Accreditation

 

Some martial art schools and organizations have more "PhDs" in them than your local university.

Many pseudo-masters claim to be a "professor" or have a M. MA (master of martial arts), have a PhD in budo or martial arts or have some such degree from some obscure organization founded by another pseudo-master who, for a fee, will certify anyone as a professor. Phony PhD's are everywhere. Most Internet users are bombarded with spam from diploma mills.

Anyone may profess to being a professor. However, professor is a designation bestowed by an accredited college or university upon an instructor at the school who has met its strict guidelines. PhD is a doctor of philosophy awarded by an accredited college or university. Only certain colleges and universities are permitted to bestow PhD's and they are the result of many years of study at a college or university. You cannot receive a PhD for life experience.

In one example I examined, Master A received his doctorate from the University of Oriental Philosophy, a diploma mill that was closed by the State of Maine. The "university" was operated by Master B who was Master A's instructor. Master B received his PhD in criminal justice from Columbia Pacific University, another unaccredited school that was closed by the Marion County Superior Court in California in 1999 due to the school awarding excessive credit for prior experiential learning to many students, failing to employ duly qualified faculty, and failing to meet various requirements for issuing PhD degrees. These "universities" are an example of the "fruit of the poison tree." If the one who bestows martial art rank or education degrees received his rank or degree from an illegitimate organization, then any rank or degrees he or she bestows are also illegitimate