how do you become a recognized black belt.?

Question

Growing up I practiced a form of martial arts know as Grekurin. It's a form of Muay Thai that incorporates Jujitsu techniques. It's a family developed art ,much like that of BJJ, created by my master's father. Of his twenty-two students, three of them (including myself) were awarded black belts. No fancy writing or embroidering, just plane old KI brand black belts. Since then my master has moved back home (Somewhere in Australia???) and his school is no more. Me and a fellow black belt of the school have tried to compete in competitions requiring rank, only to be told our belts weren't recognized by any know organisation. I worked my @$$ off for that belt for six years. So, my question would be "how does someone become a recognized black belt when their art is non-traditional."

Answer 1

Because the style you trained in is not a recognised style. In order to be recognised in any style at any rank there has to be a governing body for that style. So if you train in Grekurin and get a black belt from your sensei. And then you try to enter a JuJitsu or Muay Thai tournament you are SOL if you are not registered with the JuJitsu or Muay Thai governing bodies in your city or state/province or country. For example I am trained in Judo and in order to train in Judo where I live and compete I must be a member of my provinces governing body for Judo. If I go to a JuJitsu tournamnet and want to compete I will not beable to because I am not a member of a Jujitsu dojo and am not regiistered with the Jujitsu governing body. That and even if I go join a JuJitsu dojo and pay the membership fees so I can fight. My rank in Judo means nothing to them I would still be a white belt in JuJitsu regardless of how similar the styles are.

So the problem with anyone being able to teach just about anything they want and call it a Martial arts style is people often don't get the level of knowlage they would at a recognised school. How long did it take you to get your black belt in this style and how much did it cost you for all your training and grading. Often schools like these are run by Bullshido experts. Just out to get your money. I recomend joing a recognised JuJitsu or Muay Thai club and training. Then you will be able to grade for actual ranks in each of the styles. And if you are a black belt in a style that teaches both then it should not be hard to move up in either.

Answer 2

The standard procedure would be to contact the organization
that sets the standards of the discipline.

Since there does not appear to be any such organization (I did
a search on "Grekurin" and came up with nothing) your next best
be would be to find a school teaching a martial art that closest
resembles your discipline and get a black belt in that discipline.

Did your master just give you a black belt or did you also receive
a CERTIFICATE? A certificate goes a lot farther than a belt
does because you can get a belt at a martial arts store without
proof of certification.

You might also try WRITING to the organization that runs the
competition and presenting your case. If they give you the OK
presenting your written correspondance with the competition
administrators should get you in next time.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, I don't believe it is up to you whether or not your art becomes recognized. You say your master's father created the art and passed it down. He alone should be the one to make the decision. I studied a martial art when I lived on the East Coast. When I decided to move to the West Coast, I asked my instructor if I could open a school out there to further advance his art. He decided that he didn't trust anyone else to represent his art without his direct supervision. I had no choice but to respect his wishes.

Another option is to enter open mixed martial arts competitions. Many of these fighters are now calling themselves 'freestyle fighters', which to me means they have no ties to any recognized martial art.

Good luck.

Answer 4

I'm a martial artist also. I have a 4th dan in Tang Soo Do. What happened to you is not right. I would try to find an organization that does recognize your art...or start your own. That's how a lot of martial arts organizations were started, because they didn't exist. Good luck in your quest.

Answer 5

I would suggest that 16 is the youngest shotokan Black Belt holder, as to reach the venerable old age of 16 is one of the requirements for full black belt rank. Your brother got his on his 16th birthday I presume. J

Answer 6

Rank has no meaning. It should not be focused on.
You are what you know.

Tournaments are for sport, not serious training. Do not be concerned with them. (Although I have never heard a of tourney rejecting people for any reasons, usually they want all the money they can get since their true goal is profit.)

Do you train for a piece of colored fabric and a title. Or did you train for a deeper reason?

Focus on yourself. Have you trained anywhere since your so-called "master" when to his homeland (which it seems odd that you trained with him this long and you don't know where it is.).

You need to put more time into your training and spend less time worrying about rank.

Answer 7

your isntructer may have done a recognised art and based his teaching on that.but the problem is you'll still have to track him down.if you know his name and he's in australia i can help you find him.if you email me as many details as you can i''l see what i can come up with.cant promise anything though,but i'll try.

Answer 8

u gata make an organization... and they prabably want 2 see a certificate or sumthin......lol i was gunna sky why u wanted 2 compete but ur muay thai and juijitsu... lol my bad... ne ways talk 2 ur founder bout creating a world Grekurin organization or w/e.... r u sure guy guys legit? do u have contact info? i mean just up an left....