Rank stripes on Black Belt Like or dislike?

[KarateGeorge]

For me, I've always been around belts with rank stripes, so I like them. It's just what I'm used to I guess. Though I can see both points of view, I kind of like them. Plus, yes, it does help when you're at inter-school events.

[bushido_man96]

Interesting story...

The organization my school belongs to holds a tournament every year. In 2008 I went to the tournament, having been at my current school for one year. Our grandmaster spent most of the tournament in civilian clothes, behind the registration counter. Apparently a computer glitch had screwed up most of the rings, so he was going through all of the ring assignments and making sure everyone was in the right ring.

During the entire tournament, until the very end at the dinner, I did not know he was the grandmaster.

After finding out, I did feel rude, but not because I was disrespectful. I just wish I would have known who he was, maybe introduced myself, said thanks for putting on the tournament, etc. Had he been in uniform with rank stripes...well I wouldn't have thought he was a parent helper the whole time!

I think that this is great. If you didn't act in a rude or otherwise out-of-character manner from your normal self, then this was probably a good experience for both of you. Instead of looking at each other from a master-student perspective, you observed each other from a personal perspective. Isn't that the way it should be?

There are also stories in mythologies about gods walking amongst the mortals as poor or beggars, to see how they are treated and received by the people when they don't know that they are in their presense. It gives a sense of what people really are like. Yeah, I know its a bit off topic, but something to think about....you never know when someone is checking things out.

[RichardZ]

There are also stories in mythologies about gods walking amongst the mortals as poor or beggars, to see how they are treated and received by the people when they don't know that they are in their presense. It gives a sense of what people really are like. Yeah, I know its a bit off topic, but something to think about....you never know when someone is checking things out.

Yeah. I met many celebs this way

[sensei8]

Why do people choose to disrespect those who have rank indentifiers. These people are quick to pass judgement before they ever get to know the person. I've meet people who disrespect others about the rank identifiers, then, I meet their instructor, and then I see that their instructor has rank indentifiers him/herself. These people can talk bad about others, but, they won't say the very same thing to their own instructor. Hhhmmm!

People talk about respect, but, just as soon as the conversation turns to rank identifiers/stripes, the attacks happen, and respect is thrown out the window. Words like ego, show-off and the like are not about respect, but, about hurting someones feelings. For me, it deeply hurts me when the attacks start becoming personal.

I wear stripe indentifiers, and not because they look cool, but, because it's in our By-Laws and I will respect the By-Laws as set forth by my Soke and my Dai-Soke. I've also belts that have "title" stripes; 3 for Hanshi. I've also belts that are white with Shindokan in Kanji on one end and Hanshi in Kanji on the other end.

Bottom line for me; PROOF IS ON THE FLOOR, not on the belt!

[IcemanSK]

I add my two cents in here. I figure it's only right since I opened the can of worms.

I think one's preference has a lot to do with one's experiences. My 1st instructor, a man I dearly loved, did not wear rank stripes (or other rank identifiers) on his belt. He was quite "old-school" in that regard. I didn't know until long into my training with him what his rank was. Probably because of this, I don't like to wear rank stripes. So, when I teach, I rarely do. In my school, people know who's in charge. Outside of my school...I just assume very one is my senior.

My current GM wears ranks stripes & "strongly encourages" his school owners to do the same. Therefore, when I'm doing "official" things where I wear my dress uniform, I wear my rank stripe belt. Belt tests, national conferences, organization tournaments, etc. It does come in handy knowing who my seniors are quickly at these events. Although, I respect everyone, junior or senior.

I think it comes down to organizational or individual preference. And both have their valid reasons to exist.

[sensei8]

I do like, at least it's different, that the ATA uses roman numbers to depict black belt ranks.

If it's a preference to wear or not to wear, the practitoner whom chooses either way SHOULD BE RESPECTED as to their preference, imho. But, that's not the case per my previous post.

[RichardZ]

Why do people choose to disrespect those who have rank indentifiers. These people are quick to pass judgement before they ever get to know the person. I've meet people who disrespect others about the rank identifiers, then, I meet their instructor, and then I see that their instructor has rank indentifiers him/herself. These people can talk bad about others, but, they won't say the very same thing to their own instructor. Hhhmmm!

People talk about respect, but, just as soon as the conversation turns to rank identifiers/stripes, the attacks happen, and respect is thrown out the window. Words like ego, show-off and the like are not about respect, but, about hurting someones feelings. For me, it deeply hurts me when the attacks start becoming personal.

I wear stripe indentifiers, and not because they look cool, but, because it's in our By-Laws and I will respect the By-Laws as set forth by my Soke and my Dai-Soke. I've also belts that have "title" stripes; 3 for Hanshi. I've also belts that are white with Shindokan in Kanji on one end and Hanshi in Kanji on the other end.

Bottom line for me; PROOF IS ON THE FLOOR, not on the belt!

I can answer this. It is because few use it to boast ego and status thus letting skill and experience fall below par.

In essence, of many martial art "by laws", the title soke is extremely rare.

Indeed, such insignia and "title" could be considered as accomplishments, however, within martial arts and no standards thereof, by laws are subjected to those who are recognised by their peers, outside of their orgs.

Simply one who ranks 8th in one org-art, is not to be seen as having double the skill or knowledge of another who ranks 4th in another org-art.

[sensei8]

I can answer this. It is because few use it to boast ego and status thus letting skill and experience fall below par.

If you knew me then you'd know that I'm not part of this crowd in which you speak about!

In essence, of many martial art "by laws", the title soke is extremely rare.

Yes it is rare. Yet, it does exist in our By-Laws and I'm trying to put an end to the use of the Soke title within my style because Shindokan had one Soke and one Dai-Soke, therefore, that's enough.

Indeed, such insignia and "title" could be considered as accomplishments, however, within martial arts and no standards thereof, by laws are subjected to those who are recognised by their peers, outside of their orgs.

Simply one who ranks 8th in one org-art, is not to be seen as having double the skill or knowledge of another who ranks 4th in another org-art.

Sure! BUT, I'm not subjected to any other organization than that of the Shindokan, just as you're not subjected to any other organization other than the one your associated with. I don't give a bent pins about who approves or who doesn't approve anything and everything concerning myself and/or the Shindokan Hombu. This is nothing new from me, and people here at KF can bare this true of me.

This is widely known that one rank from organization "A" isn't the same rank in organization "B"! And this goes along with my statement in the previous paragraph. IMHO, this is why there will NEVER be one governing body of the martial arts because of differing standards and the like.

AGAIN...Proof is on the floor, not within any organization, not within any By-Laws, not within any rank/title, not within any other person, whether or not someones a practitioner of the martial arts or not, BUT, proof is FOUND on the floor and nowhere else, imho!

[RichardZ]

I add my two cents in here. I figure it's only right since I opened the can of worms.

I think one's preference has a lot to do with one's experiences. My 1st instructor, a man I dearly loved, did not wear rank stripes (or other rank identifiers) on his belt. He was quite "old-school" in that regard. I didn't know until long into my training with him what his rank was. Probably because of this, I don't like to wear rank stripes. So, when I teach, I rarely do. In my school, people know who's in charge. Outside of my school...I just assume very one is my senior.

My current GM wears ranks stripes & "strongly encourages" his school owners to do the same. Therefore, when I'm doing "official" things where I wear my dress uniform, I wear my rank stripe belt. Belt tests, national conferences, organization tournaments, etc. It does come in handy knowing who my seniors are quickly at these events. Although, I respect everyone, junior or senior.

I think it comes down to organizational or individual preference. And both have their valid reasons to exist.

Grand post. Perhaps the best one in reason as to the whole strped thing.

[RichardZ]

I can answer this. It is because few use it to boast ego and status thus letting skill and experience fall below par.

If you knew me then you'd know that I'm not part of this crowd in which you speak about!

In essence, of many martial art "by laws", the title soke is extremely rare.

Yes it is rare. Yet, it does exist in our By-Laws and I'm trying to put an end to the use of the Soke title within my style because Shindokan had one Soke and one Dai-Soke, therefore, that's enough.

Indeed, such insignia and "title" could be considered as accomplishments, however, within martial arts and no standards thereof, by laws are subjected to those who are recognised by their peers, outside of their orgs.

Simply one who ranks 8th in one org-art, is not to be seen as having double the skill or knowledge of another who ranks 4th in another org-art.

Sure! BUT, I'm not subjected to any other organization than that of the Shindokan, just as you're not subjected to any other organization other than the one your associated with. I don't give a bent pins about who approves or who doesn't approve anything and everything concerning myself and/or the Shindokan Hombu. This is nothing new from me, and people here at KF can bare this true of me.

This is widely known that one rank from organization "A" isn't the same rank in organization "B"! And this goes along with my statement in the previous paragraph. IMHO, this is why there will NEVER be one governing body of the martial arts because of differing standards and the like.

AGAIN...Proof is on the floor, not within any organization, not within any By-Laws, not within any rank/title, not within any other person, whether or not someones a practitioner of the martial arts or not, BUT, proof is FOUND on the floor and nowhere else, imho!

IMHO The proof is no longer on the floor if one has to acquire stripes and title.

IMEO The proof is actually in the streets under real fisticuffs.