Martial Art Organizations
Martial Art Organizations
Martial art organizations are established for many reasons. Most are there to preserve and promote the traditions of a particular martial art style in a systematic way. Other types of martial arts organizations include individual martial art schools and clubs, national and international martial art and sport governing bodies, private tournament organizers and various charities that use martial art for the good of society.
First type of organization that seeks to systematically organize a marital art style under it has a long history. Most of them were successors of old schools in Japan, Korea, and elsewhere in which a master taught a particular style of martial art to a certain number of students and they continued the tradition from master to students. Usually only a small number of students were taught all the secrets of the art. Even from that only one will be able succeed the master as the head of the institution. Other advanced pupils may start their own schools and teach the same style of martial art or a derivative of it, starting a new style.
It was this method that was partly responsible for the preservation of traditional martial arts in the East Asian countries. However it also resulted in various branch styles as students established their own schools.
In the modern era these institution were formalized and given legal clout in order to deal with the reality of modern global economy. This was necessary especially in light of the popularity of martial arts. Instead of a few students as in the old days most martial art masters now teach thousands through their subordinates and affiliates. Their advanced students nowadays establish affiliates schools that look to the parent organization for the standards.
So the main organization has to evaluate the progress of large number of students and maintain the ranking system. They also monitor the teachers and the curriculum in order to maintain the standards, meet the demand of the customers, and preserve the fundamentals of the martial art tradition and philosophy, all at the same time. These organizations are essential to manage the economic value and to promote the particular brand. Most own the various trade names and other intellectual property especially in the case of modern martial arts. .
Most individual martial art schools and clubs are affiliated to some larger parent organization that administers the particular martial art. Their affiliations bring many benefits; it gives them access to updated curriculum, ability to test students according to more recognized standards, and ability to participate in larger competitions. Students too feel they belong to a larger tradition and not just part of group of few individuals that may disappear after the demise of the master.
National and international governing bodies and authorities regulate the martial arts especially the ones that are oriented towards sports. They provide the standards by which the students of their affiliates can test themselves in ranking or in competitions. They draft the rules, promote the martial art, and coordinate the activities of subordinate bodies.
There are also tournament organizers, public as well as private, who organize competitions. These competitions add interest to the sport oriented martial arts and help promote them. They also allow the best practitioners to displays and match their skills against others. .
Lastly there are various charities usually affiliated to some of the above organizations that want to promote social well being through martial arts. These try to instill values of self improvement that underlie most martial arts on to the unfortunate victims of society, for instance some of them help substance abusers or street children.