Internet Talk & Bullshido
I have been told on a couple of occasions that someone has seen Bad Statements about me “Soke Calkins”, Our School and some times even our students.
Well that is the price we pay for listing our school on the Internet. Some people have nothing better to do with their lives than spread Bullshido about anything new or something that they are not into.
Forum sites like “Bullshido.com”, “SubFighter.com” “Martialtalk.com” are just some of the forums that like to BASH anyone not in their style and their Idea of a perfect martial artist. They get their kicks out of making fun of system, instructors and students they have never met. They base their comments on poor attitude and ignorance. I have read most of the things that have posted and I just laugh. They claim that I’m fake because they have never heard of my instructors. Am I fake because I have a few extra pounds on my body. They say I’m fake because they have never heard of my style… Well that’s fine. That is what makes them happy then more power to them. I know my abilities and once people meet me then find out the truth.
For years when the internet was young and posting videos was all the rage, someone took a private video of themselves and as soon as someone else found the video BAM it on the net for people to make fun of.. I am speaking of the young boy that was nicknames “The Star Wars Kid.” Here is a young boy having fun in the privacy of his home making a video for his enjoyment and someone put it on the Internet. How do you think he felt. It is usually those with low self-esteem and little confidence in themselves that like to bash others. It makes them feel better about themselves.
In the Martial Arts Community there are many forums, too many to name. But a few groups take it upon themselves to try to let the world know their opinion is to only right one. I have mostly seen it in the BJJ Martial Arts Community (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu). I guess unless you teach ground fighting or have an instructor that has fought is the octagon, you’re not a true system. Because I see them slam every body except themselves.
Now I have been in the Martial Arts for just over 40 years and I am meeting new instructors from system I have never heard of. But because I have not heard of their Instructors.. Or Their Instructors Instructors does that mean that they are fake? Does that mean that their system is a fake? I don’t think so.
With Martial Arts spread all over the world it would be impossible to know all of the instructors and all of the styles. There are traditional systems that we all have heard of. Judo, Kenpo, Kempo, Aikido, Isshin-Ryu, Tae-Kwon-Do and yes Jui Jitsu. But they’re many systems I had never heard of. Tatsudo, Yami-Umi-Do, Kyokushin, Kun-Tao Kung-Fu, and many more too many to name. Many instructors I have never heard of teach these systems. Does that make them and there systems fake? No It Doesn’t!
Another big statement on these forums is aimed at personal things like appearance. “That Instructors too Fat to be teaching Martial Arts he must be fake”.. “That Students is too skinny to take martial arts I could beat him with one hand tied behind my back.” WOW when I started in the martial arts back in 1968 my first manual taught us “Not to make fun of Other Students or Instructors.” I guess that has been taken out of manuals these days.
Is knowledge of the Martial Arts only available to or give by a skinny instructor. Do all Martial Arts Instructors have to look like Bruce Lee? And as for their students, do they all have to be slim and trim to be any good? Come on.. There are many big men in the Martial Arts and in different sports. Look at the 400lbs football players on the front line, look at the power lifter with a big gut but he lifts 1000 lbs. Size has no baring on skill or knowledge.
I have met several large martial artists in my day and have even met a man (I will leave his Name out of this) But a Man that was a paraplegic in a wheelchair that turned out some fantastic students. His skill was in his teaching not his doing. Could he jump up and demonstrate a flying side kick or a spinning wheel kick?.. No but he can teach you how to do it.. But then I have met other instructors that can do every move in their style and make it look like they were born doing it.. But they couldn’t teach someone else how to do it. They didn’t have the skill to transfer the knowledge.
Everyone has the right to his or her opinion. Lets just not use this freedom of speech to hurt others. Just because you have never heard of an instructor or style doesn’t mean that it is fake or useless. Meet the Instructor or better yet meet the students and parents in the classes and talk to them. They will let you know if what they are learning is worth while or not. Trust your own opinion not talk on the Internet by people that have never even met the people they are bashing. Most good instructors will offer you a free class to check things out. Give it a try and judge it for yourself.