HUGE mistake! NEVER go to a school just because the master instructor has the "highest rank" in the area. You can easily pick these schools out because they love to brag about how high of a belt level they have. It is in every ad they put out, online, in their windows, and on their signs. This is also a sure sign of an ego driven school. I cover this in more detail in another blog. http://southshoremartialarts.blogspot.com/ Ego driven vs student driven.
FACT: An instructor's rank usually has little to do with their ability to teach effectively. It is all too common, a world champion type who cannot teach anyone because all they focused on was winning and training, not teaching. Two different skill sets.
FACT: Many of the claims to fame when it comes to belt rank are FALSE. It is no joke. For example, we have someone in our area that reached a level of 2nd degree black belt in an established Martial Arts system, decided he was so unbelievably talented, "created" his own training system, then made himself a 10th degree Black Belt in this "new" system which is considered a "grand master" level in most systems. This individual recently promoted himself to a 12th degree Black Belt(which does not exist in ANY legitimate system). The point is that this person is out to deceive the public into thinking he is more qualified to teach than others around who have legitimate ranking and teaching credentials. Then you have people who will do what is called, rank exchanges. Instructors from different training systems will PROMOTE each other in rank in the given systems to try to build more "credibility". This is often how instructors will claim "multiple black belts". This is more common than I want to admit and it is a despicable thing to do.
FACT: Different training systems have different ranking standards. For example, a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do is NOT equivalent to a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Very different. Rank is nothing but an individual achievement. It is not a license that guarantees the practitioner is a qualified teacher. In many systems, rank and instructor title are completely separate.
Make sure you are focused on the quality of the program itself and do your best to determine if the instructors are legitimately ranked and trained. It is a matter of integrity. Don't get fooled into thinking the highest rank means the highest quality. You would not want to be a part of a school where the instructors have questionable integrity. Remember, this could be someone who will have a tremendous influence on you and/or your child.
Trophies, world titles, belt rank certifcates are all great if legitimately earned but the bottom line is results. Is the instructor really qualified to teach effectively or not. You have to decide for yourself.
At American Kempo Karate Academy, we take ranking very serious to make sure the rank is backed up by legitimate skills. All our instructors are constantly trained both in Martial Arts skills and Instructor Training so not only are they capable Martial Artists, they are effective instructors on the floor. The best of both worlds. For more information visit http://www.akka.com/
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