural Revolution, etc etc was asked directly about the so-called Dim mak.

Now, before I give you his answer, let's do something simple. Let's actually translate DIM MAK into English. It doesn't mean death touch. It means to point/poke or touch the pulse. The Chinese also refer to Dim Yuet, to touch or poke the cavities in the body. It gets less MYSTERIOUS as we progress yes?

Well, my teacher answered the first quesiton, whether Dim Mak was part of his training, as YES.

He was then asked how Dim Mak worked? My instructor said, and I quote;

Poke the eyes, slap the groin, twist the neck, kick the knees, the body has weak points, attack them with focussed power.

In the 1950's, Chang Tung Sheng, grandmaster of the Pao Ting Chinese wrestling system, national free sparring champion of China and undefeated in all challenges (and would remain so the rest of his life!) gave an interview in a Chinese news paper. He said that for years, he had heard people say that wrestling was not effective because to get that close, you could be subject to the fabled death touch of dim mak!

Chang found the comment amusing because he said that in all his years of fighting, it had never happened. It had never happened even when fighting so called experts at Dim Mak. In a nut shell, Chang said two more things. First, that if he could get close to you, he could hurt you! (It was the truth, pure and simple and if you've ever seen tapes of the 70 year old Chang tossing people you'd understand completely). Second, he said the whole Dim Mak thing was created by NON FIGHTERS to avoid fighting, keep their students and take money from other non fighters.

Chang then issued a very public challenge with money involved for anyone to Dim mak him. For another 30 plus years (the rest of his life) it never happened.

[LWPD]

Flim Flam In Martial Arts
Credit Scott Sonnon

In my years of of having the privilege and honor of sharing authentic Russian-Style martial art with America, I have encountered a vast array of excellent questions. The following is one of a necessary insight into the unique nature of Russian-Style.

Sambo was the vehicle for permitting the revitalization of "old" Russian-styles. Without Sambo, these 'old' traditions would not have had a blanket to be protected in the cold winters of the former USSR.

Did any indigenous style during the lifetime of the USSR survive the cultural purges of the Soviet State? No. Any indigenous practices were swept under the auspices of Sambo - the Soviet State MA.

Before all the Sambo wrestlers out there start cheering, allow me to say that frankly very few people in America have even begun to realize the expansiveness of Sambo. It's history is so convoluted with misinformation as to be choking.

Sambo is not "merely" a sport. Sambo is not a curriculum of self-defense tricks. Sambo is something much larger, much more vast than any but a handful of people know. (Most Russians in Russia did not even know/realize that there were distinct styles of Sambo that formed as a result of the three different authors of Sambo, until my articles in WORLD OF MARTIAL ARTS MAGAZINE last June.)

The point here is that unless there is an obvious connection to Sambo during the Soviet Union, if it is claimed to be "Russian Martial Art" (RMA), it's been manufactured in recent years.

Firstly, there are never clear lines of distinction within Sambo... As I wrote in my article for the World of Martial Arts Magazine, Russian Sambo is not a single pearl, but a multi-faceted gemstone. Authentic Russian Sambo has actually three styles, each corresponding to a different founder (Spiridonov, Oshchepkov and Kharlampiev). Sambo is more like a smooth continuum of internal expanse and depth. To say this is Kharlampievan-Style, this is Oshchepkovan-Style, and this is Spiridonovan-Style (and within each style: "This is Combat-flavor, while this is Sport-flavor, while this is Special-flavor") is very challenging considering the monumental degree of overlap, since Sambo is a GLOBAL SYSTEM.

If a Sportsmaster of Sambo had never been exposed to Combat-flavor (which is HIGHLY unlikely) it is entirely possible that an individual with the esteemed accomplishment of a Masters of Sport in Sambo could be introduced to Combat-flavor, especially in the former USSR when the competition was so fierce that a Soviet Masters of Sport attended international and world championship competitions in order to relax (In Russia, there is a saying regarding Sambo competitive achievements, "First in the World, Seventh in Siberia," meaning that someone who wins a world championships is a "bench-warmer" compared to those that win the Russian Championships.).

Again, it is important to state that in Russia, there is not the stark distinction between Sport-flavor and Combat-flavor and Special-flavor that many in America have nappropriately compartmentalized - that desire to make distinctions is an American social characteristic. Even the very alteration in lexicon has affected the American public perspective.

Meaning that to call "Sport Sambo" and to call "Combat Sambo" and to call "Special flavor" lends the impression that they are disparate, when they are not. They are three aspects of the same doctrinal wisdom and information base. Both flavors are not only integral to learning Sambo, but both flavors ARE Sambo as a whole.

I think it is important to look at the syntax of Sambo to find the doctrine latent in this discipline. It is deceptive to say "Combat Sambo" and "Sport Sambo" and "Special Forces Sambo" which gives the connotation that they are two different entities. It is more approriate for conceptual purposes to use the actual translation of: Sambo Sport-flavor and Sambo Combat-flavor and Sambo Special-flavor. They are aspects of the same whole - SAMBO. They are not 3 independent venues. Sambo is one vein with many capillaries: Sport-wrestling, Free-fighting, Subject/crowd control, Close-quarters combat, Health/Wellness, Self-defense, Survival training, etc...

The primary intention of Sambo is attribute development and the internalization of natural law principles. So many people concentrate on the techniques. In Russia, they are called "tricks" to remind us that they work sometime, other times they do not, and they are only useful in surprise. They are to be created not obeyed. Adaptation, Innovation, Improvisation - these are the three main tenets that are so often ignored for the security dogma.

To be continued...

[LWPD]

Flim Flam In Martial Arts
Credit Scott Sonnon

Sportsmen must develop in the cauldron and are better prepared for life's surprise situations of imminent jeopardy and extreme urgency. This is a means of preparation. In my opinion, it is the ultimate means of preparation, if conducted properly - as a lifetime sport, a community-involved game (absent of elitism). If someone claims to be practicing Special-flavor and/or Combat-flavor and has not touched Sport-flavor, bluntly - they don't know Sambo as the Global System that it is.

Sambo Combat-flavor expands the tactical repository. It increases the technical possibilities that are discovered in Sambo Sport-flavor. All those lessons must be 'earned' in Sport-flavor. But for many precarious issues such has plural assailant engagements, weapon weilding assailants, self-defense for others, etc... the natural laws that are internalized and the attributes that are developed within Sport-flavor are applied in different realms in Sambo Combat-flavor.

They both need eachother, because they are part of the same whole.

Sambo was created for a purpose... It is not merely Sambo a means of self-defense; it is not merely Sambo a game of sport-wrestling; it was not merely a means of survival adaptibility. It is Sambo - a martial art.

This was the true innovation of the USSR. They brought together the mighty reservoir of knowledge from the indigenous styles of Russia, as well as foreign influences... and devised a Global System and pedagogy... and squashed out anything "Russian"... anything not-Sambo, for that matter. Many do not even realize that it is STILL illegal in Russia, since the law has yet to be changed, to practice ANY form of martial art, including SAMBO!

Nearly ALL information known about authentic Russian-Style Martial Art has until now, been propaganda and misinformation. Those familiar with the former Soviet political platform are all too well aware of this blanket strategy. As the official representative from Russia for North America, it is my responsibility to help counteract the residual effects of this strategy of disinformation, so that two former enemies, USA and Russia, may unite in our commonality and in fraternity...

Sambo has never had, nor shall it ever possess ranks. Recently 'companies' outside of Russia have decided to capitalize on the financial potential of Sambo, by devising ranks in Sambo and/or "RMA" or any other sparkly-fangled named one can conjur. This has never been part of Russian Martial Art, and NEVER been part of ANY aspect of Russian Culture. Creating rank in RMA is only a means to make money off of innocent folk by compartmentalizing their time, crafting their education more slowly, and 'selling' them what they expect from a 'martial art.'

R.O.S.S. Russian Martial Art was developed after the fall of the Soviet Union as a means of deliberately focusing on rejuvenating the cultural heritage of Russia, and building upon the SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH that was conducting throughout the lifetime of the USSR into human combat efficacy and health. R.O.S.S. was publicly endorsed by President V. Putin as part of Russian culture.

Russian Martial Art. These three words are becoming very popular around the globe. Why? Is just only because it fashion to talk about Russian stuff? Probably for some people - “Yes.” But other people see something more behind these three words.

Russian – that’s understandable – RMA is part of Russian Culture.

Martial – we know that 2/3 of its history Russia was defending itself from enemies, and actually was successful in that- that’s why the Russian territory is still 1/7 of the whole world.

Art – It is in singular and from the capital letter. The same likes Russian Culture. We cannot say – Russian Cultures, because it is Culture, which belongs to Russian people. And Russian Martial Art is ART, which is combination of thousand years of Russian Heritage and Russian Martial Traditions; ART, which was passing from generation to generation, from fathers to sons; ART, which helped Russian people to win so many battles and wars. There are several Far Eastern Martial Arts - Chinese Martial Art, Japanese Martial Art, Vietnamese Martial Art... There are also Western Martial Arts...

But Russian Martial Art is the only one. There are not many Russias, but RUSSIA – is the only one.

But 10 years ago even in whole USSR there were just several people who could answer the questions “What is the Russian Style? What is the Russian Martial Art?” And of course it was impossible to try to find the information about the history of Russian Martial Art and Russian Military traditions.

To be continued

[LWPD]

Flim Flam In Martial Arts
Credit Scott Sonnon

But Russian Martial Art is the only one. There are not many Russias, but RUSSIA – is the only one.But 10 years ago even in whole USSR there were just several people who could answer the questions “What is the Russian Style? What is the Russian Martial Art?” And of course it was impossible to try to find the information about the history of Russian Martial Art and Russian Military traditions.

However it was the explanation – how one could know about something which was not existed. Not existed in that area of our lives, which were not classified and didn’t have stamp “confidential.” Russian Style lived his own life, secret life.

So, before the creation of All-Russian Federation of Russian Martial Art nobody could find anywhere in media these three words. Can you imagine – big country, huge population, rich history – and no Russian Martial Art?!

In the beginning of the 90-th decade the group of enthusiasts, like-minded people set up the goal – to revive Russian Martial Art. The decision was made to create a public organization, which will be able to unite all people, who are interested in rebirth of RMA and helping to do that.

All-Russian Federation of Russian Martial Art was established on February 13, 1992, and was registered with Russian Ministry of Justice. President of Federation was elected – Gen. Alexander Retuinskih (Vice-Chairman of the International Combat Sambo Commission for FIAS (International Amateur Sambo Federation) and Chairman of the Russian Combat Sambo Committee, General Director of the RETAL (Russian Combat Skill Consultant Scientific and Practical Training) Center, General of the Cossack Military, Chief of Department of Hand-to-Hand Combat, Master of Sport in Sambo and Judo, Honourable Coach of Russia. Besides his titles, this person did really a lot for revival of Russian Martial Art. Actually, it was the first time in 75 years, when people again heard this phrase – Russian Martial Art.

Russian Martial Art has a martial evolution of several periods of Russian history. The contemporary training of Russian Martial Art, culminating from each of these periods of influence and development is known as ROSS - "Russian Native System of Self-Defense". ROSS is the national training system of Russian Martial Art.

R.O.S.S. is the Russian acronym for Rossijskaya Otechestvennaya Sistema Samozashchity. In English language, this can be translated as the "Russian Native System of Self-defense". ROSS was developed by Gen. Alexander Ivanovich Retuinskih, President of the Russian Federation of Russian Martial Art. ROSS is the training system of Russian Martial Art researched and formulated by the RETAL Center and endorsed and approved by the Russian Federation of Russian Martial Art, which is sanctioned and authorized by the National Olympic Committee of Russia as the sole official representative of Russian Martial Art within Russia and worldwide.

R.O.S.S. is a Movement Principle-Based Training Model. As such, it attempts through deconditioning training to directly address the internalization of the discipline's principles and movement pattern. The main method of this is immersion treatment. This is why R.O.S.S. entitled our training, "Survival under extreme conditions."

Additionally, in R.O.S.S., practicioners are taught how the body functions (dysfunctions) in both academic and demonstrative anatomy/physiology, kinesiology/biomechanics and psychophysiology. If a sportsman understands how the body functions (say an ankle) and the sportsman intuitively moves (through kinesthetic awareness afforded by biomechanical efficiency), as the sportsmen writhes he "invents" a new solution to a new "puzzle". One of the paramount tenets of Russian-Style is: "Everything you do is for the first time." As a result, it is not that there are no "techniques" in Russian-Style, it is that the "concept" of a technique is missing (that in order to train, one must repeat a pre-determined technique). In order to DO, one must create a technique. However, it is that in Russian-Style, there are no pre-orchestrated, pre-determined techniques, only that on-site spontaneous improvisation of a necessary solution to the situation. Those methods that are based on technique-training have as their intent the same goal as those based on movement-training such as Russian-Style. And that intent is the seemless fluidity of masterful motion. To command the situation, there are many methods of preparedness, equally valid, even though initially they appear in contra-distinction. This is why in ROSS, students do not rehearse or practice - they explore and create.

Hence, they are NO ranks in RMA, nor can there ever be. Furthermore, if it is not a scientific system, it is not RMA.

Finally, all of Russian Martial Art, for the first time in history since before the Soviet Union, is united, and it is finally possible for Sambo to be united. Currently, there are many who squabble that this is Sambo and this is not. My organization shall change that... slowly... through stamping out the disinformation, and those that prey upon the rippling effects of that disinformation.

Fraternal,

Scott Sonnon

(with contributions by Nikolay Travkin)