Introduction to the death of Martial Arts "Budo Herpes" Pt 1.

-

 What is Budo Herpes?


Category: Martial Arts Sociology / Community Dynamics

Definition:
 
Budo Herpes (noun):

A metaphorical and socially transmitted affliction within the martial arts community, characterized by the sudden onset and spread of toxic behaviors, egotistical attitudes, and divisive drama. This "condition" often arises when martial artists adopt the emotionally charged and hostile demeanor of chronic trolls or bullies within the community. Like its namesake, it may remain dormant for periods, only to resurface in unpredictable and disruptive outbreaks.

Etiology & Transmission:

The “infection” is typically passed through repeated exposure to negative online interactions, ego-fueled disputes over lineage, rank legitimacy, or political power plays within martial arts organizations. It can also be contracted in toxic training environments, or through long-term association with chronically bitter personalities who hide behind outdated credentials and imagined authority.

Symptoms of Budo Herpes include:

Sudden unsolicited opinions about others’ ranks or credentials

Compulsive gatekeeping and lineage obsession

Overuse of phrases like “back in my day” or “real martial artists”

Emotional deregulation in response to perceived slights

Delusional self-importance paired with inability to take feedback

Common Carriers:

While Budo Herpes knows no true boundaries, statistical and anecdotal evidence suggests a concentration among:

Mostly Males aged 40 & Up

Individuals with past substance abuse issues

Those with a history of domestic violence charges or convictions

Persons who have undergone multiple divorces

Self-identified “masters” or “grandmasters” with a penchant for rewriting history

Individuals displaying narcissistic traits or emotionally immature behavior, often accompanied by signs consistent with Borderline Personality Disorder

These carriers are often drawn to power vacuums, online echo chambers, and promotional boards that operate more like boy’s clubs than institutions of growth.

Diagnosis:
 
Budo Herpes can often be diagnosed by observing:

1. The subject’s online behavior, particularly on martial arts forums or social media groups


2. Their reaction to others’ success, especially younger instructors or cross-style practitioners that talk more than they train.


3. Their language usage, especially the overuse of insults masked as “traditional values and age and rank complaints”


4. The company they keep, typically other emotionally unstable martial arts figures who collectively reinforce victim-hood and paranoia

Treatment:

Currently, no formal cure exists. However, the following interventions have shown promise:

Muting or blocking infected individuals online

Avoiding forums where drama thrives

Encouraging open dialogue, cross-training, and respect-based discourse

Creating healthy martial arts environments where differences are explored, not punished

Supporting mental health awareness and emotional regulation within leadership roles

Prognosis:

If left unchecked, Martial Herpes can lead to full-blown Community Meltdown Syndrome (CMS), where entire schools or organizations collapse under the weight of inflated egos and unresolved traumas.

Yes while the term is humorous in origin, Martial Herpes reflects a very real and unfortunate pattern in the martial arts world: the cyclical, generational spread of bitterness disguised as tradition, and abuse masquerading as discipline. Recognizing it for what it is — a social illness — is the first step toward restoring integrity, empathy, and emotional maturity to the arts.

-Dr. C.G. Mcfadden
 

Contact Information:

casper.mcfadden@mail.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF SHAME THE WEAK AND THE LAME, THE WASHED UP AND INSANE part 1.

-
“THE MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF SHAME (THE WEAK AND THE LAME, THE WASHED UP AND INSANE, JUST A PERMANENT SHIT STAIN ON THE MARTIAL ARTS WALK, CRAWLING IN THE SHADOWS OF TRUE MASTERY, LEAVING NOTHING BUT EGO, EXCUSES, AND EMBARRASSMENT IN THEIR WAKE).” Well Ladies and Gentleman I am invested in this whole thing now, lets see how it all plays out. Every bully needs to be called out and never left to hide in the corner like the coward they are.  By: C.G Mcfadden 1.  Don Roley: The Ninja Nobody Asked For Don Roley struts around the internet like a self-appointed gatekeeper of ninjutsu, yet somehow manages to be the only ninja who could get winded typing a blog post. He’s the martial arts equivalent of that guy who “used to be in a band” — always living off a vague past no one can verify, while the rest of the world has moved on. His whole persona is built around pretending to be the guardian of “real” ninjutsu, but the reality is he’s just the final boss of Facebook comment threads. Eve...
Read more

The Spineless Justice and the Silent Graves

-
  Blog Title: "Spineless Justice and Silent Graves, At The Cost of Ignored Bullying" By Dr. C.G. Mcfadden Let’s talk about something real— something raw, something ugly, something most people are too damn afraid to say out loud . The justice system is spineless when it comes to bullying, trolling, and harassment. Not just the cyber kind, but all of it—workplace bullying, school bullying, character assassinations in the name of gossip, and targeted harassment online. And do you know what’s worse than a broken system? The so-called friends and peers who vanish when things get messy . The ones who act like they care until you're on the floor gasping for breath, screaming for someone to just give a damn . They don’t. Not the cops. Not the courts. Not your “community.” You are alone. Let’s break this open.   The Silent Epidemic: Suicide by Bullying Over 14,000 suicides have been linked to bullying and cyberbullying in the last five years. That’s an average of 2,800 l...
Read more

Mr. Shepherd: The Facts, the Conversations, and the Questions That Remain

-
 Mr. Shepherd: The Facts, the Conversations, and the Questions That Remain By Dr. C.G. Mcfadden Contact: casper.mcfadden@mail.com This afternoon, I had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Tucker — the Judo instructor of Mr. Baron Shepherd. Mr. Tucker spoke with nothing but respect and positivity about Mr. Shepherd. He confirmed without hesitation that Mr. Shepherd’s Judo training came directly from him. According to Mr. Tucker: “Baron’s training came from me. My own Judo training came from a Korean man who taught Judo. Baron took over the school after I stepped away from martial arts for personal reasons. We trained together in multiple schools and in different martial arts. He is a valid Judoka.” Mr. Tucker stated that Mr. Shepherd also holds backgrounds in Shotokan and Kenpo, earned from instructors other than himself. He confirmed that Mr. Shepherd earned his first, second, and third-degree black belts in Judo under him, in reasonable timeframes. He went further, describing Mr. Sh...
Read more