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Monthly Archives: September 2022

Your Students Rank You. What does HIGH Rank Mean?

* Your Students Rank You

Your Students Rank You.

What does HIGH Rank Mean? The martial arts world has an obsession with rank. 

But if you look at the history of the belt system it is not today being used for what it was created for.

About 100 years ago it was created for Judo for competitions.

Your Students Rank You

Now I will state I love the system!  And the reason is that it does inspire students to learn and train. But once again people take things too far!

I recall when my son got his 4th Dan in Hapkido. One gentleman I was associated with made the comment about "hating" seeing young people with high rank. This was the day I met Shidoshi Buchan actually.

I recall Shidoshi saying "I agree, you are 10th Dan and how old?" This man was about 45.  Then Shidoshi said, "go on the floor with him like I have and tell me he does not deserve it."

Once again too many people worrying about what others are doing, and not worried about what they are doing. 

So what is my point here? Your students rank you! If you suck, you have no students, or you cannot keep them because you have nothing to offer, the again you have no students. 

Your Students Rank You

What is my rank? Honestly what does it matter? You ether like what I have to offer as a teacher, or you do not. I had a man email me a while back asking "who I was to "give out" rank in Kyusho?"

First I do not "give out" anything. But second, who was he to ask? I replied and he was very nice in his response. Perhaps he did not want to ask my teach if I was qualified?

Personally I view rank as teaching credentials. This is based on how much I have learned and can offer to the student. If I am a 9th Degree but only have enough materials to teach to 2nd Degree then there is a problem. Right? Make sense?

I do not view this as an "worship me because I am..." You students rank you! They do not give you the certificate, but they decide how real you are!

Your Students Rank you

Years ago there was a rumor floating around my Dojo that I got all my rank from the internet and earned none of it. I knew who said it. So one night after class as he was getting dressed after a shower I walked in and said " i hear I got all my ran from paying people online?"

He said, "Yes so and so was saying this."  My reply was "well if I am fake, then so is he and you."  The response was "I never thought of that." And the reason for rumors? I kicked one of them out of the school for dating a student, who was underage. 2 Rules violated there. Actually 3 because when I confronted him he lied about it.

I am, as I said a big fan of the system. Most of all I am not pursuing anything at all for myself. I just do not find it motivating personally any longer. And I never talk about my rank. If you really want to know you can look at my bio page, which I am not linking.

Your Students Rank You

Most of all it is about learning

It is about learning. And I have the ability to learn, and to pass it on to others. If you want rank and deserve it I do not mind doing that. However I love it when someone only want to learn and train.

Perhaps that is why the majority of my audience is over 45, and as high as 87. Recently i had someone question me about my "right" to teach Kosho. "You have no experience." Funny how someone can, never have met me, know everything about me?? I wish I was that insightful.

Then he saw a video from 2004 with an Octagon on my Dojo floor, painted into the mats, and said "opps, sorry."

Do I have rank in Kosho? Yes, but i teach it because it is so important. Not for any other reason. 

Your Students Rank you in Conclusion

Your Students Rank You in Conclusion

Your Students Rank You: We need to learn to stop focusing on the things without importance. And to focus on what really matters.

We must get back to the days when martial arts were about peace, personal growth and building a strong community.

Not about "winning" and getting rich. Or about lying and backstabbing, virtual signalling which is what the failed western culture has become. 

We must be better then this. Your students rank you. Think about that.

Thank you for reading Your Students Rank You.


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Thank you for taking time to read this article called Your Students Rank You! Also please checkout our History of the Martial Arts page. 

Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day! Keep Learning!

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Al vostru în arte,
Mare Maestru Art Mason

Grand Master Art Mason

Subtle Martial Arts Movement. What is the Art of Stealth?

* Subtle Martial Arts Movement

Subtle Martial Arts Movement. What is the Art of Stealth? Something happened decades ago as the martial arts came from the Orient to the Western Culture. They went from covert to overt in nature.  

And Hollywood is certain to blame for part of this as they exploited the arts for profit. But that is what they do. At first it seemed like a good thing, but I personally do not see it that way any longer.

What is Subtle Martial Arts Movement? It comes from cloaking what you are doing in response to an attacker. And it comes from taking the BIG motions first learned in the martial arts and making them smaller movement.  Using the lower base of the body to move correctly and on time.

Subtle Martial Arts Movement

Today martial arts is about competition. And competition has nothing to do with life. I know so many great martial artists my age who stopped learning decades ago. Today these men and women remissness on Facebook about their glory days. 

And the saddest part is, they stopped learning. My biggest strong suit is I have a deep thirst to learn. And over the years in the arts I have come realization that when someone tells me they "have it' or "understand it' this means they DO NOT.

That is a pure function of ego talking. One of my favorite quotes of all time is "I am the wisest man in the world because I know I know nothing" from Socrates. And in today's culture of 'experts' you see this truth. I have never met an expert in my life. Many who "claim" to be, but really only egotists. I am nothing other than a student.

Martial Arts lost its BITE when people began to show off.

Subtle Martial Arts Movement - Social Media

Social Media like Facebook or Instagram are parasites. They build false egos in people because they can pretend to be something they are not. So tell me are all these pretty young females showing of kicks to teach people to kick? Or to simply attract comments about their bodies? Exploitation to build ego.

Why would ANYONE want to show off, and tell whom ever could be stalking you on these social media platforms what you can do? And yes stalking on social media is easy. Anyone can do it.

And then there are all the people who send me their "fight" videos. I do not care about this crap!  It is very sad that people now, think this is what martial arts stands for. Pathetic tough guy competitions that PROVE NOTHING!

Subtle Martial Arts Movement - Self Defense

Martial Arts should be SUBTLE. It is not bragging rights. Self Defense, TRUE self defense is FIRST to concur the self. Control the ego! Then to prepare for something you pray will never happen, the need to hurt another human being. You have NO RIGHT to do so, unless it is your life or someone else's life at stake because of anothers violence.

Yet today in the FAILED Western Culture violence is entertainment. And of course since everyone insists on showing off everything they can do there are no surprises for the attackers. They are prepared, you are not

What is the art of stealth? Cloaking your motion outside of the visual plane of an attacker.  Keeping quiet about your training. Never showing off or fighting for selfish reasons. You must learn about Subtle Martial Arts Movement.

Subtle Martial Arts Movement Conclusion

Subtle Martial Arts Movement in Conclusion

Subtle Martial Arts Movement: This was not supposed to be a rant.

But I am sorry society needs a good kick in the ass. Especially the martial arts community who insist on showing off and bragging. 

So when someone attacks you on the street and you get destroyed do not complain.  Because you need to show off this will be your Karma.

Back about 2 years ago I read where some big MMA star got destroyed in a bar by a civilian. It looks good on him, Obviously if you cannot control yourself in a bar you get what you have coming to you.  Today when someone asks me about martial arts it is always, "did you see that fight??" No longer "what are the arts about? How can I learn.

Enough said.

Thank you for reading Subtle Martial Arts Movement.


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Recently I had someone come to me looking for high rank, a promotion, without proper substantiation of anything. Also not wanting to pay because of the "pandemic" BS. I think we have had enough of that CRIMINAL LIE for a lifetime.

But also pushing the work "humanitarian" reasons. I did not resurrect the WBA  for people who are corrupted to get rank. Sorry this is NOT a promotion site. It is here to spread the values and teachings of the martial arts for the world.

Not for fight clubs to promote themselves or for person gain.

I hope you enjoyed this article called Subtle Martial Arts Movement.

Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day! Keep Learning!

Vă mulțumesc pentru timpul acordat și o zi minunată! Continua sa inveti!

Al vostru în arte,
Mare Maestru Art Mason

Grand Master Art Mason

Why Kosho Ryu? Why Now??

* Why Kosho Ryu? Why Now??

So, Why Kosho Ryu? Why Now?? The question that is on the mind of many.

Why after all these years am I now bringing out Kosho teachings so seriously? There are a few reasons, so let me go over them with you now. 

First as I am sure you have noticed. The world is on fire. And it is the world, everywhere. Over my lifetime the morals and values of people have decayed to almost nothing. 

Why Kosho Ryu?

Most importantly we are seeing the results we see today.

Long time friendships and families destroyed over A LIE. You are a fool if you do not see this! And I mean this statement. These people only cared of the themselves to begin with. Now you see the real person. Most of all when you question these people they get angry! Should tell you something.

But that being said I believe that the values taught in some, but not all martial arts are a way back. And I believe in the teaching of Kosho, so Kosho Ryu is a way back because it is an Art of Peace. The art of escape, to do not harm unless there is NO other option. Sadly this is not main stream martial art thought.

Why Kosho Ryu? Why Now??

Second, people need effective self defense. The information out today is the usual one size fits all quick fix. Or the illusion that sport martial systems offer the solution. And again I say illusion. Most of all Kosho is no quick fix. However you can learn to escape effectively, quickly and in a short time.

This world somehow 'believes' in instant. I hear people every day with the "when is this going to happen" mantra. You must give time to time. I know of one man who is very concerned about self defense. He wants me to say something he will agree with and all will be well. Over 4 years ago I pushed him to train, but he has done almost nothing. Yet he wants results. 

There is nothing I can do to help this man. His ego is too big, even though he is a coward. Funny how that works.

Wolf's Den Dojo - Why Kosho Ryu?

And finally I am looking for people who may be interested in serious Kosho Ryu study. Beyond distance learning, at my Wolf Den Dojo over the years to come. Today I am thrilled to announce that Master Philip Welch, a long time student of mine is joining me in Romania for this project. This is very exciting.

He is a livelong martial arts student having experience in Aikido, Hapkido with me, Kosho Ryu and Kyusho Jitsu. Plus other attributes. 

The world will need dedicated martial art teachers in the future. We have enough coaches now. Sport is not the way. In truth I do not believe these barbaric, tough guy competitions will not be allowed to continue in the coming world. It is time to renounce violence as sport. I cannot believe people think watching someone beat someone's in the face is entertainment. This is a very sad reflection on what is left of society. So see why Kosho Ryu?

Why Kosho Ryu? in Conclusion

Why Kosho Ryu? Why Now?? in Conclusion

Some of what I say may see harsh. But in this world of comforting lies truths must be told.

If Kosho sounds like something of interest to you then checkout my Introduction to Kosho Ryu. Part of the Kosho Core Concepts Series.

If you are totally new to Kosho Ryu, the Art of Escape, the art of Peace there is a free course below. So why Kosho Ryu? Why now? I think you can see my reasons.

Thank you for reading Why Kosho Ryu?


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I hope you enjoyed this article Why Kosho Ryu.  

Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day! Keep Learning!

Vă mulțumesc pentru timpul acordat și o zi minunată! Continua sa inveti!

Al vostru în arte,
Mare Maestru Art Mason

Grand Master Art Mason

Most Important Martial Art Teacher? Who could this be?

* Most Important Martial Art Teacher?

Most Important Martial Art Teacher? Who could this be? Many in the martial arts world love to tell of the linage of their art.

And this is very important knowledge! However there is so much more to this. Let's take a few minutes and look into this idea shall we?

Who was your martial art teacher? There are those still alive today that can say they were taught directly by men like Ed Parker and Robert Trias

 And even a few who can claim Bruce Lee.  

And those who can make these claims often fight among each other as to what these pioneers taught.

Aikido is divided by 2 main schools of taught on what Ueshiba taught. One focuses on his early teachings and the other on his later teachings. So which is correct? Who is the most important martial art teacher?

Most Important Martial Art Teacher?

I look at the James M Mitose linage and controversy. Thomas Mitose claiming the rights to the art of Kosho Ryu, yet everything I have seen him do, while a talented man, is not Kosho.  However Bruce Juchik can prove the linage with signed papers. Yet many try to refute this. 

Many try to tell you because they learned directly from this person or that person they are therefore GREAT martial arts masters.  Now I am not saying this is not important, only that is does not mean what people think it does.

Because I was taught pressure points, Kyusho Jitsu directly in person by Grand Master Steve Stewart does that make me great? Certainly NOT. I could spend 10 years with him and learn nothing! 

But egos keep getting in the way.

Egos - Most Important Martial Art Teacher

Look at the pathetic website "bullshido." Seriously? men and or women with such HUGE egos they feel the need to protect people from fraudulent martial arts and teachers. And how? Because they are so smart they can judge a teacher or style from a video or two? Ridiculous. 

And I am sure if I was to waste some of my life talking to these guys they would be the first to tell me of their credentials and who they learned from. I hope you do not follow this kind of tabloid crap.

Who is your Most Important Martial Art Teacher?

Most Important Martial Art Teacher in Conclusion

Most Important Martial Art Teacher in Conclusion

Who is my most important martial arts teacher? ME! I am the most important. Why is this? 

Because if I am humble, and train hard I can still learn from my teachers teachings.

A martial arts teacher is a mentor, not a God. Only I can decide how much I can learn.  And open my mind to learn without for prejudices about what I like and do not like.

It is like in the movie Enter the Dragon when Bruce Lee points out to his student about his finger pointing to the moon.  Do not look at the teacher, but focus on the teaching. Do not seek to be like the master rather seek what the master sought. 

Thank you for reading Most Important Martial Art Teacher.


Questions?

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Thank you for taking time to read this article called Most Important Martial Art Teacher. 

Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day! Keep Learning!

Vă mulțumesc pentru timpul acordat și o zi minunată! Continua sa inveti!

Al vostru în arte,
Mare Maestru Art Mason

Grand Master Art Mason

Only hurt people, hurt people. Understanding what makes the bully tick

* Only hurt people, hurt people

Only hurt people, hurt people. Understanding what makes the bully tick. A new article from World Budo Alliance founder Grand Master Dave DeGrouchie. 

The issue of bullying to a well trained martial artist, is as top of mind, as blood pressure is to a well trained physician. As martial artists, our paths of study are many. One vital path of course, is the subject of self defense. 

Only hurt people, hurt people. As we study the subject of self defense, we know that the mental aspects of self defense, are the most important, and most common.

Only hurt people, hurt people

Physical attacks are rare, and can mostly be avoided by being aware of how we act, where we are, etc. However, attacks on our mental well being, happen all the time, and attacks on our mental well being, come from many sources. For the purpose of today’s article, I’m going to focus on bullying.

Much is covered in today’s society on the subjects of bully prevention, and coping as a bullying victim. Two problems though:

  1. Not enough focus on what drives a bully in the first place
  2. Most of the focus, is on childhood bullies and their victims.

To me, focusing on children, is a great “bottom-to-top” approach. Teach kids when they are young, so that when they are adults, they behave towards others better, teach their children, etc. The turn around is decades away of course, as these children have to grow up, but there is good in it. I don’t think, we invest enough in the “top-to-bottom” approach however. Teach adults how to understand bullying, not let it affect them, and raise their kids in a world of confidence, and lead-by- example ability to love themselves without having to rip others apart. Kids mimic adults.

Bullying - Only hurt people, hurt people

Bullying education of children, is in vain, unless we have bullying education of adults. This is why the problem worsens over the years, never gets better. It’s human nature, to want to be liked, and treated well by others. Sadly, being an emotionally unstable animal, is also human nature.

 Someone will always want to hurt you in some way, some day. The first step in not being a victim, is not giving a shit. The first step in building the ability to not give a shit, is understanding what is behind the behavior. Next, are 6 behavioral drivers, of the common adult bully.

 Think of someone that has attacked you via social media, or treats you like shit at work, etc. See if you can bag them into one of the 6 behavioral drivers below. Bet you can, and maybe more than just one. Especially, if you know anything about their current life, or past:

Only hurt people, hurt people - Perceived threats: 
  • The aggressor may see you as a threat to their business, ego, or persona they have built for themselves, due to dissatisfaction of their normal selves.
  • Desire for Power: We live in a world where people are the most power hungry they have ever been. Silence is confidence.. Those that make noise, need those looking on to think they are the “one”.
  • Revenge: Doesn’t matter if the bully is right or wrong in their perception. If they think you wronged them and they are already mentally weak, you will become the absolute focus of their attention.
  • Cowardice: Gotta love the internet. A weak fool can attack you without really confronting you, get other jackasses to “like” what has been put out there, and the bully finds a few extra pounds of fake confidence each time. Then they get louder.
  • Sadism: Sadly, some people just like to beat others down.
  • Unsolved Past Trauma: If someone has been made to feel small, they may dedicate their being to making others feel small. These types, normally piggy back on the behavior of a stronger minded bully, and take things to a higher level. They take comfort in the original bully’s support, and use his/her back bone as their own.

In a nutshell, only hurt people, hurt people. If someone is mentally or emotionally attacking you, it’s because in their own diminished mind, that is the only way they know to feel better. To displace.

Only hurt people, hurt people

If we see any of the above behavioral drivers in ourselves, and we work to face the cause, we are then the ones who can actually stop bullying. That, is where the chain needs to be broken. Top-down.

In self defense, the only attack that successfully lands, is the one not seen coming. Never forget that. In a physical situation, it can be a punch to the side of the head, delivered from an angle you didn’t see. BANG! In an emotional or mental situation, it is the attack you don’t understand, that causes you to wonder, and dwell. From there, comes the weight, stress, and in truth, the delivery of the attack on you. BANG!

Only hurt people, hurt people

In a physical encounter, if you see the attack coming, you can deal with it. You will either stop it entirely, or move in a way to diminish it’s effect. So it won’t floor you, and you won’t pay attention to it past the conflict moment. In a mental, or emotional encounter, if you understand why the attack is happening, you will be able to brush it aside so it won’t floor you, and you won’t pay attention to it, past the conflict moment.

Bullying stops, when we stop doing it, and stop being victimized. First step, is understanding what makes the bully tick. Only hurt people, hurt people.

Grand Master Dave DeGrouchie

Dave Degrouchie

I hope you enjoyed the article called Only hurt people, hurt people! And checkout my latest eBook called Kosho Ryu the Awakened Mind

Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day! Keep Learning!

Vă mulțumesc pentru timpul acordat și o zi minunată! Continua sa inveti!

Al vostru în arte,
Mare Maestru Art Mason

Grand Master Art Mason
World Budo Alliance