sensei8

Nearly every single style of the MA has a belt system, and within that, there's the dreaded black belt; the only rank that receives unbridled constant resentment across the board. The ridicule is nearly, if not completely, unforgivable to some degree from all walks of life in and out of the MA world. Doubt rears its ugly head without any facts to back them up just for the mentioning of the black belt. Of course, I do understand as to the why's and why not's because we humans are a suspicious creature by fault, but often not, by cause. Deeply ensconced in the black belt rank lies the mitigated proponent: It's varying degrees!! Please, if it's even possible, let's not talk about how the black belt degrees are a political tool, especially in the Senior Dan ranks, because that's a supposed myth; Shindokan tests all ranks up to Hachidan, for example. For the most, there's Shodan-Judan; 10 degrees. Usually, Shodan thru Godan are earned through Testing Cycles. Rokudan thru Hachidan are earned not through the physical efforts, but through the theory and philosophical betterment; what they positively contribute to the MA world, in which, they are expected to be leaders in the MA world. Time in rank is critical and important because maturity of rank isn't a whimsical thing whatsoever; over time!! Kudan and Judan are bestowed in this manner: Kudan is the current leader of the style...Judan is for the styles founder. Let me speak towards that which I'm an authority of: Shindokan. As I briefly aforementioned before, Shindokan tests all ranks up to Hachidan. Only once, has the SKKA conducted a Kudan Testing Cycle, mine, and won't be repeated ever again. The SKKA, has abolished the Judan when the Soke types were. If the black belt receives the disdain it has endured for so long, then degrees of the black belt have received that same disdain, if not much more, then why promote BB degrees at all?? Money?? That seems to be an easy answer, but the money was an unfortunate side effect because we humans can be greedy and morale inferior for profit. White belt to black belt....then that's it. No degrees!! The ridicule of the black belt seems harsh enough, without the furthermore crucifying of the black belt degrees to no end. Alarming to me is when those who have earned a black belt rightfully, speak ill-will towards either the practitioner or the style or both about the black belt. Even most alarming to me, is when those very same, speak vehemently about the black belt degrees. Why?? They wear a black belt and they wear a black belt degree TOO!! It's as though theirs, which they've earned, is so much better than anyone else!! Imho!! My question stands... If the black belt receives the disdain it has endured for so long, then degrees of the black belt have received that same disdain, if not much more, then why promote BB degrees at all??

Welcome to KF, perrymour; glad that you're here!! Can you tell us a little more about yourself??

Congrats, Tempest; that's great news!! Gets better all the time, doesn't it?!?

S L O W Take the time to work into the stretch while keeping mindful of things can can injure you, i.e., bouncing and such. Rushing any stretch gets one injured, and as my doctor always reminds me of... "Are you in a hurry to injure yourself??" S L O W Work into any stretch with a modicum of sensibility; the more one feels stiff, the more time one will need to stretch at a smart pace. The overused phrase "Over time" isn't stressed enough; ones betterment is risked when one ignores that fact that improvement, of any degree, takes exactly that...time. No one earned anything in the MA overnight, and no one will earn the desired stretching ability overnight either; over time, things of interest are earned, and therefore, achieved.

Then there's the "expert" on the floor, wherever that floor might be, or the "expert" from reading books on said subject but having never been on said floor...ever. I'll take the "expert" on the floor!!

Works every time!!

Solid post!! To the bold type above... Like you said, content and context must be considered, but the way I was taught, belt and rank are not one in the same.

Perhaps... Belts is to ranks as the deep blue sea is to the deep blue sky; both are different, not the same, not even in context and/or content. Can the two be separated; belts and ranks?? I sadly wonder if it's even possible for some, if not many!!

Solid post!!

Another serious practitioner can spot another serious practitioner; the clues are to striking to ignore. The package isn't mistaken as a possibility, but more of a concrete affirmation.

I am trying to trade the shift. I also know how hard up my department is at the moment with people out sick. I have a good boss and now that the semester is over and I can fill in where needed. But, Bruce Lee on the BIG SCREEN. I am trying to trade it though. I won't call out sick. I wholeheartedly respect that!!

Has anyone here ever had a visiting BB question your decision of not upholding their BB in an unprofessional manner?? How'd you deal with it?? I just politely ask them to leave; opinions vary, his/hers and/or mine. However, this is MY dojo, end of story!! I've had them get in my face, but I'm not that easily concerned. Put your hands on me, well, time to do what I do the best...give free karate lessons.

A very noticed and marked improvement over time through their mature approach to their training/practice.

Great topic, Danielle!! Thank you for starting it!! Great article across the board, as well!! All students, and not just kids, have to be rationally challenged at all times. If students aren't challenged, then burn-outs around the corner. I do agree, that students need to engage in other activities outside of the MA school, the sooner the better. Too much of a good thing, or one thing, spoils the fun, as well as the learning. The MA is a serious thing, and in that, it's also suppose to be fun. I play with the kids, literally, and the younger the kid, the more I play; I'm that child that they don't ever have to be intimidated with at all. This topic is a serious topic, and I don't ever want to just brush over it; ignoring its importance whatsoever. Kids are the MA future; handle them with loving care!! There are my immediate thoughts, for the moment. There should be a sign, at the entrance to my dojo, that reads..."Pushy Parents Be Warned!!" I set the tone, and not the parent!! I teach the parent to know their role, and when it comes to my dojo, I run it completely without their help; their help isn't expected, nor is it ever appreciated. The parent came to me, I didn't come to them. I set the rules, and I teach the parents to know that right out of the gate by telling them just that in our initial conversation. If the parent doesn't understand that, then the parents and the child can go somewhere else!! I've no ambiguity whatsoever on this. I'm the CI, the kid is the student, and the parent BETTER JUST SIT DOWN AND SHUT-UP!! I welcome conversations with parents about anything EXCEPT anything that occur, or might occur, on the floor. When it comes to the floor, I'm God, as far as the parent is concerned. I earned my abilities within the MA on my own, and not one parent can tell me one darn thing about the MA, especially when it comes to Shindokan. My rank, my title, my everything is why I'm the CI, and the sooner the parent accepts that reality, the faster we can teach their child...without any of their unsolicited advice!! Other than that, I'm a sweet teddy bear, and a real nice guy...who has been teaching the MA for 47 years, almost 40 years on my own in my own dojo's.

First off, welcome to KF, Azulx; glad that you're here!! Your student did well; which is evident with the still picture of him with his new belt and certificate!! Congrats to him!!

As far as a knife threats concerned, the one constant about a knife attack is...be sure that you bring a gun to the knife fight. All I can do is continue to train; honing my skills in the best way that I know in the event that I'm attacked. Realistic offense and defense have to be sharpened across the board both mentally as well as physically. Self-defense might be changing, however, I believe that in the core of self-defense human beings are what they are, and in that, known limitations of the human body are unchanging. It's man/woman VS man/woman; keeping it all as sensible as possible...not being overwhelmed by the threat. Reading up on the rage of the page new threats is one thing, but if at all possible, realistic training to recognize them, prevent them, and to defend against them is far better than pretending that whatever won't ever happen to you. The MA has it's limitations, and the human being is THAT limitations of the MA; we're our worse enemy. Within our world, there are things that we can defend against, in which we can be prepared for, and if I can be prepared for it, then I might be able to defend against it. However, there are things in this world that we can't defend against, chemical threats, to name just one, be that doesn't mean that we don't prepare for that possibility. Do the best that one can; never giving up!!

I hate thieves and liars; no use for either!! Pretend stories, to me, is lying; not interested, and their credibility is lost forever!!

Not all black belts can teach, nor should they try; either they can or they can't!! Both, teacher and student have to reach a middle ground together, and then, decide if their relationship is a fit. If not, then they must part ways. Compatibility's are strained if ones not willing to compromise enough for the betterment of the goal. That goal is LEARNING!! Who's to compromise? The student and/or the teacher?? I believe...BOTH, to some degree!! The teacher teaches the curriculum to their best abilities. The student learns the curriculum to their best abilities. That middle ground, for the learning/teaching can be reached, has to be defined somehow by someone. Just because the CI/black belt runs the curriculum and the school, that doesn't mean that the student is the property of the CI/black belt. Either the teacher or the student have to decide what's best for themselves. I've seen black belts give into the student for the sake of retention. That's the worse thing a black belt can do because the middle ground becomes quite muddled; who's the darn teacher and who's the darn student...decide now!! The student's betterment depends on an instructor who CAN TEACH!! However, the teacher's betterment depends on the student who CAN LEARN!! If a student and I are not compatible, for one reason or another, and attempts have been made to the betterment of the student, then it's time for the student to seek a wider sky somewhere else. As the teacher, I have to teach THAT student because not everything is universal on the dojo floor; learning curves vary...teaching curves vary too!! Imho!!

What one can expect, at a glance, is that outwardly identifier, until the floor starts to revealing what's not noticed by those outwardly identifiers that were noticed but at a glance.

Knowledge and experience can't hide on the floor, no matter what the outwardly identifier might be. However, that too is subjective through the observer. Imho!!

OK...you've just convinced yourself to take a day off...go see Enter The Dragon; enjoy!!

I'm not proficient at shadow boxing! Ok, then please do what TJ-Jitsu has also asked.

Belts in and of themselves mean nothing. Rank on the other hand, I would say that depends where you got the rank and what standards you had to meet in order to get it. In BJJ for instance rank is not just handed out, at least I've never known of any BJJ school that does, so if you've got a high rank in BJJ you would have to have earned it and it will show on the floor. Ranks still mean nothing; unless ones chasing after rank, instead of just training. Belts are just the outwardly identifier of rank. Imho!!

Devin, you did it....Nidan!! Congrats, Devin!!

Now you're talking; congrats LLLEARNER!!