Ranks/Belts in Martial Arts - A Different View

Taikudo-ka · April 9, 2002

I know there has been debate before about validity of belts in martial arts, but consider, it could be worse... Imagine if instead of the current ranking/testing system based on ability, martial arts were organized along the lines of academic schools.

Classes would be largely aged based, with a test only once every year. Unless you do unbelievably badly in all the test areas, you will move up a grade.

Conversely, no matter how skilled you are, there is almost no chance of moving up until the year passes.

Furthermore, you can only enrol at the start of each year.

You have only one teacher and no assistants or senior students for a whole class of 30 or more. This teacher has been a shodan (or less) for the past twenty years, and only ever teaches the same moves and katas each year. Next year a new teacher who only teaches that years stuff takes over... Occassionally you'll get a new shodan, who's never taught a class before, and they'll take the whole class, alone, for the year...

Suddenly Karate seems a lot more flexible and practical in its teaching methods.

Bitseach · April 9, 2002

Again, I'm kind of reminded of Funakoshi's stories of how he was made to train in one kata for something like three years without ever being taught a new one!! (I'll bet he was BLOODY good at that kata though!)