| Due to the popularity of martial arts, both | | | | breaking competitions. |
| in mass media and real life, a large number | | | | |
| of disreputable, fraudulent, or misguided | | | | Internal political fighting within schools |
| teachers and schools have arisen over the | | | | and styles is quite frequent and the cause of |
| last 40 years or so. Commonly referred to as | | | | a large number of splinter organizations and |
| a "McDojo" or a "Black Belt Mill", these | | | | schools. When a recognized master or founder |
| schools are frequently headed by martial | | | | of a school dies, it is common for the senior |
| artists of either dubious skill & training, | | | | instructors and students to split off and |
| business ethics, or both. Common means of | | | | form their own competing school under a |
| discerning these types of schools include: | | | | different name without making any substantial |
| | | | changes to the training material, kata, or |
| High rank at a young age | | | | teaching philosophy. A prime example of this |
| | | | when Ed Parker died and his IKKA Kenpo Karate |
| Very large number of black belt | | | | organization quickly became several major and |
| certifications from different styles | | | | uncountable minor schools that have yet to |
| | | | reunify. |
| "Grandmaster" status of the head instructor | | | | |
| | | | Self-promotion of rank is an issue without |
| Select organizations within the school | | | | any real solution. While this often happens |
| | | | with long-standing brown belts that did not |
| Emphasis on testing and fees | | | | have the means or opportunity to test for |
| | | | Shodan, it is more likely to be an issue when |
| Rapid promotion of students without | | | | the owner of a school creates an accrediting |
| discernable improvements in skill | | | | organization for his own style and issues |
| | | | himself a diploma for whatever rank he or she |
| "New" and "revolutionary" methods | | | | sees fit. Larger accrediting organizations |
| | | | exist to provide independent assessment of |
| "Secret" teachings from unverifiable sources | | | | skill and are typically regional or national |
| | | | in nature. It is not unusual for someone to |
| It is not uncommon for traditional schools to | | | | not only acquire rank though their school or |
| maintain that a sensei or instructor of their | | | | dojo, but to also test though one of these |
| own school must be at least a third or fourth | | | | organizations as well to provide additional |
| degree black belt at a minimum. | | | | evidence of their ability and put to rest any |
| | | | rumors or concern as to the legitimacy of |
| Another common issue is "chi masters" and | | | | their rank. However, due to the large number |
| others that make claims of superhuman or | | | | of schools and instructors, it is not |
| unverifiable abilities such as "no touch | | | | realistic to challenge someone's claimed rank |
| knockdowns", resisting physical force in | | | | because they lack independent verification - |
| defiance to the laws of physics, or "world | | | | in essence, you pretty much have to take rank |
| record" speed. These are not to be confused | | | | claims at face value unless there is |
| with martial artists that train in feats of | | | | substantial reason not to. |
| strength and focus for such things as | | | | |