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• Association. Another clever trick pseudo-masters use is to include their techniques in a list of otherwise commonly-accepted techniques to promote it by association. They may say that their techniques work best when combined with lifestyle changes, which in itself usually produces tangible benefits.

• One-sided coin. When students on a combined training regime (both a traditional art and pseudo-art) improve, the pseudo regime gets the credit. If the students do not improve, pseudo-masters tell them the traditional art was to blame.

• Taking credit. Pseudo-masters also capitalize on the natural healing powers of the body by taking credit for any improvement in a student's health. When you start feeling better, pseudo-masters say it is because of their art. An opposite tack the use is to shift blame when their techniques do not work. They tell you that you have not improved because your previous training has polluted your thinking.

• Disclaimer. Instead of promising to make you a good martial artist, some pseudo-masters offer to "cleanse" or "detoxify" your body, balance its chemistry, release its "ki energy," bring it in harmony with nature, or do other things to help you help yourself. This type of disclaimer serves two purposes. Since it is impossible to measure the processes the pseudo-masters describe, it is difficult to prove them wrong. In addition, the use of this specific terminology may help them avoid prosecution for fraud.

• Founders. Pseudo-masters are generally the founders of their own martial arts systems and thus are the "grandmasters" of the system. Anyone may "found" a system and install themselves as the grandmaster, even people who have not even studied another martial arts style. There are no laws that regulate the founding of a martial arts system.

• Rationalization. Pseudo-masters rationalize their own existence by making up rules that prove their existence. For example, the following are the words of "Soke" and "PhD in martial arts" David Kacperski, the thirty-something grand master of his own martial art. (Since the original words are grammatically confusing, I changed the words so they make sense. To see the original words, click here.)

  • "A person cannot win a tournament he or she created." TKDTutor says: Thus, sokes do not compete. If sokes do not compete, then they do not have to prove their claims in the ring.
  • "A person cannot be graded in a martial art he or she created. I personally believe such a person is above rank." TKDTutor says: Therefore, you make yourself god of your martial art. Since you are above rank, no one will ever be able to attain your position.
  • "Grade should reflect a person's skill, not  his or her age. Just because a person is older, it does not make the person wiser or better." TKDTutor says: To attain a "master" status in an established martial art, you must must train and work within the art and within the martial arts community for many years until you become a recognized pillar of the martial arts community. This takes many. many years of hard work, not just in your school as the owner, but as a member of the martial arts community in general. A grand master needs even more years of hard work. This means grand master are usually over 50 years old. However, if you are the "founder" of your style, you may make yourself the "grand master" regardless of your age.
  • "You should always train with a person before you pass judgment on them." TKDTutor says: When you hear statements such as this, you know something is wrong. Michael Moore says "You should not judge my movies until you see them." Translation: "Pay to see my movie and make me rich." I do not need to train with "masters" to judge them idiots. Their statements, actions, behavior, character, etc. establishes their idiocy. 
  • "If a person is 25 and has trained 7 day a week since the age of five, is the person any better or worse than someone who is 50 years of age who has trained once a week since the age of 5? Shouldn't their rank reflect this?" TKDTutor says: This is the classic rationalization used by people who do not have what it takes to achieve rank. While in the Navy, I heard this type of comment from sailors all the time when they rationalized their not achieving rank. In their own minds they were just as good, if not better, than the higher ranks. Therefore, they believed they should be that rank. Needless, to say, they never achieved high rank and they could not create their own Navy and make themselves the highest rank in it as the pseudo-masters when creating their own martial arts.
  • "If a person's rules are different than yours, you should respect the rules, but they should also respect your rules." TKDTutor says: Pseudo-masters like to feel righteous. They say they respect your legitimate rank, so you should respect their rank, even though it is illegitimate. Thus, it is you that is wrong, not them.
  • "Never ask someone to do something you cannot do yourself." TKDTutor says: I guess a football coach should not ask a player to do something the coach cannot do. If this were true, all students would be limited to the abilities of their instructors. So, if your instructor is a pseudo-master with limited or questionable abilities, you will be limited by those limited abilities.
  • "If a person awards you a rank or title, you should accept it and say thank you, even if you know you don't deserve such an honor. Instead, prove to them that you were deserving of the honor." TKDTutor says: Pseudo-masters shower each other with ranks and awards. Thus, they justify each other's existence. Poor employees use this rationalization when they think they deserve a promotion. Instead of being awarded a higher position because they have proven they have earned it, they think you should give them the position, and then they will prove they deserved the position.

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