How NOT to get your black belt

[lmgrahamdc]

Here's a spot that's been discussed on e-budo www.christophergeary.com . He talks about how he got his black belt via video.  He actually trained up to green belt (guess green belt is a level well bizarre jumps in grade happen), sent in a video and got a brown, then sent in another and got his black.  Wow.  All in 18 months!  Leslie

[Kobushi]

That's not so bad really considering that he did not "learn" form video tapes.

Hell, I earned a BB in Shotokan in 3 months (this is after a year of White Crane and three years of WHLC).  The fith dan saw that I was previously trained and had a degree of mastery of all the basics and taught me all the Shodan waza and kata.  They we pretty easy and not as involved as anything I had done previously.  Sparring was fun.  His Sandan and Nidan had a good time perfecting their breakfalls when they worked with me (Tiger carries Dragon over the mountain does work   ) and I don't recall ever loosing to them.

The only thing that concerns me is all this "starting my own system" and self-promotion to "Master".  Good karate is one thing.  Being a good teacher is another but, True Mastery is something that takes a lifetime even if one breaks away from one's teacher for what ever reason does not make you a master.

Case in point:  My last Sensei recently closed his school and in doing so he removed his support and denies ever giving me permission to have opend a school.  All this even after publicly giving his blessing on three seperate occasions because I was his first student to do so.  One time I have on video tape from his visit to my school where he addresses my students, another where the Soke of the system was present (who congratulated me on this achievement) as well as several hundred witnesses.  However, I understand that this is his perogative as habing been the last teaching Master of the art.  The family no longer teaches the art.  I had considered changing the name of what I teach to encompass all the arts I have BB ranking in (except Shotokan) which include Aikido, Kenjutsu, Iaido as well as the Ninjutsu of my last teacher.  I have thought about going back to the pre-Meji Kaiden System meaning you receive a license to teach
(a specific level of knowledge) when you reach Shodan throuh Godan level vice a dan ranking.  As of yet I have not done so. The difference between me and the person who is the subject of this topic is that I have over 30 years in the martial arts as well as military combat experience.

 

[scotth]

This actually made me sick to my stomach.  The guy went from 1st to 3rd, 3rd to 5th, 6th to 10th.  Even worse is the way he got black belt.  And he is TEACHING people this crap?  I think I am going to be sick.

-scott

[lmgrahamdc]

I think your response is natural when you look at the fact that you trained in whlc for awhile, then went off into other areas gaining 2nd degree in another, then came back to start over as a beginner and are now fully ranked shodan in whlc.  You did it the right way  .  And yes, it takes a lot of character and strength to do it the right way.  There are lots of easy ways, but only the right way is difficult.  Like all things in life, there are choices.  I think you choose correctly.  Each test you took was difficult, yet you hung in there in spite of being ranked highly in another art.  You have earned a lot of respect doing this and have done a great job!  There are a few who have done this in spite of the odds, (James also comes to mind and also job well done!) Unfortunately we cannot change what others do, only maintain our own standards.  Just my thoughts, Leslie

[TomB]

He didnt earn a Black Belt in Nick Cerio Kenpo by video. Professor Cerio didnt offer those services and was very ill during the time he claims to have been promoted.  He also isnt listed on any of the family trees I have seen, the last having been updated in 1999 after Prof. Cerios death. And since he is listing his system as Kempo, Shaolin at that it is more than likely he has come out of the Vallari camp or USSD, both offer Black Belts by video.

He also states that he was awarded the title of Professor at 7th degree, in Kenpo/Kempo it a title only awarded at 10th degree, and then it requires 5 other masters to certify you.

Tom

[Joanna]

I'm not familiar with Nick Cerio, but if you take a look at the discussion on E-budo it seems that this guy has had his 10th degree revoked.  He also has a history of getting in trouble with law enforcement over some vandalism issues.

Great guy, huh?

[TomB]

You can learn about him at http://www.nickcerioskenpo.com/ .  

Tom

[T'ang Yin]

There is no substitution for earning something the right way.  Besides, what you don't earn today you will end up paying for tomorrow.

[Joanna]

So, are you saying that folks like this always get their come-up-ins?    I think that I wouldn't mind seeing that!

Joanna