Experience Alone Does Not Equal Skill or Knowledge — Part 4: Raising the Standard Through Recognition

In Part 1, we dismantled the myth that time automatically equals skill or knowledge.

In Part 2, we explored the rare but undeniable outliers who compress decades of progress into years.

In Part 3, we examined the danger of ignoring these outliers and the damage it causes to martial arts when they are not recognised.

Now, in Part 4, we must consider what happens when outliers are recognised — and why this lifts the entire standard of martial arts rather than diminishing it.

⸻

Recognition is Not Favouritism

Acknowledging an outlier is not the same as lowering the bar. It is the opposite: it raises the bar.

When someone is recognised for achieving in five years what most take thirty to do, it doesn’t cheapen the thirty years — it demonstrates the true heights of what martial arts can reach through unmatched commitment, innovation, and work ethic.

But this recognition must never be confused with favouritism or handing out belts, titles, or ranks freely. The rules of martial arts exist to protect both the individual and the art. They ensure that recognition is earned, not given.

And for 99.9999% of people, recognition comes only after decades of training. That is correct, that is fair, and that is how the arts are preserved.

⸻

The Outlier Exception

The difference is that outliers — the one in ten million — have worked harder than anyone else. Not just harder than their peers of the same age, but harder than many with decades more experience. Their knowledge, skill, and dedication compress time itself.

These are the rare individuals who must be recognised. And here’s the crucial part:

• Recognition of the outlier does not mean everyone of their age or rank deserves the same.

• Recognition of the outlier should be explained carefully, showing others why their journey remains different.

By recognising an outlier and making clear why they stand apart, the rules remain intact, the art remains protected, and others understand that their own progress will still — and should — take decades.

⸻

Why This Lifts the Standard

When outliers are recognised, they:

• Inspire others to strive higher.

• Prove that martial arts is a living, evolving discipline.

• Challenge seniors to reflect on their own training and contributions.

Most importantly, recognition is not about breaking rules. It’s about acknowledging when someone has gone so far beyond the rulebook that pretending otherwise would be dishonest.

⸻

The True Spirit of the Arts

The old masters themselves were innovators. Hironori Ōtsuka fused karate with jujutsu to create Wado-Ryu. Bruce Lee tore down barriers by demanding adaptability over tradition. And Moses Itauma, defeating seasoned fighters like Dillian Whyte at just 20 years old, proves that sometimes decades of progress can be condensed into years through extreme dedication.

None of them represented the average. They represented the outliers. And in recognising them, martial arts was strengthened, not weakened.

⸻

Final Thought

Recognition does not mean throwing away the rules or handing titles to everyone. The rules remain, to guide and protect the majority.

But when the one-in-ten-million individual appears — the outlier who embodies decades of progress in a fraction of the time — they must be recognised.

And when we explain to others why these exceptions exist, the standard isn’t lowered. The standard is raised.