I don't think that post requires they be equal, or even equivalent. It more questions whether they are being made analogous, which they could be. You could look at 1st degree as graduating HS in some systems or as an undegrad degree in others. Each progressive "degree" rank would be analogous to the progressive degree system in US higher education.
But that's not necessarily true. There were classes I took that required no work from me, even if they did for others (math classes were this way for me, even in college).
I've only trained at two dojos and both times, I got the information about how promotions work by reviewing the dojo and/or association website and asking questions before signing up. If they're going going to talk down to me for asking about that, I'd rather find out before giving them a dime of my money.
Are we counting training beyond a point? I hit my last promotion in around 2002. I trained years more at my instructors school, then many years on my own and with my own students, with no actual path for further promotion (though further ranks do exist).
Not at all. At some point, even if you know the paper requirements, you may not know where you stand in meeting those standards. I've had students ask me what they should be working on to prepare for their next test, because they weren't sure what I thought they weren't good enough at to pass a test. (Interestingly, in every case, the answer was "nothing - just keep working - you'll test soon".)
It’s okay, I was gonna go eat worms anyway…
OMG get down off the cross, we need the wood…
Yes, I have trained in my current art for 26 years, never had a grading. I train for the love of my practice.
You got the cheese, and the whine.
His response was a way out of the corner he backed himself into.
He was saying "how much longer" and "what do I need to know." I don't know about where he trains, but many dojos have it spelled out. What kihons, katas, and kumites they need to know for each grade, and the time in grade eligibility requirements for testing and/or testing intervals.
But how much would you be training outside of class?
It was a old school bjj school. He basically told me "you get it when you get it" which made no sense because that school did test for belts. Probably just the instructor imo
It was a old school style bjj school. He said to me "you'll get it when you get it" but it made no sense because that school indeed tested for belts, I've seen gauntlets so I know this for a fact. He also could of not liked me but just dealt with me being in his gym. I'm a very humble guy but I take the arts serious and to some people they get the wrong impression.
It sounds like he didn't like you and that he had an attitude. If you ask me belts should be earned of course but you should know what you need to do to get them and if its taking you longer than usual, longer than other students for instance, you should know what you're doing wrong so you can fix it. That's only fair. If your instructor isn't being fair you should be able to take him to court.
Why would somebody get the wrong impression because you take the arts seriously? If anything, most instructors would love to have somebody who takes the art seriously to train at their dojo or gym.
I don't know about all that, but I will say that if the instructor can't answer a straightforward question, understand that a dojo is a business at the end of the day and that you're a paying customer. When you walk into a McDonald's, you would never tolerate that type of service from the cashier, so why should you anywhere else?
Yes a dojo is a business although the business part is supposed to be secondary. The first and foremost purpose of the dojo should be to teach the martial arts and to help develop students into good practitioners of the martial arts. As such a student should be able to ask the instructor about how the dojo is run including on how rank advancement is run.
I think you have this backwards. I’m not at your service, you come to request training. I decide the if, the when, the how. Don’t like my style or the service? Go somewhere else. My school, my rule. If someone walked in demanding answers or suggested to me that I was the same as a McDonald’s cashier, I would ask them to leave and not return.
