Demoted?

[Hogosha]

Has anyone here been or seen anyone get demoted? I mean like say they are a blue belt and they get it taken off them for whatever reason and are back to white.

[Grenadier]

I've witnessed only three demotions in my entire time.

The first incident was where someone who was testing had plain forgotten all of the Heian katas that he had previously learned, since he thought he could simply do Heian yondan for his 4th kyu purple (he was 5th kyu green). That, plus his techniques were sloppy, and his kumite was just plain awful. After the exam, Sensei gave him a blue belt (reserved for 6th kyu). At first, the kid was confused, and asked "I thought I was supposed to get a purple belt?" Sensei merely said "No, this is the correct belt for you," and said that he had to earn his green belt again.

That lit a spark, and started a fire underneath this kid. He actually started training hard, and worked long hours at remembering all of the other kata, and one month later, he respectfully asked Sensei if he could re-retest for his green belt, which he did, and passed. He took the purple belt exam another two weeks after that, and went on to become one of the better assistant instructors at the dojo.

The other time has been more recent. I saw someone (a young boy) get demoted as white belt. He would not listen to the instructor at all. He'd run around, make funny sounds with his mouth, spitting on other students in the process, and would even try to pinch other students. That's when instructor took away his belt entirely, and said that he had to earn his white belt before going any further. To this day, he still hasn't earned back his white belt, and until he does, he will not be testing with his classmates for yellow belt.

The third time was when I trained in Tae Kwon Do. A pre-chodan rank (red stripe on top of black stripe) was taking his black belt exam over two days. The first day went smoothly for him, and he was allowed to flip the belt over, having the black stripe on top. The second day, during the final sparring session, his opponent foolishly jumped into him, and all but had the groin impaled by the tester's foot, which had been aimed at his chest instead. It wasn't the tester's fault, since the other guy had been reckless, and previously, arrogantly asserted that he didn't need a cup and supporter. The guy taking the test had even attempted to deliberately avoid kicking him at the abdomen level, for the fear of accidentally hitting him in the family jewels.

Well, that didn't go over too well with the panel, since they didn't see things that way, and told the tester to try again later. Before he left, the panel told him that he had to revert to wearing the belt with the red stripe on top. The tester simply took the next exam during the next semester, and passed without a hitch.

How does such a demotion feel? Well, I ought to know! I was the one taking the test. Two of the people on the panel knew exactly what transpired, but were too afraid to tell the sabumnim about exactly what had happened. At first, I felt disappointed, and then for a short while, rather irritated that someone else's mistakes cost me, but I dealt with it, and moved on.

[Hokori]

Ive seen someone loose there belt for a couple of months and they quit because of that. That happened because they were being stupid but they deserved it.

[Hogosha]

Ive seen someone loose there belt for a couple of months and they quit because of that.

Thats pretty pethetic, if that happened to me I'd just stop being an idiot and work harder.

[aefibird]

I've never seen anyone become demoted, but I am seriously thinking of vouluntarily demoting myself.

Currently, I am a Shodan, but because of political reasons in my dojo I have discussed with my instructor about re-testing for blackbelt.

This is because my dojo is currently in the process of leaving our parent organisation because of political reasons. The standard within the organisation has deteriorated to such an extent that my Sensei feels that he does not want to be part of such a group. Consequently, it has made me re-examine my own Shodan grade. When I tested it was with the Chief Instructor/Owner of the organisation that my dojo is leaving. I am corrently seriously considering whether to drop down a grade and re-test with my Sensei the first time he conducts his own gradings. That way I would have tested with a person that I highly respect, rather than have my blackbelt tested by someone whom I have lost all respect for.

Sensei feels that it is my decision - he is happy for me to remain at my present grade and he would also be happy to re-test me again. I am still undecided about it, but I am leaning more towards 'demoting' myself and taking BB again.

If anyone has any advice then I'd be grateful for it!

Thanks.

[Jinxx0r]

he is happy for me to remain at my present grade

That alone tells me there is no reason to do it... but if you feel you don't deserve it, it may be better for yourself mentally to do it again.

I would take the test again. This way you can remove all doubt.

[scottnshelly]

Currently, I am a Shodan, but because of political reasons in my dojo I have discussed with my instructor about re-testing for blackbelt.

If anyone has any advice then I'd be grateful for it!

I would re-test - if it's bothering you - but you don't necessarily have to drop down a belt. Just keep the belt that you have and re-test. Or train really hard for your Nidan to justify yourself.

As for the original question, I've taken away a belt or two in my day for disobedience. Maybe if a student tries to lateral over from another school we might ask them politely to take a lower belt until they learn our methods.

It's rare, but happens for a good reason when it does happen.

[Pacificshore]

I've never seen anyone become demoted, but I am seriously thinking of vouluntarily demoting myself.

Currently, I am a Shodan, but because of political reasons in my dojo I have discussed with my instructor about re-testing for blackbelt.

This is because my dojo is currently in the process of leaving our parent organisation because of political reasons. The standard within the organisation has deteriorated to such an extent that my Sensei feels that he does not want to be part of such a group. Consequently, it has made me re-examine my own Shodan grade. When I tested it was with the Chief Instructor/Owner of the organisation that my dojo is leaving. I am corrently seriously considering whether to drop down a grade and re-test with my Sensei the first time he conducts his own gradings. That way I would have tested with a person that I highly respect, rather than have my blackbelt tested by someone whom I have lost all respect for.

Sensei feels that it is my decision - he is happy for me to remain at my present grade and he would also be happy to re-test me again. I am still undecided about it, but I am leaning more towards 'demoting' myself and taking BB again.

If anyone has any advice then I'd be grateful for it!

Thanks.

Rather than demote yourself, stay at your present rank. Even by your own words, your Sensei is happy with you and your rank as it stands. It would be to your advantage to stay on course with your present rank and every rank after that. Remember, your Sensei will know before you when you are ready to advance further

[taiji fajin]

closest thing I've seen was when one of our black belts forgot his belt at home after a trip back there. He decided to wear the only belt he had, a white one, and train with the white belts, get in their line, etc. All the white belts were amazed at how good this new white belt was, while the people who knew him just laughed.

[pineapple]

I have never seen a student demoted by the instructor, however I have seen students who returned to class as a white belt after they laid off training for a while.