Is it realistic?

Question

What prompted this is a response I read from someone else regarding a question concerning belt ranking. In his answer, after listing the belts, he goes on to mention the period of time required between them as deemed necessary by his school in order to be tested for advancement to the next which is 4 months. And if you don't earn it, you don't get it and must wait another 4 months. This, I think, is as it should be. That being said, I'm not sure what to think sometimes when I encounter indviduals who boast of having attained the rank of 2nd degree black and then proceed to tell me that they accomplished this in 2 years or whatever. It just seems wrong.

I understand and I fully agree. I guess my overall point is one of concern regarding those kinds of places who offer rank in exchange for minimal effort. I've recently come across the term "mcDojo" since exploring this site. I'm not even sure why I allow myself to be irritated knowing that these exist. I still find it disturbing, though.

Answer 1

I have come to a new understanding of black belt vs. someone who can seriously beat some *** or knows the art.

Anyone can get a black belt... just go buy one for 4$ It would be like you getting ready to hire someone for a NASA engineer position... Would you want to hire someone who went through 4 years at a university and then extra for a masters of Physics? Or would you want to hire someone with a 2 year degree and an on line masters... Of course there will be other factors that come into play.... But i think that time has a HUGE part to play with rank. Its like someone boasting that they have a 4 year on line degree from Devry or some other lame on line school. And then someone who tells you they have a 4 year degree from a University like Washington or Oregon. I am gonna take the U of W over devry any day!

Answer 2

I really thought Hood 12 answered this question quite well.

In general I don't think it is realistic to have a black belt after two years. I suppose if there is a student who is a real prodigy, that maybe there should be exceptions and they should be allowed quicker advancement. Still this should be very rare and I don't think a black belt in two years.

I like one of the the dojo's I work out in. At this dojo children can not become blackbelts until they reach 16.5 years old. Even if the child has been training since he was 5. I don't think I've ever seen a 16.5 at the dojo with a black belt. Also promotions are based largely on competitions. As you go higher up the ranks the competition has to be placing to earn stripes.

The problem with all the quick promotion is it decreases the general value of black belts. For example if you try expalining to a friend that you have been training for six years and have a brown belt you might here something about how their friend has a son who is 12 years old and has a black belt.

If I am doing some MMA work and I am working with someone who has a black belt it is a mixed bag sometimes they are really good and other times I end up going half speed. I can't tell by the belt ranking how good they actually are or how hard I will have to work.

Answer 3

My personal view:there should be no time frame it should be based on ability,fitness,readiness etc.if a student trains 10 times a week and surpasses every thing that i would expect do you think it's fair that they be held back and grade with a person thats trained once or twice a week but is ready to grade to the expectations of the style.and what if that person who's only just ready fails because the person grading them happens to be a bit tougher than another .the person inside that student could be ruined forever.the style,the teacher who cares look what may have just been done to that student as well as what it's done to the other student who thinks how unfair is that i train etc...we all know it shouldn,t be like that but you cant change human nature and a lot of them are children and young people there there to learn from you that doesnt just mean to get there next belt.how can they respect you if thats all there is to it,sensei is there to teach martial arts,everyday values, morals, principles be there for there students in times of trouble(and there family),and quite often it is there family that causes them the trouble,provide answers that students think you should know(and i've had some beauties but i found the answer no matter what).you can have as many belts/titles as you want whether you get them in 1,2,5 or10 years it only proves you know the techniques expected of you it doesn't give you experience.nor do you assume that age does either.look at the person behind the belt ask them about their experiences if you listen hard enough you will be able to judge whether they have experience or there just the belt.i would never let anyone call me sensei if i didnt deserve it no matter what i had wrapped around my gi.and theres to many people out there that carry these titles that shouldn't have them(i didn't say they did'nt deserve respect or the belt they are wearing)and no im not the worlds greatest fighter but i would rather die defending my honesty than telling some one what they want to hear whether they are a higher or lower rank,g.bush,or the king of england.this is my opinion based on my experience and yes i know it's going to upset a few people.but i dont care because it would be proving my point anyway.if 1% of the people that read this do something positive with it i'll be happy. you cant please all the people all the time. MY USE OF THE WORD SENSEI WAS FOR EASE IT ENCOMPASSES ALL.and im not disrespecting anyones syle or rank or title.

Answer 4

Different schools have different standards. I've had KIDS tell me that got 2nd degree BB in 3 yrs. That school has no standards. I our assoc, testing is usually in about 3 mos. If not ready, they wait till they are. BB testing is only twice a yr, so if you aren't ready or don't pass, you wait 6 mos.

Answer 5

they learn faster i saw a blackbelt in 2 years vs 1 it took like 3 years and the 2 years won in a couple of hits. and blocks.

Answer 6

they might be able to do the advanced stuff but they aint certified

Answer 7

IT DEPENDS ON WHAT SCHOOL OR WHAT STYLE YOU ARE LEARNING UNDER.