SICK OF THE LIES ?!?!?!?

[Master Jules]

It only makes me laugh.....and yes.....Im very happy in my training.....

[AngelaG]

It only makes me laugh.....and yes.....Im very happy in my training.....

 

Makes me laugh too. Sensible people, you and me, know that these self-elevators obviously have a little something wrong in their psyche and must have very low self-esteem. Why else would they crave other people's worship and "respect" under false pretences? The sad thing is that any knowledgeable MA knows the ridiculousness of the situation and just finds them absurd in the extreme.

 

Yes, there should be something out there to stop them creaming money from the unsuspecting public, but if we start have official regulations in the MA we risk not being able to teach it as we see fit... we also risk it becoming totally sport oriented. It's a bit of a catch 22 situation. All we can do is ensure that we don't go the same way and that we educate the beginners in MA in the best way we know how... forums like this go a long way in helping!

[Master Jules]

Angela.....I couldnt agree with you more ! It is too bad we cant regulate it....but as you said....its a catch 22.....Its a shame that newbies dont know whats right and wrong, good or bad.......we can only hope that they figure it out before wasting to much of their time and money.....and yeah.....forums such as this are a great tool for pointing newbies in the right direction.

[Reklats]

In my style it's not a particularly bad problem, but overall it still bothers me. It's like saying I just laugh and go on studying when I hear about people getting promoted (granted in * gov't jobs) for having fake online degrees.

[gojuchad]

so the moral to this story is DONT LIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ha ha

[Shane]

I hear where your coming from, but dont let it get to you. I run a small school and there are other schools near here with Master this and Master that, but I still get my fair share of students. You know I had a similar discussion with my Instructor the other day, and he told me if I ever was to call him Master that he would Knock me hard (those where not his exact words if you know what I mean hahaha). Also once the untrained public gets involved with these schools most will find out that their so called Grand Master is not that. My students know from the get go that I'm qualified to train what I train and they experience that, but if I was to call myself a Grand Master or Master they would probably head out the door just due to my age (late 20's), but I have seen Masters around my age and I just kind of laugh inside.

[manuelito]

i have not personaly run into this problem. i have trained under two gm level instructors. i actually researched there careers. but i could see the problem this would create. i will say that i have seen some mid level dans that should not be there. an example that comes to mind...mr x is same age as me, started ma after me, and is two dan grades higher than me. before i left this particular organization (for a second time) i embaressed him on a regular basis. as i started seeing more of this in the organization i left. this was sad because this was not the way it was years ago and i really had good relationships with the people i trained with. and checking out some of the members on here there are a few of you whom belong to this organization. good luck to you.

[47MartialMan]

How does the dan system work? I heard that you have to be graded by a person who is at least 1 dan above the dan you want to be at. Is that correct?

 

It all depends on what MA your are studying, and what organization you would like to be ranked with. I have two Dan certificates. Only one is legitamate... It is my 1st Dan from the U.S. Chung Do Kwan Assoc, and I spent a few years of my life training to receive it. I tested in front of a Black Belt review board that included my Grand Master, who at the time was an 8th Dan in the WTF, and currently is the highest ranked non-korean in the WTF. Also on the board were two other master ranks, (In chung do kwan, that's 4th DAn and up) a third dan, and a second Dan. They put us through hell and back for two days... well for one day, the second day was much easier and was for families to come and see you go through the paces. There were times during my test I thought I would never be able to make it, and even if I did, I didn't think I would pass. I earned that rank and am very proud every time I put the belt on.

 

So why can't there be a test date for you to get the next Dan?

 

My other Dan certificate was given to me by a friend/co-worker who was trying to start his own TKD association in Northern Michigan, and wanted to be able to say he already had another black belt certified underneath him. We worked out a couple of time, but nothing to serious, so he never got a good look at whether I really knew what I was doing, but it didn't stop him from giving me a certificate in his new organization... and this was for 2nd Dan. I turned him down, but he wanted me to keep the certificate, so I kept it and show it to my students to prove that anyone can get a rank... and that one didn't cost me a cent.

 

Why receive it? Why keep it? Why show it?

 

In some organizations, you can test students up to one belt below you, so it would take a 2nd Dan to test you for 1st Dan. Other organizations make it 2 belts above you... I have seen a couple that will allow a 1st Dan to test someone up to 1st Dan, but I think this is very rare. In the long run, the Dan system is based on the school or organizations principles and philosophies and will vary from org. to org. In reality, the belts mean very little... they are a gauge that can serve the purpose of helping you determine how well you are doing within your own system, but some styles don't even use belts. Some only have white and black....This went on a lot longer than I intended..... uh sorry? but I hope this helped explain it.

 

The way of thinking is: If there is a 1st Dan at one school and a 8th Dan at another, then the 8th Dan has 8 times more experience then the 1st Dan. But, that is how a "outsider" incorrectly thinks. So the Belt is the marketing emphasis based per years of experience to earn each higher level.

[foreveryoung001]

So why can't there be a test date for you to get the next Dan?

 

I didn't say there couldn't. I guess I don't understand your question. For me personally, I didn't stay in contact with my organization after I moved, so I never persued my next Dan rank until just recently.

 

 

 

Why receive it? Why keep it? Why show it?

 

I like to show it to my students from time to time. I bring it out when I teach about commitment to their training. I use it as an example that if they only want something to hang on a wall, and to brag about, then they can get a certificate pretty dang easily. If they want to prove to themselve that they are improving as martial artists, then don't worry about what rank you are. As I mentioned, I have pride in my genuine rank, but I know that is something I earned. I am trying to teach them the difference between genuine pride and arrogance.

 

 

 

The way of thinking is: If there is a 1st Dan at one school and a 8th Dan at another, then the 8th Dan has 8 times more experience then the 1st Dan. But, that is how a "outsider" incorrectly thinks. So the Belt is the marketing emphasis based per years of experience to earn each higher level.

 

I don't competely disagree with this statement.

[47MartialMan]

foreveryoung001,

 

I understand.

 

Who is the Grand Master of your org?

 

Do you have a link?