Is it common for Tae Kwon Do Masters to ignore the law and disrespect people in their community?

Question

I was just curious. Also how do you really find out if that person is qualified to be around your child? According to one website you just need 5 or more students and to pay dues to call yourself an instructor, that sounds really shady.

The reason I ask is this, I know of a man who claims to be an instructor and a master, yet he has prison tats all over him, is disrespectful of others (like drinking and driving and placing others in danger and other illegal activity) and I want to know how I check out his accrediation and how I bring all this to light if he isn't truly who he says he is.

Answer 1

Sadly this is not uncommon these days.

Look at at this Yahoo Answers community. People regularly spit out insults at one another in direct conflict with the philosophy of the martial artist.

So it isn't just TKD or the area where you reside. I see less of this behavior in Asia, but only a few weeks ago a TKD instructor over here was arrested for assaulting a young lady for cutting in front of him in a line.

Anyone who watched the Karate Kid trilogy can call himself a martial artist and print out a certificate on their computer. I am hoping that this is just a cycle and people will return to practicing the core beliefs of the martial arts. This has happened before in the 1970's with everyone who had watched a Bruce Lee movie.

Answer 2

More now than before, and it's not limited to Tae Kwon Do. The problem with these masters is that they are human beings. In addition, the level of quality of the human beings that are currently doing martial arts instructors has degenerated over time as averaged across the population. By integrating into the world more & more compromises and dilutions of quality have been made to allow for more widespread exposure of martial arts to humans. Don't get me wrong, the introduction of martial arts has improved modern humans and society. At the same time the purity of the warrior arts has diminished.
To answer you second question, anyone can fall from grace into the dark side anytime. This is well documented in crime as people with no previous records or behavior suddenly commit crimes. Albeit, the statistics show them to be rare, it can happen. That being said we need to live in this world, explore our choices, and make sound judgements. It also depends on what you want. Martial arts offers a range of benefits from self-defense, personal growth, social integration, spiritual enlightenment, exercise, and on, and on. Then each "instructor" really has individual skills and sincerity in regards to where in the pedagody they belong and actualize. Some are good instructors, coaches, trainers, teachers, mentors, exemplars, etc... If you can determine what you want then the choices become more clear. Obviously, if your powers of perception are not clearing the fog for you then you really need to measure them with more a more blunt instrument such as social standing. i.e. Do they have a store front dojo, do they have a community reputation, how many students have come through with what results?

Answer 3

As I have stated in other posts; the Martial Arts generally are not accredited by any supervisory government body. Individual organisations of high standing police themselves to ensure Instructors are qualified etc but there is absolutely nothing to prevent some ex-convict, who had lessons in prison or just read books on MA, from declaring himself a master 10th Dan and opening a school in Who-flung-dung.

I would not trust my kids to anyone who was not a qualified instructor with a Nationally recognized Association eg; World Taekwon do Assoc.

Answer 4

There are instructors like that out there. I know of only one state that does a background check on you before you can open a school, call yourself an instructor and work with children. Children being the operative word there.
While I know hundreds of instructors, some hard core, some egomaniacs, some not likable type people per say they are instructors. That does not mean I would put my child in their class or studio.
Shop around and watch a class or two and see how the instructor works with his students and conducts classes and what ethics he tries to impart in them. An instructor like this I would not put my dog in for obedience class-much less my child.

Answer 5

America has no laws on who can and cannot start a martial art business. There is no official certificate or anything like that. It is treated like any other small business.

In our town we have several martial art teachers who are not nice people and they do some dirty things around town. The majority of them are TKD but I think that is because the majority of the schools are TKD. It is just a statistics game and not reflective of the art as a whole.

All I can say about your situation is do not let your child around this person, if you see them drinking and driving call 911 and report it before the man kill someone.
Avoid this person as much as possible as they sound like trouble.

The martial arts should teach respect and people improve their character, anything else is a perversion of the art.

Answer 6

Depending on which organisation is taking care of coaching registration. You can check that out with ur local authorities. Instructors are human, They can do watever they want. If the bad behaviour is being imparted to the students, then that's disaster... Observe how the students from the class behave and you can know how values are taught.

Answer 7

Sadly there's just as many unscrupulous martial arts teachers as there are unscrupulous people in any field. I'd say sit in on some of his classes and see just how he teaches and what he teaches. Does he address things like avoiding conflicts and addresses various things like zero tolerance policies in schools and how to be aware of your surroundings? This could tell if he is a legit teacher trying to teach real self defense and not an old thug trying to teach a new generation of thugs the trade.


Some of the other behavior you mentioned though should definately send up a red flag.

Answer 8

I have never heard anything like this. Its hard to believe and martial artist master would act that way. Besides, that wouldnt make sense of a master to do such things. To become an instructor you have to be 2nd to 3rd dan. When you become 4th dan you become a Master and are able then to open a school.

Answer 9

No, it is unacceptable for any true Martial Artist to behave in the manner you describe. In the US, Martial Arts are not regulated. Thugs can & do sometimes claim credentials that they do not have. You don't even have to pay dues. You should check the credentials of an instructor before signing up & ESPECIALLY before signing up your child.

Answer 10

First off, I wouldn't hold anything from someone's past against him/her if they have "changed their ways". I know many very nice and loving people that have spent time behind bars. I have learned some very helpful martial skills from those of the "tattoo" culture as well. For me, your personal life is of no concern to me. I do not need a guide or role model and for my children, if they learn a martial skill it will be from me, that way I know that I will not need to worry while they walk down the street. If you are looking for a role model or some one to look up to bad or un wanted behavior will not be acceptable. If you want to learn a martial skill then be worried about their skills not there personal life. Remember I used Martial Skill not Martial Art.