Question 099: Certificate mills

Reader reply

What about their tournament record..what about how others view them...what about what their students say about them? I also wanted to point out the difference to what I was trying to say about the world of "video".
Should one get their black belt from a "video training course AND followed by a video test"?

Well people can do what they want but I personally feel if one did just that and turned around and teaches they would not be a credible teacher on "ANY" dan level! As far as getting recognized in a higher degree dan grade via video this is different...one is simply being recognized for what they have already accomplished for their time "in person" with others they have trained with for many years, their tournament record, teaching record as well as their ability etc. Whether you want to agree with me or not that is fine but most higher dan grades in the Martial Arts got there higher ranks though correspondence either from but not limited to a video exam, time in grade, a thesis, extensive correspondence, etc.. I have competed and traveled around this country quite extensively, have been doing martial arts for 30 plus years, have been writing columns for 12 years in regional tournament magazines. I have met and befriended a lot of people, especially a lot in TKD. People who get there 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th and 10th dans out there very rarely get them in person.