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Taekwondo itself is a mixed martial art. Its founders were black belts in karate, mostly Shotokan, who combined the Shotokan techniques with traditional Taekkyon techniques to create Taekwondo. Since its beginning in 1955, it has also been a victim of masters who were not content to be merely masters of an art; they wanted to be grand masters of "their" art. Some formed new organizations but kept the name Taekwondo, while others changed the name. Some made slight modifications to the art, while others made major changes. The way it stands now, if you meet a person who also studies Taekwondo, you may find his or her version of Taekwondo is entirely different from your own.

As stated before, every martial art had a soke at one time, even the traditional martial art systems that have been around for decades or even centuries. Some of these were probably started for the same reasons as stated above. Just because a martial art style is old does not make it any less a bogus martial art. Can you imagine a modern, or even ancient, soldier falling to the ground and fighting in the "drunken monkey" kung-fu style when facing the enemy?

Tips on how to make yourself a soke

• Obtain some training in a current martial art. No need to become proficient in it, just learn its terminology, basic movements, and theories so you may convincingly act as if you know what you are doing. Even better is to train in a number of arts for a few months each so you may claim expertise in all of them.

• Learn how to market a martial art. Watch how the McDojo organizations market their product. With good marketing, you may convince the uneducated public to believe almost anything is true. Look at the success chiropractors have had.

• Learn how to manipulate people. Some people are naturals at manipulating others, but with practice, anyone may do it. All you need is some charisma, real or fake, and no morals. Watch psychics, new age healers, television preachers, etc., they are experts at manipulating gullible people.

• Learn the standard put-downs of all the long-established martial arts. Just as with politicians, when you do not have anything real to offer, you try to discredit the opposition.

• Instead of inventing a new way to deal with an old problem, come up with some new technique and then make up a reason to use it. For example, instead of simply slipping or deflecting punches, invent a way to wave your arms around in "sticky hands" movements. Now make up a reason to use the technique, such as against another person who attacks you with little, slow pawing attacks. Then be sure to only demonstrate or use your new techniques against a fellow practitioner. Do not make the mistake of using sticky hands against a puncher.

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