Ostentatious Uniforms

Martial arts that use ostentatious words also tend to use even more ostentatious uniforms, as do other otherwise non-pretentious arts. It all seems to have started in the 1960’s and 1970’s in the United States, when the ”in thing” to do was to fight the establishment. Uniforms started appearing with different colors, instead of the standard white or black. There were rainbow colored uniforms and of course uniforms made in the pattern of the flag of the ultimate establishment, the United States government. Then, as more and more martial arts styles were “founded,” even more ostentatious uniforms began to appear.

It seems that many “masters” need to have their own martial arts, their own terminology, and also their own uniform designs. Nowadays, uniforms of some styles not only have different designs and colors; they have numerous patches, shoulder boards, stripes on the sleeves, embroidery, and other accouterments. Some uniforms of “masters” appear to be pseudo-military in appearance. They seem to believe that the uniforms make them appear as a respected, high-ranking military officer, when in fact; they either never served in the military or were low ranked personnel, and always wished they had the rank and prestige.

The Alternative

Unlike the ostentatious martial arts, most martial arts strive to make students better warriors and better people, not to build the egos of their masters and their followers. The highest ranked persons in these arts wear simple uniforms with a belts or sashes that indicate their rank. Their students know and respect them for their knowledge, abilities, and humility, not their pomp and circumstance. When searching for a martial art, you might try one of these arts.

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