No You're Not!

[sensei8]

One time, a student was asked by a visiting Sensei...

"What's your rank?"

"Sir, I'm a Black Belt" the student proudly answers.

And even though the visiting Sensei was wearing his Yudansha, the student still asked the question...

"Sir, if I may ask, what's your rank?'

"Sir, I'm a beginner" answers the visiting Sensei

"No you're not" the student excitingly retorts

Sure I am! I don't know everything, and in that, even though I'm a senior Yudansha, I'm always learning; each and everyday!

When I train with those outside of Shindokan, I'm learning something new. As odd as this might sound, I'm always learning something new within Shindokan. Even further more, I'm always learning something new about myself.

Bottom line, while I'm a senior Yudansha, I'm only in a beginner in the wide world of the martial arts. And you know what? I'm fine with that, as a matter of fact, I'm mostly proud about that!!

Your thoughts!?

[Lupin1]

Idk. I like the idea that everyone still has a lot to learn and I love the humility in that sort of thinking, but the word "beginner" still means someone who's just starting and at some point someone needs to stop starting to practice martial arts and needs to start actually practicing it. I think that everything up to black belt is a beginner and after that, while you're still just touching on everything there is to know, you're beyond the beginning and getting into the meat of study. It's all a matter of semantics, though.

[Sokusen]

I agree, I'm not a big fan of the term "beginner" for someone who has been studying for years. Though I like the mind set of always learning. I consider myself as "always the student". Even when I am asked to teach I am always learning, therefore I'm not the teacher I'm the senior student.

[honoluludesktop]

IMO the only time the question, and answer is meaningfull, is when taking an exam for a higher rank.

[evergrey]

I think that I can have faith in my perceptions, to a degree, but that I do not truly KNOW anything. I can only hope that sometimes what I believe I have learned is right. I hope that I will always be open to learning more, to learning new things, and to recognize that every person in the world I meet has something that they can teach me.

I also really hope that when you come out to California, I can somehow drag you to the dojo and talk you into taking part in one of the classes!

OSU!

[JiuJitsuNation]

There is a small percentage of things I know. There is a larger percentage of things that I know I don't know. The vast majority however falls into the category of things I don't know, that I don't know. Some people however know it all. How very fortunate for them! lol

[sensei8]

Hehehehehee...

I sure did start something by just using the word..."beginner"! Sorry!!

[ninjanurse]

How do we define the time for which one is considered a "beginner"-weeks, months, years?

[Soheir]

I don't keep the word 'beginner' as a big deal..The most important thing is that everybody would understand How much there is that they don't know.

Actually this goes to everything outside of martial arts too. In training, it is one of the biggest mistakes to think yourself better that you are. But mostly I have seen that these guys don't stay along a vary long time, since they eather realize the martial way or think that they already know everything worth knowing.

[Lupin1]

How do we define the time for which one is considered a "beginner"-weeks, months, years?

Well, as I said, I think my very general (although somewhat objective, I'll admit) basis is kyu ranks=beginner, dan ranks=beyond beginner (maybe intermediate). But again, it's all semantics.