Mark Lynn
Master Black Belt
One of my big issues with dan rankings is that at some point they get rediculous. How many stripes do you need on your belt in order to earn respect now days? Or maybe respect could be earned by something else...perhaps skill?
I totally agree here. I mean at first 5th dans were high rank, than it was elevated to 10th dans, now there are 12-15th dans. Surpreme Grand masters, Great Grandmasters, Grandmasters etc. etc. But because some people make it outlandish doesn't mean it is inherently wrong having a dan rank system. It's not good or bad it is what you make of it.
My whole thought in revamping the dan system for my school would be to step outside the box and really take a look at what it is we are doing. I agree with the poster above, by shodan, which takes about five years in my dojang, you should have enough basis to be self motivated. I should be a good enough teacher that they could still feel like they could come to me and learn. If they didn't feel that way, then maybe they really should go somewhere else....
I totally agree. I was not saying that you need to have a dan rank system so that you can keep students in your school or that it is to be used as a carrot on a stick. If you are wanting to think outside of the box, I would look at what you are teaching first instead of adjusting dan rank.
If any of my students are chasing belts or ranks as gups, I would hope that I could help them transcend this...
And, Boar Man, my preshodan material is pretty well solidified. I haven't been teaching long, so I don't have any dan students as of yet...
Ok I misunderstood, I thought you were thinking of changing things just prior to having students getting ready for a shodan test, which I think is a mistake. However if the students are a ways a way from shodan rank then if you are going to change things now is a time to do it.
I been through changing things on my students and I screwed up, I've had things changed on me and it was very confusing, and I've taken classes where the instructor was good but he didn't have his system together and yet was still charging me and the other student $$$ to be his guinea pigs. As one instructor to another I didn't want you make the same mistake I did.
Mark