"Patches"

f.Channell · Post by **f.Channell** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 6:53 pm

Seems I read time and time again people complaining about Sensei, especially the McDojo type, and their wearing of multiple patches.
Seems people often think it's for ego.
Thought I'd explain this once and for all (I doubt that will happen)
Instructors wear patches so their students will wear (buy) patches.
Patches cost a buck, sell for 5 bucks.
If you don't wear patches, they don't buy patches.
Anyone not understand that?
Same thing with MMA by the way. Seen a "tapout" shirt lately.

Happy with my Uechi crest, and my colorful gi's I buy on sale for $10.00.

F.

IJ · Post by IJ » Thu Jul 31, 2008 6:58 pm

I like a less-tricked out uniform so I can visit other schools without seeming rude, and because I hate Nascar, and it's really just one step away from the multipatch uniform.

The Tapout clowns make me cringe. They're trying to make a great branch of martial arts into WWF.

f.Channell · Post by **f.Channell** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:06 pm

The big intros have that WWF feel too.

F.

f.Channell · Post by **f.Channell** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:20 pm

Here is the Gi to have at camp!

http://www.80stees.com/products/Authent ... ai-Gui.asp

Kevin Guse · Post by **Kevin Guse** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 2:55 am

Thanks for the good laugh!!! That is a great Cobra Kai gi.

I opened the link thinking you were serious and ready to order.

Thanks again.

Stryke · Post by **Stryke** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 6:15 am

"Patches"
Seems I read time and time again people complaining about Sensei, especially the McDojo type, and their wearing of multiple patches.
Seems people often think it's for ego.
Thought I'd explain this once and for all (I doubt that will happen)
Instructors wear patches so their students will wear (buy) patches.
Patches cost a buck, sell for 5 bucks.
If you don't wear patches, they don't buy patches.
Anyone not understand that?
Same thing with MMA by the way. Seen a "tapout" shirt lately.
Happy with my Uechi crest, and my colorful gi's I buy on sale for $10.00.

F.

Sounds like Kyu Ranks and the multi teired dan grade system to me ....

at least patches can look cool , fancy gold stripes must work too though .

f.Channell · Post by **f.Channell** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 12:12 pm

There's no belts, patches, or stripes in Iaido.
Way to be cool is to buy a high priced sword.
Also impossible to know who's packing a live blade, and keep your distance.
Hard to know who to watch and learn from though, or who to ask for advice without the kyu stripe and belt stuff.

Traditional martial arts like that have to line up according to rank and seniority. No belts or stripes.
"Where do I stand? Help! I've been training two more weeks than you, move over."

F.

JimHawkins · Post by **JimHawkins** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 1:36 pm

f.Channell wrote: Traditional martial arts like that have to line up according to rank and seniority. No belts or stripes.
"Where do I stand? Help! I've been training two more weeks than you, move over."

Traditional kung fu uses a totally different system, no belts no rank.. Just master, which means you graduated; teachers, which means you are around BB level; and student level, which is everyone else.. Bruce Lee had no belt and did not graduate.

You know the *official* pecking order based on who literally walks though the door first.. Those who came before you are your seniors (sihing or older brother) and those who came after you are your juniors (sidia or younger brother)..

No belts, patches, stripes, just school shirt and sweats.

f.Channell · Post by **f.Channell** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 6:01 pm

Sounds like the system used in Iaido.
What if an "older brother" comes back after 5-10 years? How would you know how to line up not knowing him?

In a traditional Okinawan Dojo they line up from highest rank to lowest,
which makes no sense to me since the teacher can't see the newer students and if they are practicing correctly or not. When I first started Uechi I was so far in the back I couldn't see the teacher, and all those around me barely knew the forms better than I.

F.

Rising Star · Post by **Rising Star** » Fri Aug 01, 2008 9:04 pm

I always have my 'all rank' classes line up in 'reverse beltabetical order' so I can see the new/newer/newest students.

John

f.Channell · Post by **f.Channell** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 12:30 am

"Beltabetical" you should copyright that!

And on the WWF topic, a client of mine has a WWF night at a small venue 2,000 seats. The stories of the people who go there are hilarious. 40 year old losers being dropped off by their 70 year old parents etc... He had one guy throw a drink at anothers head for cheering an opposing guy apparently. Anyway when they went to throw him out he started crying. His grandparents promised he'd be good, he was like 35.
So entertaining yes, but your not going to find yourself possibly sitting next to Jenna Jameson at the WWF like a MMA event.

Just got a spam for a MMA vitamin supplement plan, fighters formula. Cost more than a patch.

F.

MikeK · Post by **MikeK** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 1:51 am

JimHawkins wrote:Traditional kung fu uses a totally different system, no belts no rank.. Just master, which means you graduated; teachers, which means you are around BB level; and student level, which is everyone else.. Bruce Lee had no belt and did not graduate.

You know the *official* pecking order based on who literally walks though the door first.. Those who came before you are your seniors (sihing or older brother) and those who came after you are your juniors (sidia or younger brother)..

No belts, patches, stripes, just school shirt and sweats.

Kind of like what we're doing. I'm the senior student, I teach those that come after me, they'll teach those that follow. My goal is to make those I teach better than me (not too hard) which kind of puts a kink in the belt system.

Stryke · Post by **Stryke** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 2:57 am

Hey Mike like our group , the focus isnt rank and keeping folks in order , the focus is to make them good enough to challenge beat and defeat the rest of us so we are forced to improve .

people really have no need to know there place if you have a good freindly enviroment , everyone should know whos who .

TSDguy · Post by **TSDguy** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 5:21 am

I think it goes 1) Rape 2) Murder 3) Tapout, in order of bad things in the world. I can only take so much of the MMA boards, but from glances, I get the feeling almost all MAst agree. MMA superstars wear the logo because it pays big bucks, but a sure fire way to identify someone who has never been front kicked in the face is to look for the guy wearing a Tapout shirt.

Neither TMA nor MMA wants to look like WWF. I'm not surprised to see Dana White embracing it though.

Stryke · Post by **Stryke** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 5:38 am

how many nascar fans have shirts with all the sponsers logos on there ?

how many fashion victims buy an item of clothing without a logo

how many TMA must wear a shureido or have a silk black belt with fancy embroidery . Pay the hundred bucks rather than get the five dollar belt ...

If you like it , want it , then wear it , if you can make a buck honestly then sell it .

it has little to do with the training , as long as folks remember that .

if your judging quality by the clothes and the rankings either way your in for a slow learning curve .

but if you have to buy xyz to train there , then I`m thinking you might want to arrange to just pay for your training or move on .