0 to 10

[karatekid1975]

I agree, too. I've been training almost four years. I've been told that I have beautiful kicks, but I disagree. I'd rate myself a 3.

[Zorba]

As all black belts know, humility is part of being a martial artist. I have been training a total of 13 years now (more than half my life) and i still dont claim to know a drop in the ocean that is martial arts.

 

So i havea black belt in one style, in the overall scheme of things, what does it really mean. I know for a fact that put up against a really good martial artist, or even someone that isnt that good, but has knowledge of close combat and grapling, i would probably get my * whooped.

 

the ranking from one to ten would go the beginners would rank them selves low, the senior belts would rank themselves low, and the blacks and above would rank themselves low again.

[Shawn]

I would have to say I agree with the later comments. I have now been training for 17 years (man that makes me sound old). What I realised when I started cross training (about 6 years ago) was how little I knew. I realised that I was the big fish in the little pond (my style) gone to the small fish in an enourmous ocean (Martial Arts in general). There is so much that I wish to know and yet the biggest challenge is my own intellect. So for those of you who truly beleive you are anything over a 5 or 6, it's time to start training an additional aspect/style of Martial Arts and strap on that white belt again!

 

A favourite saying of mine

 

"You have now reached blackbelt, you are finally a beginner"

 

PS - I would give myself a 3.5

 

Have Fun people

[Ravencroft]

hmmm. im not gonna be too leanient with myself but im not gonna be overly humble and give myself a crappy rating, honestly as martial artist maybe a 3, and as a fighter id say like a 4 or 5. i think thats pretty fair.

[kotegashiNeo]

I stink 2.5 and every year I train it gets lower

[Fenris-wolf]

I stink 2.5 and every year I train it gets lower

 

Where did that come from?? How are you going to get better if that's what you believe?

 

Now, as to the question... this is hard! There are way too many perspectives on the question. But I'd give myself a 4 - 4.5. Of course, I think some of the people who put a 3.5 are possibly better than me, but by my estimation I'd say 4.5. In terms of overall effectiveness (I'm not even going to go into other aspects of MA) I can handle myself but I have a loooong way to go.

 

In a year - if I keep training I'd like to think I could get up to a 6.

 

In 5 years - I think about a 7. Because while I've learned quickly, I'm very capable, you hit certain plateaus and I think beyond the next couple of years it's going to be fine tuning.

 

[angelica d]

Technically, if 4th dan = 4, then I must be around 0.2

 

Yep, thats about right! I'd probably rate my kata at around 2.5, but my kicks would score in the minus numbers and drag the average down considerably.

[tommarker]

Well, in that case, I will dock myself down to 2.5

[Fat Donkey]

Wow, one of the best questions yet! And one that brings up an interesting point: Confidence or Humility. We all know that if u step into the ring/mat/street without being confident your pretty much dead meat and everyone here has probably experienced the boost in confidence from practising MA's. Also as teachers u have to instill confidence in your students while keeping them humble. What a conundrum? So for in light of this I'm going to say 2.5 in the gym and 10 in the ring/mat/street. I think its the only way to go .

[SBN Doug]

I've been practicing one art for over 10 years.

 

On the material I've been taught thus far, I'd rank myself around a 5-6.

 

But when looking at what I believe to be a 10 overall, I would rate myself down around a 2-3, and actually proud that I've made it that far.