Have you noticed that most of the Karate world is obsessed with the same few statements? They are all so standard that the entire mantra could be place on a universal website! Here are my top three, in no particular order!
1) “We are the legitimate disciples of Sensei Whomever”. This one is great, because not only are they the only legitimate followers, everyone else isn’t! This statement always shows up in groups who split over ideological or political reasons, as each side bashes the other. The worst part is that in many cases the two new groups all share the same history, the same experiences (sometimes even the same flights and meals!) and are really are not that far apart.
2) “We can trace our lineage back to the source of Karate”. We sure spend a lot of effort in making ourselves seem more important by listing all the names in the past looking for Karate nobility. Kind of like your crazy Aunt who is doing a family tree. She is trying to link up with Queen Victoria somehow, but your family came from Poland?
3) “We are thousands of years old”. Really? Thousands of years? I heard one group at a local demo tell the rapt audience that they could show a continuous history back 4000 years in Japan! I didn’t have the patience to ask him how his little group could pre-date both a written language and the Sun-Goddess of Japan.
Don’t get me wrong. I have no issues with advertising, and putting the best foot forward for your potential customers. Just don’t try it with me.
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