Obama Gets A Black Belt

[sensei8]

Just because I came up with this topic, it doesn't mean that I support Obama's receiving a honorary BB because I don't! I was just sharing the article with fellow martial artists.

Edited November 24, 2009 by sensei8

[tonydee]

I think it's pretty tacky. Honourary lifetime membership of the Kwan - that would make the same point politely and without the connotations and stresses that a black belt involves....

[RichardZ]

Just because I came up with this topic, it doesn't mean the I support Obama's receiving a honorary BB because I don't! I was just sharing the article with fellow martial artists.

It is good conversation to put forth for good opposing discussion

[The BB of C]

If I remember correctly, Theodore Roosevelt held rank in Judo. Not a black belt. Maybe brown. But not black. The difference is that he earned it while in the white house. Obama...who couldn't even manage to bowl past 40 and took the style only for three years and got green belt in a style that typically takes two-to-four...does not deserve a black belt.

[RichardZ]

Well, it is a matter of politics and bandwagon.

[Ichi_Geki]

Kudos to the koreans for being so honorable, and kudos to Obama for taking it so he doesnt dis honor the koreans...but he should have said something like "I dont deserve this"

[bushido_man96]

I have seen this kind of thing before. I don't really care either way.

[RichardZ]

I have seen this kind of thing before. I don't really care either way.

What if your teacher had done this to someone less popular? And that this someone receiv a higher rank than you in such a short time? And this person has far less study time and/or skills than yourself?

[tallgeese]

It's obviously not a reflection of anything to do with any study or commitment to the art. Personally, I don't much care one way or the other. Then again, I'm not a Korean stylist.

I used to get way more worked up about these things. These days, it doesn't affect my training or my rank. Since reaching that little point of enlightenment, I tend to be in bushido man's camp.

[RichardZ]

Kudos to the koreans for being so honorable, and kudos to Obama for taking it so he doesnt dis honor the koreans...but he should have said something like "I dont deserve this"

It wasnt a matter of honor as it was political gesture