You're right Bri. My fault, entirely.
Seriously,
In my limited and unimportant opinion, karate, as well as most martial arts, has been watered down for people of all ages to 'enjoy'. The MA's have also taken hard turns into sport.
Most people don't want hard training and discipline in something that takes a toll on the body. They want the mental massaging of having a black belt. They are of the feeling that they've accomplished something really important by getting a black belt.
Western Culture and Eastern Culture are totally different. When you start using terms like master and grandmaster and 10th degree black belt you get a lot of false etiquette and supposed respect.
The MA's have become hypercommercialized and any knucklehead can open a school. All this bowing and 'strict discipline' is totally appropriate in Eastern Cultures who have lived like this for centuries. However, trying to indoctrinate westerners into this mentality becomes a sick obsession with absurd behavior.
I watched some of the board breaking competitions on ESPN late night earlier this fall. Full grown men, many in mullets, standing rigid on a stage in front a line of judges dressed in fancy jammies SCREAMING at the top of their lungs: "JUDGES, I WILL NOW BREAK THIS BOARD AND THOSE BOARDS, FOLLOWED BY MANY OTHER FANTASTIC TECHNIQUES JUDGES!!!!'
I literally fell out of my chair laughing at these clowns.
Then you have all the intense kata competitions. The folks stomp around on stage swinging weapons stamped with made in Taiwan logos shouting at predetermined points in their choreographed routines. Yeah, it's sometimes fun to watch, but what the hell use is it to anyone?
I see many advertisements for: Increased self-control, increased self-confidence, better balance, goal setting, blah blah blah blah blah..... It's like I'm stuck in Infomercial Hell!!!!!
All this I can stomach, but only if they leave the term self-defense out. If they add this it makes me want to go to the school and actually see if these guys can back it up, in front of their students.
And then, if you do put up with all their false bs and ask them to crosstrain all they are interested in is your flippin' pedigree. I am a 3rd degree pink belt from the United Institute for Karotty under Master Luis Chama who studied under GRAND Supreme Oriental Grand Master Bul Shit-Tsu.....
I think what I'm gonna do is drop twenty pounds, go through the phone book and seek out every self defense school. If they kick my ass or at least put up a good fight, then I will have respect. If they are little bitches, then they need to retire.....
Just think, the Szczepankiewicz Challenge...
I know, this is the inappropriate attitude for a martial artist to have, but somebody needs to be the asshole.....and I'm soooo good at it.
Rant over.
Szczepankiewicz the Hot Blooded