Martial arts. Not the concept or practice of martial arts, but the hoops you have to jump through to make sure you're getting an authentic or worthwhile school. There's so much bullsh*t you have to wade through, you may feel like giving up within the first few minutes. It doesn't matter how modern and such the art is, either.
Take Krav Maga. Is your instructor from the KMAA or the IKMF? Is he really from where he says he is? Is he listed on the web site? Oh, and by the way, if he's from the KMAA, he's certified by a money-grubbing association started by some fat lawyer from LA whose sole intent was to trademark the name Krav Maga... so I've heard.
It's almost as if you're on a grand quest or performing a huge research project if your interest involves any art other than Karate, BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jutsu), Tae Kwon Do, and a few others. Even then, what form of Karate are you interested in? Is your TKD school geared more towards combatives, or competition sparring? Do they do any sparring?
The worst, however, is the Chinese martial arts. God help you even trying to figure out what the appropriate credentials are, much less whether or not the instructor in question has them. And Ninjutsu? forget it.
Sorry. Just felt like ranting. I've been dabbling in MA off and on for a few years. I'm nowhere near expert level or even intermediate in any of them. I blame my ADHD. However, I have learned a bit about researching instructors, and this is something that's always pissed me off. If your chosen art doesn't have an organization specifically dedicated to said art, hold your breath and dive in.
Anybody else experience something like this?
The only one I ever took was Tai Chi Chuang, and there wasn't anything like that. There was some mumbo-jumbo, like the "energy ball," but my instructor said to consider it metaphor.
I take TKD right now
Its both sparring and self defense
I don't spar though
I'm not sure what you mean by bullshit though? you mean like "chi" and stuff like that?
There is absolutely none of that where I go to. Its just kicking, punching, throwing people etc.
Sorry. It was a bit late/early and I hadn't had alot of sleep.
I was referring to how difficult it can often be to research the credentials of a martial arts instructor. This is especially true of the Chinese martial arts, as the origins of these arts are steeped in mystery and mythology and their lineages aren't as well documented. Or, there may be some schism between those who practice the art (such as the case with Krav Maga, the art I'm currently pursuing) that forces you to choose between the more effectively advertised but apparently watered down version (KMAA) and the less effectively advertised yet "truer" form of the art (IKMF).
I guess what I'm saying is that it can be rather difficult at times whether or not the school you're researching might be a "mcdojo" or black belt mill depending on the art you're trying to study.
@Shane: Which style of Taiji quan did you study?
I believe it was Yang Short Form.
Ah, yeah. I learned that for a while. I actually preferred Chen style. I guess that's due to my ADHD, though. =P
What did you think of it?
It was pretty good, but I wasn't able to maintain it after the lessons were over.