Your rank

[karatekid1975]

I agree with all of you here. The knowledge is more important, as well as the journy.

[MartialArthur]

The most important rank to me is the one I am trying to achieve, not the ones I already earned. Of course it does feel good when you work hard and finally overcome the obstacles and get a new rank, but I don't sit on my laurels too long, instead I become more motivated to push myself.

Rank is only a measuring stick. It lets me see what I need to accomplish, and then let's me know when I need to start working on new challenges. Any long difficult journey requires a way to measure your progress and set sights on your goals. A belt is just that. Without a measurable goal, I don't think I would push myself as hard as I do when I know the goal and can focus on it.

[Zaine]

Alright, but would yall give up your rank. Although this question is more directed to the blackbelts and people almost at there black belts, i still would like to know from everyone.

[TAZ]

When and/or why would there ever be a situation where one would need to give up their rank?

[gheinisch]

I think in most situations when someone is asked to give up their rank it is when they start at a new school. It is the right thing to do unless you have permission from the instructor to wear your belt of rank. It's the "empty your cup" situation where you want to have a open mind to learn a different style.

We have had black belts and other belts from other styles come to our class and learn. After they have been there a while and proven themselves to be good practioners of the art our instructor will sometimes let them wear their belts.

[JWLuiza]

I think in most situations when someone is asked to give up their rank it is when they start at a new school. It is the right thing to do unless you have permission from the instructor to wear your belt of rank. It's the "empty your cup" situation where you want to have a open mind to learn a different style.

We have had black belts and other belts from other styles come to our class and learn. After they have been there a while and proven themselves to be good practioners of the art our instructor will sometimes let them wear their belts.

In that case you are not giving up your rank--You are not ASSUMING equivalent rank in another school/style. No one can ever take what you know, but belts in class are to help the teaching process. But gheinisch is correct, wearing the white belt is deemed appropo at another school/style.

Generally when I go to new TSD places they let me wear my rank, however.

[gheinisch]

Yes you are right. A bad choice of words on my part. I assumed when the poster asked about giving up rank he had meant the not wearing of his current belt rank at another school, bad assumption on my part. We all know that the color of your belt means very little. I agree that knowledge is indeed the most important part of Martial Arts and is something that can not be taken from you. Sorry for the miss use of words, thanks for the clarification.

[JWLuiza]

Yes you are right. A bad choice of words on my part. I assumed when the poster asked about giving up rank he had meant the not wearing of his current belt rank at another school, bad assumption on my part. We all know that the color of your belt means very little. I agree that knowledge is indeed the most important part of Martial Arts and is something that can not be taken from you. Sorry for the miss use of words, thanks for the clarification.

you are welcome. I was trying to get the op to clear up the distinction as well. You and I are on the same page. Rank is a marker and a political one at that.

[PrideampPoise]

Yeah, I'm not sure what exactly is being asked.

I agree, you can't "give up" your rank in that you know what you know, whether you are wearing a colored belt or not.

Would I agree to start as a white belt if I started in another style? Of course. In fact I would expect it. A different school in the same style (KSW in my case)? Sure, if that's what the instructor wanted. Since we have fairly standardized ranking criteria in KSW, I'm not sure how common that is, but if I respect an instructor enough to attend his class, I would respect his wishes with regard to the belt I wore.

Would I choose not to study a new style because I would have to start as a white belt? No, if I want to learn something, I want to learn it. Not being able to wear a belt wouldn't change that (unless I needed the belt to hold up my pants).