Chuntian Academy International

Beware if your teacher/school

- Self promotion; i.e. John Doe's Karate. John Doe.com. , The John Doe Reality-based #1 System ( ...of how to get your ass handed to you, or killed) etc.,
Avoid self promoters, unless they're internationally proven or known already.

- They invented this wonderful NEW style. Often using Asian words to make it sound authentic. But usually sound odd to someone that understands the language. Also, they often, not knowingly, mix up Chinese, Japanese, Korean words to name the system.

- Trys to be more Chinese, Korean or Japanese than real Chinese, Korean or Japanese teachers, in they're schools or classes. I live in Asia, mainly Japan. I see misuses all the time.

One Example: The Japanese word; "Usu" is used like water in some American Japanese martial art schools. Mis-translated as, That's right, Gung-ho, Yeah man etc. It is rarely used in Japan, accept in a situation when a senior member of a group enters the room late, and instead of stopping the meeting, everyone gives a respectful "usu" to the senior.
Usually used in Yakuza, sometimes other types of business and meetings.
A faster lower "usu" is a informal way of saying "What's up" "Sup man"

- Claims to be the best or first style /system/ idea.

- Claims multiple Black Belts.
Chinese proverb: One good style mastered is worth more than one hundred tasted.

- Wears a traditional Martial arts uniform and belt. ( Traditional uniform is a indicator of a traditional style or sport and not real world ).
A simple uniform, like a T-shirt and sweat pants or street clothes are recommended. How often do you wear your uniform out around town. If you're normal-never. So why train in something you most likely will never be wearing. Not too many people rob and mug dojos or dojangs.

- Beware for mass productions. The teacher has more than 15 students per instructor /class.

- Has adults and children in the same class.

- Your training in traditional weapons before you learn to fight.

- Offers fast track Black Belt Programs.

- Quick,Special Intensive Black Belt certifications for a "Fee".

- Claims knowledge of special military/ancient secret techniques.

- Your doing Sport fighting, wearing a 100 year old style uniform, fighting the air , memorizing a lot of useless unexplained techniques.

- The Katas are nothing like the sparring you see.

- When sparring (practicing) you get points for contact. If you know it is a sport and know better than to think it's self-defense, Okay. But, know the difference, Don't take a sport to the street for goshsakes!

- Training consist of kata,or fighting the air. (You should get a real feel what it is like to actually apply escape,hit and kick techniques to real people of various sizes and shapes. (in training of course). We practice techniques in simulation, but don't instill in your mind the negative possibility of losing. Thus, points and losing doesn't exist, Keep going and going. Losing a match is an unhealthy concept and learning experience for the mind, it teaches we can lose after all. NOOO!! Keep going,going,going,going,going and going....

- The school teaches violent hard attacks only in their defense training, not avoiding or escape and run.

- Doesn't put emphasis and training on avoiding or talking your way out of situations.

- Doesn't train in the mental aspects of self-defense, escape and attack

- Has military titles, patches, uniform designs, but they are civilians!

-The Instructor insist on being called Master, Sensei or Sifu.

-They talk about / display all the "Championships" and trophies they've won.

- They make you sign a contract, or charge you an outrageous fee, trying to give the illusion that you get what you pay for, so $150 an hour private lesson, oh! they must be really, really good.

- Advertise their trophies, news articles, magazine articles, but forget about the whole concept, DEFENSE and SURVIVAL information and teaching.

Self-promotion usually means self-fortune.

If you want trophies . At C.A.I. we don't do that or recommend it. But if that's you, search the internet or your local Dojo. They're numerous Associations, B-C-D magazines, and "Bull %$# regional Championships" to go around to give you just that, with a little work, politics and money, losing focus you too can get you a nice illusion of a resume. But know the sports ring is not the real world, if you take your illusion of fighting and pseudo-confidence to the street, you and your students may get their asses handed to them one day.

KNOW: Martial arts tournaments and magazines are aimed at BEGINNERS to make money, no matter what stage they are white belt or so-called black belts.
Forget about your Resume, belt color, trophies and prepare for REAL LIFE. Don't try to be the "One", you may have lucked out so far. Don't set yourself up for humiliation, or death by blinding yourself and your "students" from the truth. Step out of the DOJO and into the real world in every sense of the word.

Train to be good and to truly defend yourself, don't focus on belts or other material things.

Article from "Japan Today" www.japantoday.com