Thread: Do Lineage and Instructor Grades and associations really mean anything?

Its an interesting question.

Sometimes it doesn't matter in the slightest. My Boxing coach doesn't have a formal qualification to his name, no certification, no grade, no lineage. He did however fight over 100 amateur fights including a Commonwealth Silver medal, he fought 14 unbeaten professional bouts winning the British and European titles, and he is a very good teacher and communicator. That’s all I need to know, I couldn't care a less about the rest.

However, in some circumstances lineage can be a helpful tool in choosing a good teacher. For example, I specifically sought out the instruction of a JKD teacher because over the years I had noticed that, without exception, he produced excellent students. That to me is the measure of a good teacher, someone who consistently produces good students. So I kept coming across all of these people who were from this Instructor's lineage and they were all excellent, so I knew I wanted to train with him and anyone he has taught. In that sense I think lineage can help.

Although I don't really think paper certification is necessary or relevant in this day and age, I think a means for anyone from the general public to authenticate someone's claims is important. If I was training with someone on the basis that they were taught by people I admire, that they claimed to have reached certain levels in the art, and then I found out that was a load of bullshit I wouldn't be happy. If they are lying about that, what else are they lying about? However, with the Internet its pretty easy to check up on someone's claims, most association sites have a list of recognised instructors so its fairly easy to check. I guess certificates are a good back up if anyone ever expressed concern about being taken for a ride in the past, I've happily shown my certificates to a number of people who have asked me.

In the end it all comes down to the claims people are making. The OP came on here and openly said I'm not certified or qualified in any art, I just teach my thing and it works for me, and that’s cool. I also have trained with people who don't have a qualification or certificate to their name, but they are good teachers and I have learned from them. The problem comes when people are making fraudulent claims in order to take money from students and not offer in return the instruction that was promised. In that sense understanding someone's lineage and being able to ask for / seek confirmation of their background is a useful tool.