I have come to the conclusion, for today and this moment anyway, that uniforms, patches, belts, titles, and other stuff in karate is simply our strong desire to be special. We all want to be unique in some way which is funny because in general that leads to trends.
A trend I personally find kind of "interesting [being kind here]" is this fad of wearing really baggy pants down around your hips and below. I watch guys walking around as if they have something caught up their backside, you know a bit like the Charlie Chaplin walk. This trend got started in an underwear ad, i.e. Marky Mark at the time did an ad with no shirt and his pants down enough to display the upper half of white skivvies.
It seems we have no limits because I have even viewed sites that actually have a mock up of a uniform with indications as to where all the patches are to be placed and in one there is almost nowhere on the uniform that does NOT have some patch showing.
Ok, you saying, who the f*&^ are you telling me yadda yadda yadda. I once held that patches and titles were acceptable in my instruction and practice. I had the Isshinryu patch over the heart and then I added one for being in a tournament referee's certification org, the association patch and then another set of patches for the shoulder with some kanji that had some special "warrior quote." I been there, done that and now realize just how stupid I was going there as it did not do anything but get a few laughs from folks I respected.
I also feel that our need to stand out and feel special carries forth to our "great need" for external validation from guys who we think are the end all experts and authorities on the art of karate and other martial systems. In reality I discovered those who were really, really experts and authorities on their respective systems didn't go with this stuff.
Yes, again I went this way as well so I speak from "personal" experience. I joined two different Isshinryu orgs in those early years, i.e. early 1980's, only to discover that if I looked beyond the fluff it became political/control with a lot of money driving it forward. I came to know that if I did not spend my money to attend sanctioned seminars or buy their karate/martial gear/uniforms, etc. or I didn't participate in their sanctioned events, i.e. tournaments, etc. I could not qualify for any promotions and then only if I paid the fee. Let me tell you, even then, the fees were pretty big when you consider your paying it for a piece of paper with some guys signature who has never seen you, instructed you or even worked out with you to see if you could actually, "do it on the dojo floor!"
Am I getting cynical in my old age? Guess so or maybe I am finally growing up a bit. Now, now, if you take offense remember this is me and my view so don't personalize it. Yet, if you do maybe you should take a closer look at yourself.
Super Grand Master of Masters of Okinawan Karate, Kobudo, Iaido, Kendo, Kenpo Gokui, Budo, Bushido with a red belt with darker red stripes to indicate my high status mucky muck title and position in the world of Martial Arts.
- Like my title ;-)
Inspired by Mario McKenna Sensei blog post, "More Useless Titles."
No comments:
Post a Comment