• Archive through March 14, 2005 March 14 - 03:31 pm [20]

so- with $2-3000 and two weeks anyone can be a certified instructor?

Shane,


"Anyone" would have be able to pass the instructor test, the test that comes after the training. If one does not display the ability to demonstrate the training per requisite, then you get only credit for attending, and no teaching creds at all.

Kumar does flunk people as being inadequate to bear a teaching cred in his name.

In every teacher training offered, Kumar warns that teacher creds are not guarenteed. Kumar tests for specific ability to replicate nei gung processes. If it is a teaching cert for MA, you have to fight. No one gets a MA teaching cred without proving to Kumar's satisfaction that you can use it effectively

. As far as chi gung goes, each teacher training requisite is having taken the course material in a non teacher course prior.

As he usually does not teach a course and its teaching cred version in the same year, you have nothing but time to get better at it.

Also most yearly schedules are not posted in advanced. In other words, no attending the weekend seminar of Marriage of Heaven and Earth in May, and then the Teaching Cert retreat of MoHaE in July of the same year.These courses are staggered to avoid the situation of driveby certification.

At the end of any of the courses you test in front of Kumar, if he doesnt think you have the skill, you are not certified. I thought I would repeat that item a few times so it is clear

Kumar uses checks and balances ending in his final word in all certifications to avoid abuse.

While I can not agree with you except in small part, Jacky, I appreciate you being civil about your opinions.

Anyone train with Peter Ralston? There are some similarities and parallels to Mr Cartmell, and Kumar and Peter

So here is a story, I will bet no one has ever heard of before.

Man goes on Far East MA source quest. Learns BG, TC, HY, or maybe some Chi/nei gung/dan comes back to US and starts teaching and marketing under a new concept. Kumar's Taoist Energy Arts. Peter Ralston's "Chen Hsing" Tim's "Shen Wu" Chia's "Healing Tao"

thoughts?

I think the way people train and there focus in training is a more important distinction. the healing aspect of the martial art deserves a venue and outlet so I am glad there are people like the kumar's and chia's of the world. But I would put Tim's Shen Wu people in the no BS category with people who train under the Gracie's or Samuel Kwok in UK.

Having gone to one of the first "teacher trainings" I can say that many people got certs who couldn't find their ass with both hands if the lights were on. Then one is supposed to recertify with some of these "teachers". Then he issues a caveat emptor on his site regarding these "teachers". This is not to take away from Kumar's abilities, which was the initial issue.

PS I haven't been in his organization for several years but back then there only about a dozen people with any recognizable skill. The rest paid the bills.

J.Alexander had a good point in "Man goes on Far East MA source quest. Learns BG, TC, HY, or maybe some Chi/nei gung/dan comes back to US and starts teaching and marketing under a new concept. Kumar's Taoist Energy Arts. Peter Ralston's "Chen Hsing" Tim's "Shen Wu" Chia's "Healing Tao"

One could say the same thing about the founding fathers of many of the martial arts currently being practised. And as with the four that he named, it can be difficult for beginners to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Those with more experience and who have decided what they are looking for in their internal arts training should be able to pick the teacher that fits their needs at that point in their development.

By the way, you can't always judge a teacher from videos unless you see a lot of them. The "attackers"on that Yang Applications video put out many years ago by Kumar were hardly threatening even as application demonstrations go; by contrast, I have seen him move skilfully against better opponents on more recent material. He has, or at least had, real fighting skill.

As to his teaching abilities, I have heard mixed stories from people that I respect who have actually met him.

Hey Buddy, any chance your intitials are B.L.?

Incidently, I have not been in the Kumar scene for awhile either.

About six or seven years ago I learned the bulk of his teachings from Kumar himself and some of his "disciples"

No, he's Buddy Tripp.

dc,
Remind me where I mentioned I need you to answer for me? For the record I have a high opinion of the material Kumar teaches or at least used to teach. A faction of his group is responsible for the "dumbing down" of the material and that is unfortunate.