Honorary!?

[sensei8]

A club near to me awarded an honorary black belt to the women that did their secretarial work.

She is the mother of one of the dan grades and had helped out for about 15 years.

The day I found out that org went even further down in my estimation, what's wrong with a bunch of flowers? And how did the 1st kyus in the club feel that she got "black belt" for stamping some licence books?

I suppose that the Ikkyus didn't have a problem with it, providing they're complete in their MA totality, and beside, it was honorary and not literal. Nothing wrong with flowers, but a dojo passing out flowers doesn't leave the same impact as an honorary BB does. It was that dojo's way of showing their appreciation for all her services over the past 15 years.

Honorary BB's are earned off the floor! Legitimate rank is earned on the floor! Both can cause a lot of appreciation, but both can also go to ones head. Treat either of them in the content that they were awarded.

[sensei8]

I suppose that no company or organization has ever RECEIVED an honorary BB. There are so many notable companies/organizations that would classify.

Can any of you think of a company/organization that would qualify to receive an honorary BB??

[Harkon72]

Karate Forums . com!

[IcemanSK]

I taught a Taekwondo program at a local community center in my town. When the director of the center left the program, the instructor of the karate program & I gave her an honorary BB with a nice plaque as a thank you for championing our programs.

edit: I'll say a bit more about what we did. The belt we presented had red embroidery on one end (as the Karate program's tradition) and gold embroidery on the other (as in our Taekwondo program's tradition).

Edited March 2, 2014 by IcemanSK

[sensei8]

I taught a Taekwondo program at a local community center in my town. When the director of the center left the program, the instructor of the karate program & I gave her an honorary BB with a nice plaque as a thank you for championing our programs.

Now that's cool!! That's what I've been asking, thanks!! Anymore, anyone?!?

[wagnerk]

That's awarding a honorary BB to an individual not an organisation, isn't it?

IMO, there are 3 different types of black belts:

1. One that is earn thru time, skill, spirit, etc...

2. One that is honorary, this is bestowed upon individuals who have supported and contributed (locally, nationally and/or internationally) to the martial arts. Some famous people who have received this type of award include: the late Paul Walker, US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

3. One that is given by a black belt mill (eg not worth the paper it's written/printed on).

[SteyrAUG]

As meaningless as honorary doctorates or master degrees given to celebrity speakers by Universities.

Might as well be given an Academy Award in the field of Martial Arts.

[SteyrAUG]

That's awarding a honorary BB to an individual not an organisation, isn't it?

IMO, there are 3 different types of black belts:

1. One that is earn thru time, skill, spirit, etc...

2. One that is honorary, this is bestowed upon individuals who have supported and contributed (locally, nationally and/or internationally) to the martial arts. Some famous people who have received this type of award include: the late Paul Walker, US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

3. One that is given by a black belt mill (eg not worth the paper it's written/printed on).

Actually Putin's yudansha grade is hardly honorary. He's been a Judoka for a long time.

[wagnerk]

Actually Putin's yudansha grade is hardly honorary. He's been a Judoka for a long time.

True, however TKD and Judo to two different arts, not just different styles. Granted, he's also a karate-ka, but again it's not TKD.

As meaningless as honorary doctorates or master degrees given to celebrity speakers by Universities.

Might as well be given an Academy Award in the field of Martial Arts.

The only thing with that is that it's not just the case of speaking at a University (or maybe it is in the US??? I don't know). In the UK, honorary degree's (no matter what the level) are bestowed upon people who have contributed greatly to a specific field or to society.

Regardless of whether or not it's in the field of the martial arts or in the academic world, the main issue (imo), is not the issuing of the honorary awards, it's when it's presented as something it's not.

[SteyrAUG]

True, however TKD and Judo to two different arts, not just different styles. Granted, he's also a karate-ka, but again it's not TKD.

I didn't even know he had a honorary TKD degree.

Regardless of whether or not it's in the field of the martial arts or in the academic world, the main issue (imo), is not the issuing of the honorary awards, it's when it's presented as something it's not.

Agreed.