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[Hock]

Remember the old expression "Karate Bum?"

It was, to my memory, about a karate tecaher, maybe had a school or two, or three, and made a living off of "Kuraty."

Hock

[Kelly Knight]

This term most definitely is still in use in the traditional martial arts circles that I run in.

But, the meaning is of a student who travels far on little money, staying on peoples' couches, hostels and camping to get by financially. Often, they are well known in the communities and are given special consideration because of their devotion.

I myself have been in that position many times. It's not a bad thing to be a "Karate/Martial arts Bum", in my eyes.

Kelly Knight

[Kentbob]

I would say there's worse things to be called, whether it's because you travel on little money, or make a modest living teaching/doing Karate.


Kent

[Kelly Knight]

AKA "Budo Bum".

The reason that it is frowned upon is because a person should have a job to pay for the things that they want to do. For example, I've had teachers (heads of entire systems) that were taxi drivers, landscapers, etc. They did that so they can pay the bills and continue doing what they love to really do.

It is not good to ask your instructor to give you anything other than what you have paid for. They are also trying to make a living. If you get more than you paid for, that's a fantastic bonus. It's their time and knowledge...those equal money, unfortunately, most times.

This is especially frowned upon in today's Japan, where you are expected to be a part of the society around you instead of living out some ronin fantasy. It's good if you are married, too. Wandering young men and women are seen as loose threads, not solid citizens.

To me, it again points out the amazing opportunities available to us here in America. I can feed myself and my family, pay my bills and have a little bit left over for savings and retirement teaching martial arts (a progressively harder daily proposition, I think). That's incredible. I don't think there are many folks in a similar position as mine in, say, Haiti, Afghanistan or Siberia.

I have a saying, "Good martial arts usually require two elements: time and money." You've got to put in both. If you happen to find a quality instructor that is willing to give you knowledge for free...well, that's a whole 'nother discussion, isn't it?

Also, being a "gatherer" of martial arts is not a good thing. It leads to mastery of nothing. A Budo Bum is more often than not a person who runs around trying on different martial arts like they are pieces of clothing.

On the flip side of the monetary discussion, as instructors we must honor each and every penny paid to us by our students, giving our maximum effort every time we see them. Our aches and pains and personal troubles must be left outside the school doors.

Kelly Knight

[Hock]

This abstractly relates to the DVD and book industry.

People are burning copies of everything and demanding material for free. It really is an Atlas Shrugged situation. Soon the Karate bums can no longer afford to make them and start selling shoes full time. Then the educational chain shrinks. (Then after a log and painful period, demand arises and people will pay for the rarity.

Kelly, I think we were talking once about these martial rental DVD companies. I forgot to tell you that neither the "stars" of the martial DVDs nor the production companies get a penny when these films are rented. So every time a martial dvd is rented, the rental company keeps all the money. Each one represents a non-sale to the "karate bum," which in turn makes him have to be a full-time landscaper. 

One goober that rents these films called us and wanted to buy the set and...wanted a discount. He tried to convince me that he was doing me a favor. HA! Right! The little shit.
We didn't sell them. And you know, since there was no discount, he didn't buy any either.

We have had numerous people buy them, and copy the DVDs and covers and open up little internet shops. We shut them done systematically. Good thing they weren't close by because I would shut them down with an axe.

Of course, the argument, as with the music industry is that this makes you popular and when you do a concert, more people come. A lot of people can't tour week after week after week. And nothing replaces the money from a real hit record, done the conventional way.

Today everyone can make a record! or a DVD. Whoopeeee. Sadly, most everybody sucks. Evolution still is in play.   

This is an age-old problem and it is worse with technology. Every music, book and film company is worried about all this. No cures on the horizon.

Hock
(I did just see a new batch of laptops the other day at a tech store. No DVD players in them. WHAT? The salesman said, "well...just download what you want to watch." Okay...)

[sarguy]

I always envied "karate bums" of all sorts. The ones I've had the chance to meet were involved in cross country, marathon sort of competition. They crashed on couches, were endlessly polite, and somehow never worried about money or food, how they'd be getting to the next run, etc. Just kinda lived in the moment. I wish I had that amount of faith and balls to rely on my friends and society in general to pursue something so damn esoteric.

No backpacking across Europe or living in a VW van while I found my "zen" doing Karate, marathons, or anything else. I chose food and employer-provided insurance and benefits, instead.

Reminds me of Gandhi. While seen as a great man and all, he traveled and lived at the expense of his close companions. Apparently he had a very strict sort of "nuts n berries" diet, which (according to one of my history profs) had specifically been known to incur great expense in acquiring said foodstuffs. I'm sure is disciples didn't mind feeding him, but after a while it would get old.

As far as the computer/download thing goes (and this might need to move to another thread), I've seen a lot more people at school with netbooks this semester. No optical drives at all. In some cases they come with one you plug in while you're at home. Everyone likes having their media on their hard drives, in their media players, on on flash drives. I personally haven't listened to a CD in my CD player in ages. When I buy one (if I buy a physical CD, versus saving 3 dollars to download it from Amazon), it gets ripped to mp3, goes on the media player, and the disc then gathers dust.

Personally, I think requiring the people who make rank to own a copy of your material is a good way to keep them honest. (Although, how many people who are prone to torrenting pirated stuff would be attending seminars and making rank?) Do you verify that they have a copy?