Spartacus Maximus

Belts and the ranking system have only been used for a little over a hundred years, starting in Japan with Judo. Before that time people just trained until the instructor was satisfied enough to teach them something new. Even the oldest of old timers with decades of practise have known of and gone through a system with coloured belts between white and black. Only black and white or no belts at all is the exception and it has been for a long time. Maybe since the time martial arts became publicly taught to larger groups instead of privately or in secret. How many on the forum train at or know of an instructor/dojo where there are only white and black? How about 5 or less(white/black included?). People like knowing where they stand and having some sort of tangible sign of their progress. Having milestones also keeps students motivated by giving them a goal to aim for. On the other hand the belt system is a double edge sword. Everyone involved in martial arts long enough can give several examples and experiences of how this system has been used and abused for less-than-ethical and dastardly reasons. We(martial artist) are stuck with them, whatever we think of them. Doing without belts or reducing the number would be very difficult.

It is very difficult if not impossible to tell who might become a longtime or lifetime student. That is precisely the reason why an instructor must not make any difference in how each student is treated. Each one is different and their involvement and dedication to their own training cannot be judge from the first day. It will only be clear after the student has been training regularly for at least a couple of years. Personal and professional life with its many obligations must also be considered because this will usually determine how much time one has to spend training and practising in or away from the school/training place. Usually, though a good indication that one will probably be a longtime or even lifetime martial arts student is those who start in their youth and are still actively involved by the time they become adults. By this time, training or at least an interest in martial arts has become ingrained into their lifestyle and it is highly likely that they plan and organize their daily life around it. These are the ones who somehow always make time to train or do something related to their involvement in martial arts. Like yourself, personally it is impossible to imagine what life would be like without karate because it is something that became a part of daily routine like having breakfast or taking a shower. Been involved with and training the same style continuously since middle school age.

There is one point about using the Wilder/Kane book for reference that should be emphasized. The information is only relevant if one has a good instructor to AND if one is not a beginner in one’s system/style. Otherwise it will only be confusing to the point of being useless.

Many martial arts people see their school/dojo as a place to practise. In fact, at least in the traditional sense, this is not quite correct. The school/dojo is the place to learn new things and get instructions on how and what to improve. All the practise work to refine skills and polish basics is supposed to be done by each person on their own time. Of course in this days and age hardly anyone can afford to train daily for hours. Everyone has other vital obligations and preoccupations such as their professional and private/family life. It is not impossible however, with some self-discipline to find just a few minutes as often as feasible to practise two or three items from one’s martial art or do some strengthening/conditioning.

Kane and Wilder’s book is probably one of the best publication available about form. The authors focus on Goju ryu karate because that is what they practise, but their book gives a great insight on how learning from forms/kata is supposed to be done. The explanations and methods of understanding forms can be applicable to any style/system relying on them as the main individual training exercise. Highly recommended !

A blackbelt is more significant for those who propose to teach a certain system of specific lineage. Such an instructor must not necessarily wear the belt when teaching, but if said instructor has a school any potential student will expect to see it. That is the problem with belts. The idea that an instructor must possess and wear a black belt is so strongly ingrained that it would be seen as unusual for a martial arts instructor to teach without it. However just sharing knowledge and skills informally requires nothing except being able to demonstrate; and teaching ability enough to show potential students that it is indeed worthwhile to learn what is offered.

“If nations want peace, they should avoid/cease the pin pricks that precede cannon shot” The meaning of this quote is more significant than its origin. It was meant on the scale of international relations/politics, but it also applies to people on an individual level. Most conflict can be avoided simply by good judgment and quick thinking. When faced with aggressive, threatening or potentially violent people; staying calm and being polite and civil. More often than not, this will diffuse a situation long before physical force becomes necessary.

Shotokan 1 Shorin ryu 3 including present dojo Aikido 1 17-19th century swordsmanship 1

There are many justice systems that specifically mention weapons by design versus weapons by purpose or usage. A firearm is a weapon by design and is always treated as such. It’s purpose is to kill and nothing else. A billiard ball is not meant to be a weapon, but if used as one in an altercation it will be treated as a weapon. Fists and feet whether trained or not would probably be in that same category by courts. The only difference is that a person with training may be judged more severely due to the general public’s perception of martial arts. Most people do not train in any kind martial arts or combat sport and base their impressions of it entirely on whatever they read or hear from often dubious sources.

There are some basic and general guidelines which must apply for something to work in self-defense. Firstly, it must be simple and second but not less important is that it should allow the defender to escape. Escape is always the ultimate goal. In addition to this, the effectiveness of any technique depends on distance and timing. When these factors are off, either it will fail completely or be much less effective.

One of the advantages of belonging to a governing body is that it is easier for a lower grade to find the nearest higher/more advanced instructor under whom to continue one’s personal training while teaching. An independent lower grade wanting to teach, depending on location, might find it more difficult. However with a will and some effort, it is not impossible to find a reasonable way to do it.

Most karate/general martial arts-related knee injuries are preventable. The solution is learning and practising movements and stances correctly. This means doing them in a way that the knees do not endure stress or torsion at a damaging angle. The second crucial factor is regular strength and conditioning exercises to ensure that the knees are strong enough to withstand regular sustained training. The same applies for rehabilitation and both ought to be done under the careful guidance of a knowledgeable instructor.

Organisation rules and guidelines aside, the most important thing on a personal level is to continue and maintain one’s own training. Running a school and instructing people should not conflict with or prevent the CI from improving skills and furthering knowledge of what said instructor teaches.

Potential students will most likely expect the CI to hold a dan grade and wear a black belt. Even if the exact significance of the system is unknown or not fully understood; the fact is that the majority will believe that a black belt/dan grade equals experience/expertise and the ability/credentials to teach. An instructor with a kyu grade/colour belt could make potential students turn away before there is a chance for the CI to demonstrate that they are indeed a capable instructor.

That’s the result of determination. 27 do years is an exceptionally long gap before getting back into it, but if someone makes the time and effort previously learned skills do come back. It truly is just like riding a bicycle. Once it has been learned, it can be possible again even after years not doing it. It just takes a strong will and determination to recall and sharpen the skills up to whatever level one had before practise was stopped. It is worthy of note because ego and overestimation of ability will make most people unable to start over after just a short while. Although it has been a lot less than 27 years, much less a decade; re-starting from the basic fundamentals was difficult. In the end it was the most beneficial path to choose. The first thing that becomes obvious is that previous rank/grade have very little significance. What matters is what is possible to do in the present. If one trains hard and regularly up to a level previously reached, the skills and ability will be reinforced; thus improved by the time said level is reached again. Another good point is that the instructor evaluating the rank/lgrade will have a different perspective from before.

Self-defense can be challenging to explain or teach to adults, but children can be even more difficult because their age and mental development limits their ability to understand certain important aspects. Children are more likely to face physical threats from their peers than from adults. Dealing with a school bully requires a different approach than what would be effective and appropriate against a criminal assault. How and what should be taught to children for self-defense against school bullies or others within their age group?

It is a plausible reason that visually different black belts came into use with the higher number of people for an instructor to keep track of. Instructors with few longtime students can arguably tell how far along everyone is at a glance. The other explanation could be just business.

To add to what has been said previously, black belts with stripes of any colour down their middle are rare outside of North American(Canada and USA) karate dojos. In Okinawa and mainland Japan as well as anywhere else using the most traditional belts scheme, karate dan grades are solid black up to 6th or 7th dan. In many karate ryuha, these will be a red/white belt. 9th and 10th dan will have a solid red belt.

Given the huge number of karate organizations, styles or schools it is very difficult to identify any of them with just a belt colour. Black belts with stripes down their middle are commonly used by several dojo’s as a transitional level before Shodan. The black belt with a red stripe is sometimes worn by 4th or 5th dan instructors in a few Okinawan Shorin ryu schools.

Besides perhaps stimulating interest in pursuing training, one day seminars or courses have no practical value. Those who attend will likely get a false sense of security after being introduced to a few techniques. However, as with any given skill it is just not possible to become proficient enough to rely on them without practise. After the one day course ends, how many of the people attending actually spend any significant time on the content afterwards?

There are only two choices here and it is up to the OP to make the decision. One is to forget everything that happened and find another instructor or system to learn. The other option is to forget all feelings of being slighted and let go of all arbitrary notions of rank or grade if the OP values actual skills gained. If the OP does indeed value physical skill and overall growth in the system trained, the final and essential question is this: In a month of absence, has anything been forgotten or become awkward and clumsy? Or is everything still as sharp and crisp as it was the day before the month-long absence began ? Either way if the pursuit and development of skills are the first priority; ranks and grades are meaningless. Following this reasoning, demotions or promotions are also insignificant. One either can do something or cannot. In both cases training and practise are the decisive factor.

What is the worth and benefit from attending a one-day one time only seminar on anything? From an instructor’s perspective it could help as a promotion device to get new students to start training. On the other hand anyone seriously interested in learning martial arts and self-defence (or anything) will not be satisfied with just one day or lesson. The amazing thing about such seminars is that when they think about it , people do understand that a one time course will probably not help them but....they are still willing to pay/attend because a sense of security and accomplishment is a buyable commodity. People will always want to feel good about themselves without too much effort and quick as possible.

They are usually at the root of rushed decisions and clouded judgement. Anger and other strong emotions often lead to mistakes that are always regretted later after the heat of the moment. Luckily most of the time it serves as a life experience opportunity to learn a lesson. As a martial artist in training or in self defense, it can be painful if lucky or crippling to deadly at worst. Contrary to popular thinking anger is only one of many emotions that requires management and control. A person who is unable to control their own emotions is very unstable and unpredictable. If that person also has even a minimum of martial arts training, they are also potentially dangerous to themselves and everyone else around whenever they experience an emotional outburst.

This may not be fathomable to everyone, but the are quite a few professions and lines of work where the way a person looks may negatively influence or cause problems in both business and social interactions. Frequent, regular and obvious injuries; or signs that could possibly be seen by the public as a potential or liking to physical violence can and will be a handicap. In the worst of cases it will frighten potential clients, coworkers and partners. It can even attract the wrong sort of people leading to unwanted and unnecessary interactions. This has always been a legitimate concern but even more so recently as many modern societies everywhere have become over sensitive.

How it can be explained depends a lot on the workplace and line of work one has. It also depends on whether or not anybody there knows about one’s martial arts training. Claiming an accident usually works fine or even just going about your business as usual would also work. This is not limited to martial arts as just about anyone who has a risky hobby or plays contact sports is bound to have a few dings, bruises and scrapes once in a while. The idea is to focus away from the visible injury by giving only short simple explanations only if asked.