I’m sure I’ve written about this somewhere/sometime before, but the, (at least once-upon-a-time), numerous martial art hall of fames that were and are out there are quite a curious entity. Why, you ask? Because virtually all of them have its inductees pay to become inducted.
 
I don’t know??? Is it just me??? But, I have always thought that was very strange.
 
The original martial art hall of fame, at least the first one that I knew about, was instigated by Black Belt Magazine. That one, at least initially, was developed around the best tournament fighters and kata performers, the best and most well-known instructors, the people who really made a contribution to the martial arts, and the like. Those awards were given out each year, no charge. That should be the way it should be, don’t you think?
 
I had a strong working relationship with one of the original editors of that magazine, and even he said, it was all a very, “Political,” process, getting inducted. But, at least in my mind—at least back then, it was done the way it should be done, no charge to the inductees.
 
I always felt a bit jilted by not being inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame. I mean, I was, back when there were actually magazines being published and books being printed, one of the most prolific proponents of the Korean martial arts. Magazines and book publishers were contacting me all the time asking for content. But, I guess, I just wasn’t on the inside of the inside. I don’t know???
 
Things began to change with Black Belt, however. They started doing this thing where people could suggest who should be inducted into their hall of fame. I don’t know how that really worked. I know a bunch of people nominated me, but??? I imagine that was only a suggestion box and the real choices all came from the top: i.e. the editor and/or the publisher. But, times all changed and all that went away.
 
Back in the back when, in the late stages of magazine publications and the early stages of the internet, there became tons and tons of martial art hall of fames. I mean, a lot. Those… I was asked to be inducted into a number of them. But, they all held a price tag. My answer always was the same, “Thanks but no thanks.” I mean, what does a hall of fame actually mean if you have to pay to be inducted? Though, I know, a lot of people who did write that check.
 
I guess the point to all of this is, what do accomplishments actually mean? One would think, that if you actually do accomplish something good or great or grand or helpful or anything like that, that if someone likes it, they would simply compliment and award you for what you have done. Right? But, if you have to pay for that appreciation, doesn’t that kill the whole process?
 
I mean, it’s just like paying for rank advancement. Something that virtually every martial art school and martial art organization requires. I never did that. I never charged my students for rank advancement. If they were good enough, if they learned their stuff, that was all that matter to me. I never wanted to make money over something that they accomplished. But, that charging for rank is a universal trend.  I’ve known so many people who would say and describe how they could not advance in rank because they could not afford the price of that advancement. My belief is, if they are deemed good enough, shouldn’t that be the only price they have to pay to advance? I’ve never been in the military, but I have never heard of someone, in any branch of the service, paying to rise up in rank.
 
Now, I get it, the modern martial arts are all about business. I don’t agree with that at all. I believe that mindset diminishes the true essence of these art forms.  But, that is the way it is. I know I had to pay for all of my rank advancements, back when I was still seeking such things. But, shouldn’t advancement never be measured by how much money you have? This especially includes the various martial art hall of fames. If you are deemed good enough to be induced, shouldn’t that induction be the gift of whatever organization is behind that award?
 
I do not believe that there are as many martial art hall of fames as there once was. So, here’s a philosophic question for you, what does it mean if a person had to pay for being inducted into a martial art hall of fame that no longer exists?  What hall of fame are they a member of?
 
This whole thought process is not limited to the martial arts. It really reaches out to all areas of life. Think how many people expect some sort of recompense for moving someone up the ladder. Do you? Do you make a person pay to get what you have to offer? If you do, what does that make you?
 
Most people hope to achieve something in their life. That’s a natural thing. Most people are very happy when they are rewarded for what they have accomplished. But, doesn’t it just diminish the all and the everything if they have to pay to get that award?
 
If you have to pay for it, is it an award at all?