Techbrute

I don't disagree @bushido, I think that is best for both student and dojo. I simply thing that in most cases the accelerated advancement is that recognition and if something else is desired, that practicality should be a concern. We obviously wouldn't want to give them a patch in a school that doesn't wear patches, or tie yarn around their neck. I am interested to know what your opinion is on what that recognition should be. I recieved a verbal introduction to my class when I was in this position. Or were you thinking some sort of designation on their gi? Of course, one's knuckles can give one away to a skilled practitioner...

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Is there a niche manufacturer that makes high end Kamas and/or Sais? If you are aware of one, what is it that makes you consider them "high end?" I have typically just run with whatever I could get my hands on, but I recently handled someone else's sais and they were phenomenally balanced. He told me the maker, and I promptly forgot.

@bushido, I agree, but do we not recognize knowledge by rank? Will this knowledgable student not grow through the ranks at an accelerated rate? A white belt is a student that has not met the requirements for a higher belt. These requirements are nothing more than measurements of a student's mastery of their knowledge. A student previously schooled and ranked in another style will likely progress more quickly through ranks in a new style as he or she learn the subtleties of the differences in style and learn the new material, such as katas. This accelerated advancement is the recognition of their previous knowledge that you refer to, while at the same time allowing them to learn the new style properly without getting ahead of themselves.

As someone who trains or has trained empty-handed, with firearms, with martial arts weapons, and somewhat with knives, I can wholeheartedly say a handgun. In Texas, concealed carry is legal with a license, and I take full advantage of it. On the other hand, a small fixed blade knife is easier to deploy in some cases, so it would make a handy secondary weapon if engaged in a full-on struggle with an attacker. As @dete so astutely put, there are factors to be considered for everyone's individual situation. When I lived in California, legal carry of a handgun was out of reach for an average citizen. In Texas, it's technically illegal for me to walk down the street with a golf club, but I can carry my handgun as long as it is concealed.

I don't know the details of this particular instance, but in at least some cases, a rank in one art is not recognized in another. The practice varies from art to art and often dojo to dojo, depending on what club or organization the dojo might belong to. To lend a personal example, my rank in TaeKwonDo is not recognized at all in Shōbayashi Shōrin-ryū.