I’m going to start a controversy! My master said something to me years ago and I will share his pearl of wisdom:

There are three types of martial arts masters. The first has thoroughly trained and by the process conforms movements and ideas to the reality of physics and physiology throughout the embodiment of technique execution. The second has produced three generations of black belts and has great grandsons in his lineage. The third and final category consists of any self-proclaimed person that can get others to believe his story and follow him or her.

I personally find 30-year old 6th degree black belts to be incongruous with any martial that has any substance. People can have great natural talent of and within themselves- true enough! But can they successfully transfer that knowledge and talent potential to other human beings seeking to achieve those same results?

A master of martial arts has the ability to do so and is able to translate and empower others with those abilities. To walk the walk and talk the talk does not mean, “I have a student that has been my student for X number of years. I need to advance him, and in order to advance his rank I must advance myself a few degrees!” When did the title of trainer and/or coach become elevated to the equivalent of one that has mastered an art or style?

And now the challenge – are you ready? If the martial art that you are currently practicing does not contain all of the following attributes with supreme attention being brought to these conformities, take off your belt and go and find something athat is at the least teaching and emphasizing these things in everything that they do, teach, or perform!

1. The foot! The toes grip. The ball presses and performs major pivots. The center hold static weight. The heel brakes and performs minor pivots.
2. Speed plus weight plus balance plus alignment is the only formula for external striking power.
3. The attributes of “rise – drill – fall – overturn” manifest themselves in the only four ways that the human body can move. Those ways being: up-down, left-right, and rotation! The truth will set you free!

Here is one last brain tease: How does the concept of “inside diameter and outside circumference” apply to the above three principles?

By the way, I am considered a master from the first two categories stated earlier. I continue to teach and instruct every class, five classes a day, six days a week at my facility, Moo Duk Kwan Martial Arts, in Runnemede, NJ. I have been active in the martial arts for over forty years. Oh yes, those principles apply to standing, striking, kicking, locking, and throwing and takedowns as well as to ground techniques.

I welcome comments from my martial arts peers! I will respectfully answer all questions.

Respectfully and humbly waiting to hear from you,

Master Forrest G. Blair

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