Rank with no affiliation

[quinteros1963]

Sensei8 said it best "the proof is on the floor". Skill backs rank not an organization. If your instructor is good then train with him. Organizations are great as they serve a purpose, but I'd choose a good instructor without any affiliation over a not so good instructor with one.

[berserkerfury]

If your instructor no longer teaches karate - how are you learning it?

Sojobo

He doesnt teach it in his regular class but is willing to work with me on the side.

[Nevinyrral]

Why dont you learn from him both jujitsu and karate but grade only in jujitsu. You would at least be graded in one art, but still know both.

[berserkerfury]

Why dont you learn from him both jujitsu and karate but grade only in jujitsu. You would at least be graded in one art, but still know both.

I have graded in jujitsu. I should reach shodan in a few months.

[sensei8]

Rank with no affiliation is shared by each and every practitioner of the martial arts world wide. Why?

If your rank isn't recognized by a martial arts association/organization, no matter how large or small that martial arts association/organization might or might not be, well, then your rank, per that said martial arts association/organization, is as valid and valuable as monopoly money is. To them, your rank would be..."zero", "cipher", "naught", "nought", "love", "duck", "nil", "zilch", "zip", "nada".

Celebrate that! Your rank is valid per YOUR Sensei, and that's all that truly matters, imho.

Here's how I feel about this. If I was in the ocean, and I was drowning: I mean I've already gone down once, I've already gone down twice, and I was about to go down for my third and last time, and an inner tube came floating by and saved me from drowning. I'd kiss an inner tube for the rest of my life.

Then someone and/or something wants to take that away from me for one reason or another by saying that that inner tube didn't provide much of value and it's invalid because they said so. Everyone has their opinions about everything, and in that, I'm still content and complete in my totality as a martial artist not because they said so, but because my Dai-Soke/Sensei said so.

Imho, your Sensei is the only person who matters in the context of your "rank". If anyone disputes such, well, let us allow the floor to decide that!!

[Zen Kamikaze]

It depends from what you want. Some people want paper recognition as a reward to their efforts and also as proof for the rank they are holding while some others enjoy only to practice and improve their selves through training without ranks,belts etc. It's only up to you to find what you really want.

[bushido_man96]

Having it "in writing" with accredited backing is always nice to see. But, it isn't always the most important thing, either. The knowledge gained is what's important, and if it is high quality, then I wouldn't want to pass it up because it lacks organizational backing.

[still kicking]

I think it depends on what you mean by "skill'. In my organization, you could be a very skilled fighter or practioner, but still not get the rank if you can't replicate and pass along the specifics that are the hallmark or our umbrella organization.

[Zen Kamikaze]

But in the end it's all about the fun and the joy practice gives you. People sign up in a martial art school for some papers or for the excitement that their martial art offer?

[bushido_man96]

But in the end it's all about the fun and the joy practice gives you. People sign up in a martial art school for some papers or for the excitement that their martial art offer?

Not necessarily. But being accredited is a big thing in our society nowadays. Mechanics have to be ASE certified anymore, and you don't see the old shade tree mechanics shops much anymore. Sure, they may still know everything there is to know about a vehicle, and be able to fix it, but that certification goes toward guaranteeing the work and the person doing the work. Along with these kinds of things comes the ability to establish an insurance policy, etc. Being accredited is just good for business anymore.