How many belts should there be?

[sensei8]

How many?

With all of the self-promoting that goes on...I say...NONE!! OR...1,000 belts...to start with!!

[Hawkmoon]

Devils advocate ....

Whats wrong with simply having two belts?

one white the other black.

Once the black belt is issued, over time earning a gold bar to identify rank or seniority.

After all Shodan does mean beginning degree/first grade!

[kensei]

First off I think that the rank system is fine...unless you think of the people who hold the ranks and why.

The ranking system could be fixed but I think a minimum time in the Kyus should go from three years in most clubs to six. and then ranking in black belt should be minimum 3 years between and once you get to Yondan you MUST be a full time teacher or stop grading.

I know of a tone of guys that have been training for around 15 years that walk around as 6th dans in some styles and i have been at it for 36 years and basically stopped at Nidan and finally tested for sandan a few years back.

Rank is what you make of it and should only be seen as what it is, a measure of time in and tallent, skill, knowledge. It does not make you a better person...actually it kind of does the opposite for some.

The rank system is fine, its that you really need to watch whom you promote and remember they reprosent you and you dont want a horrible human with your name on his rank certificate!