Not All Karate Classes Are Created Equal

FACTS About Martial Art Classes:

  • FACT: Most karate classes ARE NOT Traditional Martial Arts classes!

  • FACT: A large number of karate students have not been taught how to properly throw a punch or a kick!

  • FACT: Most karate classes don't teach practical self-defense!

  • FACT: These same studios promote students to Blackbelt  in 2-3 years for a HUGE fee, regardless of their knowledge and ability to protect themselves!

  • FACT: A large number of instructors have only been training for 2-3 years, and have NO teaching experience or Certification!

  • FACT: Knowing Karate is one thing - Knowing Martial Arts, and knowing how to teach Martial Arts is another - Grogan's Academy of Martial Arts offers the BEST OF BOTH!

Come to a Traditional Martial Arts studio & EARN your promotions.

"There is no greater reward than self-respect"

 

1.) Tae Kwon Do is a Martial Sport - NOT a Traditional Martial Art:
This FACT is rarely ever shared with students of Tae Kwon Do, who believe they are training in a Traditional Martial Art.

  • A Martial Art Sport focuses on winning & losing in a tournament setting.

  • A Traditional Martial Art (such as Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan) focuses on assisting students in gaining confidence within oneself and within ones abilities, to know they can get more out of every aspect of life. Also, to have the courage & confidence to stand up for what is right & just, and the ability to defend themselves & their families when necessary.  

2.) A Karate Class is NOT ALWAYS a Martial Arts Class:
As a matter of Fact, there are very few Traditional Martial Arts classes being taught today.

  •  A large number of  "karate" classes taught today are no more than supervised recess, where there is very little, if any instruction or discipline in the class.

  • Proper technique on punching & kicking is rarely taught.

  • A large number of instructors have received little or NO training on how to teach. - Most are students with ONLY 2-3 years of training themselves.

See the guidelines & demands for becoming an Instructor In Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan

3.) Most Beginning Students CAN NOT Reach Blackbelt in 2 Years:
Another huge problem in the Martial Arts industry is the "2 Year Blackbelt Program" - PLEASE Don't be fooled by this or any other un-realistic promise.  - Receiving a Blackbelt in 2 years is a money making scam in the Martial Arts industry. -  And is a disgrace to any true Martial Artist.
 

These places PREACH tradition, heritage, value & integrity, but do very little to TEACH these valuable traits, and even go as far as to dishonor the students & themselves by making false promises. Such as - Giving away rank promotions for money!  - (Getting a Blackbelt in 2 years or less!) 

You & your family are better than this, and are worthy of more respect than these type of places can offer.  

 

See the guidelines & demands for each belt rank in Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan

 

4.) Belts & Uniforms Are NOT the same in every style:

Today there is just about every color for a uniform & even more colors for each belt.

  • Traditional uniforms are always white. - White was the traditional color worn in Asian culture, and is also a symbol of peace, passiveness, & innocence. (White = Peace, Black = Death)

  • Each Belt Rank should have a meaning & philosophy behind it, not just a random color.

See the meaning & philosophy of each color belt in Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan

 

 

Do yourself & your family BIG a favor before signing up for any old karate class,

and locking yourself into a LONG TERM CONTRACT.

 

ASK QUESTIONS & then use your own best instincts as to the quality & truthfulness of their answers.

 

(Remember, your gut instinct is usually the correct instinct, so if

something doesn't seem right, or feel right in your gut, it's probably not!)

 

SOME QUESTIONS TO ASK:

  1. Ask for a FREE Class, with NO OBLIGATIONS!

  2. Ask for Prices up front (Not just the beginner's special)!

  3. Ask how long the instructor has been training & how long they have been teaching?

  4. Ask where & how did they get their credentials, certificates, and instructor certification?

  5. Ask questions about the style & organization, such as:  

    • What is the meaning of the style (definition)?

    • Is it a World-wide organization, with years of heritage, or just something someone created a few years ago (this is becoming a HUGE problem as of late with what's called "Mixed Martial Arts" - Explained below)

    • Ask about the belt ranking system, and where the credentials & certificates come from, and what is the minimum time requirement for reaching "Blackbelt". 

    • Ask what does the term "Blackbelt" mean? - I can only imagine some of the answers you'll receive to this question. - (Answer: Blackbelt is a non-existent word in Asia. Black is a symbol of death, and upon death a person has perfected life, and has no need to continue learning.) The traditional color is actually "Midnight Blue", which is a symbol of maturity & continual learning.

  6. Ask if the instructor understands proper mechanics for throwing a punch & a kick (ask them to explain)?

  7. Ask about practical self-defense!

  8. Ask if the style is a Traditional Martial Arts, meaning - Defensive first? (Now days people are calling Ultimate Fighting - Mixed Martial Arts. - They should be calling it; "Mixed acts of senseless violence").

The philosophy behind Martial Arts is to preserve life though better living, not to teach aggression through senseless acts of violence, which tends to shorten life.

It takes absolutely NO TALENT OR KNOWLEDGE to kick or punch someone. Anyone can wail their arms & legs around (even a 6 month old baby). - This is NOT Martial Arts! - The World is violent enough with TOO MANY violent people, and systems such as these "Mixed Martial Arts" who teach mindless wailing of punching & kicking with absolutely NO THOUGHT of proper form or any thought of meaning & philosophy are simply creating more violence within an already violent society. And, isn't society violent enough without this?

 

Part of receiving the power of being a Martial Artists is understanding when & how to use the power.  And this type of knowledge is ONLY consistent with TRADITIONAL MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING, which incorporates all aspects of training; Mental, Physical, & Emotional. - Anything short of this is NOT a Traditional Martial Arts.  - Here's a thought for you. - Would you give a small child a loaded gun with NO instructions on how to use it? - Of course not! - Well Martial Arts styles that teach only mindless punching & kicking, with NO mental training as to why, when & how to use the techniques, are doing this very thing. Giving a loaded gun to a child!

 

Don't let this happen to you or your family!

DON'T COMPROMISE

 

Come to a place that REPRESENTS & TEACHES tradition, heritage, value & integrity! A place where you will EARN more than just a belt rank, you will LEARN to become a Martial Artist!

 

* Come See The Difference A Worldwide Organization & A Professional Instructor Can Make! *
 

To find out more about Sa Bom Nim Rich Grogan - visit the  Instructor's Page

 

To find out more about classes - visit the Soo Bahk Do page

 

Sign up today! (Class sizes are limited)

 
You owe it to yourself & your family - 
Come by for a  FREE WEEK OF CLASSES (No Obligations)
 
Click here to Sign up for classes
 
©2008 Grogan's Academy of Martial Arts. All rights reserved. The names Soo Bahk Do, Moo Duk Kwan, and all insignias, logos, images, and conceptual materials contained herein are a trademark of The United States Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation, inc.