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