The Latest Trend in Martial Arts – Rebranding Karate Schools into Mixed Martial Arts Schools
It’s inevitable… the newest trend or fad is bound to attract the “bandwagon.” In the martial arts industry we have seen the wave of kung fu (Bruce Lee’s influence), karate (the Karate Kid influence), then Ninjas, Ninja Turtles, Tae Bo, etc. In the last 20 years, “reality fighting” brought the world’s attention to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu thanks to Royce Gracie’s early domination of the UFC, and suddenly all of the karate schools were suddenly offering jiu-jitsu classes and “rediscovering” their arts “long lost” grappling techniques.
Today, thanks to the massive popularity of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), and the UFC in particular, the same phenomenon is happening. Although the MMA revolution may be here to stay, the problem is that the uneducated consumer does not know the difference between one program and another — even when the latest “MMA academy” popping up down the street is actually the latest attempt of a career tae kwon do or karate instructor who has spent years running karate schools to capitalize on the Mixed Martial Arts boom.
In some cases, these born-agains are just hacks with no knowledge. In most cases, though, they appeal to the mass market by flying the flag of some well-known Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or MMA team to lend the impression of credibility. At best the instructors have just a few years of any type of real BJJ, Muay Thai, and/or MMA experience (why – because they are used to running karate schools!).
Do I mind that some people are making an earnest effort at expanding their knowledge and making a profession out of their passion? Not at all. What I do mind, however — after many, many years of blood, sweat, and tears (not to mention many thousands of dollars) training in these arts with some of the best instructors in the world, coaching and training with some of the best people in the world, and learning the best ways to train others — is to see these guys who were just rank beginners a few years ago put a new name on their door and now are passing themselves off a legitimate MMA experts.
And the students are believing it!
If you are looking for karate training specifically, there are plenty of karate schools out there. But if you are looking for the highest quality professional MMA, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts training in the Cape Cod and greater New Bedford Area, then you owe it to yourself to check out Nexus Martial Arts & Fitness!
Don’t trust your MMA to the former karate schools owners – call 508-295-5427 or visit OUR WEBSITE today!
Just interviewed on this subject yesterday.