This takes the cake...a black belt in Kung Fu by distance. For $499, you'd think they'd include a Ph.D. diploma too. Here's the text of the email I just received: -------------------------------------------- Become a certified Kung Fu Blackbelt in five easy moves for just $499.00 !! Do you want the prestige of becoming a Certified Kung Fu Blackbelt?? Call (xxx) xxx-xxxx. Can you handle the respect that comes with the rank of Blackbelt?? IF YOU ANSWERED, "YES" TO BOTH OF THESE QUESTIONS, YOU ARE ONLY ONE PHONE CALL AWAY FROM ACHIEVING THE RANK OF KUNG FU BLACKBELT. CALL (xxx)xxx-xxxx !! Hi, my name is Sifu Edwards, and I am a 3rd degree Blackbelt Sifu Instructor. I have been a martial arts instructor my entire adult life. I am a decorated combat Vietnam Veteran and I received a purple heart for wounds received in combat. I currently own and operate a professional bodyguard agency for wealthy clients outside Orlando, Florida. After years of study, I have developed a unique, easy to learn home study program. All you need to perform are the following stances: 1. Crane 2. Leopard 3. Praying Mantis 4. Dragon 5. Serpent After performing the five animal stances and your fees processed, you will be awarded: 1. A FIRST DEGREE BLACKBELT in Kung Fu. 2. An official BLACKBELT CERTIFICATE with authentic seal with my original signature and the original signatures of two other Blackbelts. 3. A notarized certificate of authenticity. 4. A copy of my 3rd Degree BLACKBELT SIFU INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE, signed by a World Champion Grand Master, authorizing me, to certify you. Simply purchase my course, learn five moves, and verify you can perform these stances by emailing me (ON YOUR HONOR) that you have completed the course and I WILL CERTIFY YOU AS FIRST DEGREE BLACKBELT... For more information call (xxx)xxx-xxx. We will answer any questions you have personally; we also offer Kung Fu uniforms, Blackbelt sashes, dragon patches and other martial arts supplies. Our web page will be up soon. Hopefully when you call, we will have the site available for you to view. You are only one call away from being a Kung Fu Blackbelt... -------------------------------------------- Scott
I received the same message. Does this mean that if someone gives me their email address then I can cyber-kick their ass? =:-0 Jack
Here's a martial arts/diploma mill tie-in involving Trinity C&U. Got the rank - get the degree. http://sites.hsprofessional.com/newyork66/AboutUS.html Click on "Education". ------------------ Bill Gossett
Bill, I earned the Ph.D. in martial arts from T C&U in 1998. My curriculum consisted of watching three Chuck Norris movies, three episodes of Walker: Texas Ranger, and writing a three page dissertation (triple spaced) on Zen Buddhism. I am very proud of my accomplishment!!! Russell
Just a nagging point....I always thought that the title "Black Belt" was reserved for Karate, Judo, Aikido, and Kendo. Kung-Fu practitoners are awarded a sash, not a belt. I guess it really shouldn't surprise us that a "belt-mill" would get it wrong! Bruce (Uechi-Ryu Karate Black Belt)
Wax on, rip-off. Rich Douglas, whose green belt in Shorin-Ryu was primarily used to hold his gi together.
The Kung-Fu offer is quite attractive; but, I suggest his beltholders be very cautious around a dojo of any martial arts. Usually guests are shown much courtesy and invited to randori with others. Personally, I've decided to wait for Mr. T to offer a cerificate of, "Bad Assness". Grasshopper
OK, I started this thread on a light note, but there are some striking similarities to academic DL. Aren't dojos members of organizations that certify, or in affect, "accredit" the dojo and give legitimacy to a black belt award? Also, the "time bomb" factor here is similar to a degree mill time bomb. Letting the world think one has a black belt will eventually cause one to have to use it, or be exposed, or worse. As David implies, such a holder would be constantly seeking to avoid "situations." Being called on to prove a bogus black belt can be a lot more dangerous than failing to prove a bogus Ph.D. Scott
You know, it's unfortunate that no school (accredited or unaccredited) has apparently come up with the idea of doing a serious degree in martial arts philosophy. I've never much cared about karate or the like (though I'm considering dan zan ryu jiujutsu), but I've had a copy of Morihei Ueshiba's The Art of Peace (literally: aiki-do) within arm's reach for several years now, and can attest for the fact that aikido is a very useful street philosophy for things like personal disputes, haggling, and so forth. (But I could care less about learning to throw somebody across the room.) Peace, ------------------ Tom Head www.tomhead.net
Hmmmmm- a black belt? When I took Kung Fu at the Red Dragon Society in Chicago, we started with a black sash (we had sashes, not belts). If memory serves, the top was a gray sash with red fringe. So, if I read this in that light- pay lotso money for a beginner's sash.
Steven Seagal (a very high-ranking Aikido practitioner) has made a career out of using The Art of Peace to kick the crap out of people on screen. Bruce
