Trust No Martial Arts Teacher Under the age of 55 and no one beyond 2nd generation to teach you. There are always!!! exceptions to  the rule. 

We have seen too many 6 year old Black Belts and too many Grandmasters Under the age of Fifty

I’m Grandmaster “Chief” Adrian Roman 68, 1st Generation Under SGM Ed Parker.

The Traditionalist and School owner would have you believe that you have to attend their school 4 to 5 years to learn exceptional material and receive a Black Belt. We now know this is not true. The source of their material and the qualifications of their instructors are more important. You're going to spend four to five thousand dollars to get this training and not be guaranteed anything except a lot of sweat and loss of time. We now know that you can receive this training through Home Study Courses via distant learning at a faction of the cost.

Thirty years ago a Black Belt commanded great respect & admiration.  There were only a handful of Grandmaster Instructors at that time. It takes a lifetime to achieve that lofty position in life. These Grandmasters did not hold black belts in a dozen systems for there was not enough time to master more than one. Grandmasters are now a dime a dozen. Now everybody’s aunt and uncle have multiple black belts in numerous systems.

Today it’s common practice for Black Belt Masters and Grandmasters to exchange certificates and honor each other as proficient in their system without learning the material. The thought behind this practice is the more black belts they have, the more people will want to study with them.

It’s common knowledge that in the 50’s & 60’s Japanese and Korean black belts would get on the plane as 2nd and 3rds and arrive in the U.S. as 7th and 8th degree black belts. This practice began producing inferior instructors by putting out cookie cutters black belts. It produced a somewhat arrogant teacher who could only teach you to kick first, jump high and sweat hard but contained no substance. Winning trophies and making money was their focus and their self-defense suffered. Soon other systems, including American Kenpo, began to do the same thing. Thousands could not make it to black belt level in any system and bounced around to different systems picking up bits of knowledge here and there. This created a whole new breed of inferior instructors. These students armed with this knowledge created their own system of martial arts. They would then find organizations to award them a Soke and Grandmaster status. I know of one in Florida who purchased a 2nd degree in Kenpo and is now claiming to be a 10th degree Kenpo grandmaster. 

Exceptions to the rule are those master instructors with 5th degree and above in a legitimate system who may create a system of their own. These instructors have instant creditability because of their prior rank. However one very important thing, their material must be superb and hold up. I myself did this when I created Red Warrior/Tushkahoma, however I did not solicited anyone or any organization to recognize my system. Who knows more about an American Indian system than I, a Choctaw Indian? If I'm the authority, why should I look to the East for their stamp of approval for an indigenous  system of my country? Grandmaster Dr. Dan Netherland of the prestigious International Martial Arts Head Founders and Grandmasters Council offered to recognized my system under their organization and I accepted. My Soke and 10th Degree Grandmaster certificate is signed by ten world renowned Grandmasters.

I have come to know some genuinely, exceptionally honest people who are Grandmaster but their material and proficiency in the martial arts just doesn't measure up. That said, in some cases they may not be at fault because they never had the opportunity to train with anyone who was exceptional. Mediocrity is now the rule. This disclosure and insight is to bring  attention to those master instructors who are well known. Their credentials are without question and most are over 55. We wish them a long life and good health to continue to be teachers of life. 

The Great Spirit/God is my master and he is the one who will stand in judgment of our actions on earth. I want him to smile graciously upon us and say, "Job well done."

In my Native Choctaw "Falammichi" means to defend and restore. I think this word speaks well for us; to Defend our martial arts business and Restore it to when wearing a Black Belt meant something.

Because of my age and lineage, you the student can trust that I know what I am doing when you study with me. You will not be wasting your time and hard earned money. I sincerely believe that I can produce a better black belt through my home study program than you can attending your local karate school. There are hundreds of instructors that offer Home Study programs. When you contact them, most will offer a certificate with their programs for an additional fee. I have always been more open and up front, listing the cost of my programs which include an 8.5 x 11 full color honorary certificate. Obviously one knows that this certificate is not worth the paper it's printed on if you do not do the work and master the material. This certificate is identical in every way to the larger 11 x 17 certificate that I issue to students who train under me in person. I also insist that it's imperative for you to test in front of me or via a DVD of your performance and receive the larger certificate. The test is free!!!

If you are an instructor and agree with my views, I would be honored if you would send me a short testimonial to that effect so that I can post it on the site for all to see.

"Chief" Adrian Roman

 

“I agree”

 

Master John Enger ( Florida)

 

I have read through the thoughts of Chief Roman’s philosophy and what he boldly espouses will, I have no doubt, anger some. You don’t have to agree with what he says, but I believe we should give it some serious consideration as to why he has come to this conclusion. His accuracy of history in his article is correct. With that said, I agree to a great extent with what he has said and with a deep appreciation as to why he has taken the stance he has. And I am glad to see that he has placed a “disclaimer” to his headliner stating that “There is always exceptions to the rule” – In my opinion I believe that I have met a few of these “exceptions” as noted. Martial arts have come through an evolutionary event of sorts where rank and title are deemed more necessary than skill, age, or experience – not to mention morals and ethics. I’m not in the least shocked, and quite honestly I’m really not all that concerned (sorry!) To quote a Scripture which can be taken in and out of the context in which it has been written is as follows: “You shall know them by their fruits” – not “fruit” (not one) but “fruits” (more than one) It’s not to be totally unexpected as education has gone through this same process.

 

Titles have become the marketing tool of the 21^st century. Serving mammon has become the opiate of a great many – the “way to make ends meet”!   “Seals of Approval” are important to every industry, including martial arts. Not unlike having the “Underwriters Laboratory” (UL) seal of approval. “Seals of Approval” in the arts these days do not necessarily equate to “good teacher”, “moral teacher”, “ethical teacher” or “humble teacher”. I have students, however, I don’t hand titles or ranks out for $$$$. I could, and I have been approached to do so…………please listen, if we fail in this, we have failed in character and I don’t care how many “Grandmaster” ranks held or one’s skill level.   

 

Then enters the proliferation of “cage matches” (the octagon) which, in my humble opinion, have bastardized the arts, bringing us back to the days of Roman coliseums with their Gladiators pounding there chest like some wild animal waiting to destroy their opponent. There is nothing at all wrong with mixed martial arts (MMA), matter of fact I believe in true “blending” of them to make a much more educated student – there is however, a whole lot wrong with how it is being marketed and the arrogance that it perpetuates among the instructors and students of the sport.

 

Before I go further, just so you know, I am 56 years of age and have been in martial arts since I have been 15 years old and I hold valid black belt credentials in several arts – I have “crossed ranked in some, which I consider as “honorary” in nature and others I have either tested in person or by DVD. I have studied under numerous different instructors in martial arts and self-defense (four decades) and have worked as a law enforcement officer, corrections officer and public safety officer (security enforcement) for well over three decades – now retired. I have real life experience when it comes to being able to defend myself from the thugs and maniacs of the world on the mean streets of America. And combat martial arts have been my main focus throughout. And yes I hold a title of “Grandmaster” – a legitimately earned title and accompanying rank by Grandmaster Javier Galan Vaquez of the Original European JuJitsu Union. I was not given rank/title because I asked for it………. I was examined in all areas of my life in the arts. I was honored to have received the recognition; however, it’s just that --- “recognition”. The title is not who I am in the arts, it is my entire character in conjunction with skills learned. So the recognition was really given for what? By displaying the “fruits” in the arts over many years by what one group of esteemed Masters deemed as qualifying in order to confer such recognition. Did not buy it or seek after it and I received it at 55 years of age. 

 

We have pumped out more child level “black belts”, teenage “Masters” and young adult “Grandmasters” than any other time in history. We have “Master” and “Grandmaster” titles being issued to individuals who have been in the arts for no more than three or four years because they are excellent at what they do. I won’t argue with anyone that that an individual may be able to fight, compete and do awesome acrobatic tricks with swords, knives and sticks, but being raised to a level of “Master” or “Grandmaster” entails not only skill, it encompasses years of experience, maturity, humility,  wisdom and giving back to the arts and community. One word: CHARACTER! There is more than one ingredient going into an individual receiving this title of recognition.

 

For those of us in the arts who have been around for some time need to step up to the plate and not only challenge ourselves, but others – Chief Roman has made a strong challenge. Believe me, there are no absolute “Supreme Grandmasters” of the arts (I can respect all men, but I worship none!) and there is no one individual that is the “be all” or “end all” …………… but there needs to be a serious review of ourselves and how we issue ranks and titles and who we can trust as our teachers. That is what I believe Chief Adrian Roman is really saying here.

 

I know, first hand the quality of the material being instructed by Chief Roman, in his “Red Warrior Program”, “American Kenpo” and “Apprentice Warrior Programs” and I am eagerly waiting to receive the   “Falammichi/Native Kenpo” system of study.

 

Can the Chief make you a better martial artist through his systems and years of experience. Absolutely! I have myself learned much. However, I believe I can learn more by sitting under the teaching of this man who I consider my elder in the arts. I have great respect for

the wisdom he possesses. 

  

 

 

Master Reed K.S Topasha (Guam)

Chief, Reed from Guam. Many will follow and believe your philosophy towards the arts. I though have had a remarkable insight thru your training and wisdom. I have felt a higher presence almost as if empowered mentally. I remember every rank as being young again. Almost as if rejuvenated! Knowing you has made me a greater individual. I'm 38 now Chief.

 My Ranks as follows 7th RAND Combat, 4th Combat Grappling, 5th Kan Shu Kenpo, 5th Shintai Ryu Freestyle, 1st Kombat Kenpo and 2nd Tushka-homa. Your student always, Reed

 

 

 

 

adrianroman42@gmail.com