| I know that blogs and discussion fora talk about | | | | result of degradation of martial arts as a whole." |
| how worthless mail-order black-belts are. Nothing | | | | Did you get that? These |
| new or surprising there, right? | | | | "online-ninja-warrior-types" don't help to promote |
| There is a particular brand of online course that | | | | the efficacy of martial arts. |
| you really should avoid at all costs. Do you know | | | | If you are a beginner or an intermediate martial |
| what that category is? | | | | artist, take my word for it... the black belt is not |
| Drum roll, please... | | | | the goal, in the sense that it isn't the end result |
| Bad Martial-Arts Courses On The Internet | | | | that you really want. It may be a representation |
| There is a secret word that lets you know when | | | | of what you have learned, but what you really |
| a paid course is going to be bad. It's the word, | | | | crave is practical, martial competence, agreed? |
| "Ninja." | | | | The Internet is a great resource. And yes, I do |
| I am not saying that ninjitsu is bad. There are | | | | believe you can learn from the written word -- |
| some diligent teachers out there in the real world. | | | | otherwise, I wouldn't be a martial-arts writer. |
| But in Cyberspace... My belief is that courses that | | | | ~BUT~ |
| include the word "ninja" are what you are trying | | | | If anyone offers you a black belt via the Internet, |
| to avoid. | | | | especially "ninja" credentials, I'd run in the other |
| Most martial artists that claim that they are going | | | | direction. |
| to teach you how to be the next ninja warrior | | | | Besides, you should be more interested in the skill, |
| don't have a clue. They are after your money. | | | | and not the rank. And if you feel that the |
| This is a symptom of... let's see if I can create a | | | | certification is necessary (as I once did), then get |
| fancy expression for this... "preying on the | | | | some "real" credentials. Not from an online ninja, |
| innocent, those who need self-defense, with the | | | | OK? |