What belt are you??

[karatekid1975]

Is that disrespectful to ask?

I was on another forum when someone asked and another threw a fit because they asked. I never met anyone who was upset by me asking what rank they hold. I would freely tell anyone (who was interested in MA, that is).

Have you met anyone that threw a fit by asking this question? Or would you be offended? And why?

[Akaratechick]

of course not. it isn't uncommon or disrespectful. I wouldn't be offended regardless of what rank I held. Some people are goofy.

[Shotokan-kez]

Not at all! When i first saw the post i actually thought you were asking what rank we all were, i was quite happy to tell you.

Anyway thats silly, i don't at all see how that can be disrepectful, i'm quite happy to tell people what belt i'm on, regardless of the grade.

[bushido_man96]

I don't think that it is disrespectful. I think that some people get worked over things sometimes, for no reason. Maybe they felt like they were being tested or something. Who knows.

[ninjanurse]

It depends on who is asking.

[ps1]

I don't see why anyone would get upset about that question unless they felt there was something to hide. Seems like a reasonable enough question in a community where almost every art has a rank system.

[DWx]

I don't mind if the person is genuinely interested in me and my MA. But at school and now college, I avoid telling people that I study MAs at all.

Once I was overhead talking to my mates about a grading or something and instantly people were like "Are you a blackbelt?" "Can you break a brick?" "What would you do if...?" Some idiots, evertime I get into a disagreement, announce out to the whole room "Ooooh, don't pick a fight with her. Danni does TKD, she'll beat you up" One person keeps trying to punch me in the stomach to see what I'll do. And then there's the weird techniques and noises they do... It drives you crazy! What really annoys me is that they all know which boys do it yet they don't do this to them. They seem to think that MAs for girls is a little bit weird.

[obiwansbane]

Ive had some of the same situations as DWx, i dont really mind i just tell people that i blew a whole in a brick house with my foot once and walk away...

sometimes people get upset because they are busy and lower belts start nagging them, and they see it as a sign of disrespect. I don't know how that would apply to a forum but hey... to each his own... i got my black btw

[ps1]

I don't mind if the person is genuinely interested in me and my MA. But at school and now college, I avoid telling people that I study MAs at all.

Once I was overhead talking to my mates about a grading or something and instantly people were like "Are you a blackbelt?" "Can you break a brick?" "What would you do if...?" Some idiots, evertime I get into a disagreement, announce out to the whole room "Ooooh, don't pick a fight with her. Danni does TKD, she'll beat you up" One person keeps trying to punch me in the stomach to see what I'll do. And then there's the weird techniques and noises they do... It drives you crazy! What really annoys me is that they all know which boys do it yet they don't do this to them. They seem to think that MAs for girls is a little bit weird.

I wish I could tell you that this goes away. I've been studying for nearly 22 years now. I don't announce it to anyone, but people inevitably find out sooner or later. I was recently working in a children's hospital and my colleague was telling all the kids about it. The noises and everything were in full go. Sure, he was just trying to make some sick kids feel better, but it's always embarasing. I fear that's just part of the pop culture that will never go away. Of course, now everyone thinks we make sounds like Bruce Lee and are crazy MMA fighters like Tito Ortiz. It's just something to get used to.

[IcemanSK]

I'm not defending the poster who got bent out of shape from the other forum: but I understand his reasoning. Apparently, to his instructor, when a MA-ist asks a high ranking master/grandmaster that question it was considered rude. In Western society, we don't really have that thought process. Heck, we put stripes on our belts, M.D. after our names, & other things to distinguish us from the person next to us. Maybe that guy doesn't wear his rank on his belt or publicize it in any way (although he did tell us his rank in the thread) but it's not the normal in American society to take offense to such questions.