There have been excellent responses all around here - especially with Bob's original
ask the question then answer it! (well done, by the way)
Anyhow, I will attempt to add my two cents worth (for what that's really
worth!)
What is 'Rank' really worth?
In my assessment, there are two parts to this question. First is defining "rank," and the second is defining "worth."
If we are in agreement as to what rank is, then we can determine what it is worth, and to whom.
For the purposes of Martial Art, I like the following definitions provided by The American Heritage Dictionary (2000), mainly because that's the one I have laying around my office!
"rank n. 1c. a relative position or degree of value in a graded group.
v. 2. To give a particular order or position to; classify."
I think rank exists in all walks of life, whether we acknowledge it openly or not. Refusing to acknowlege it with certificates or belts does not make it go away, and personally, I don't see any benefit to the lack of recognition. In some cultures, people are respected and "valued" because of their age. Elders of a tribe are the lead council and decision makers. It matters not if they are 70, 80, or 90 years old, but they are considered wiser and more experienced than the younger generation of 20 - 60 year olds.
In these societies, one is your "senior" simply by being your elder - - being born before you. They are not necessarily wiser, smarter, or more educated, but customs and courtesies dictate that the youth show them respect. I think it is a shame that the American culture (an some others) cast their elders aside, and neglect their "worth" or what they might have to offer. Younger generations often think they are so smart; they have life all figured out, and they don't need to listen to some babbling old geezer!
In the Martial Art, "seniority" is typically determined by advanced education, experience, insight, and enlightenment rather than chronological age (although age has some bearing). A young instructor, with ten years experience, can teach a 60 year old beginner. Thus, the "senior" is the younger person who is the elder by rank, rather than age.
Rank might be as basic as "teacher - student." However, as schools grow, there are senior students who can help new students learn the basics. Their "classification" is automatic, even if not acknowledged by a belt or certificate. Then comes the senior instructor who has more years experience than a beginner instructor. Next is the Master who has trained many students to Black Belt, who each run their own schools, and the Master oversees all of the schools. Cities; Counties; States; Regions; National leadership.... 1 school; 10 schools; 100 schools... the distinction goes on and on.
If you can compare one person's skills, duties and responsibilities, past experience and knowledge to another person, you will automatically have ranks - - even if they are just implied. I think we should acknowledge that rank exists by itself, and some people use it for positive reasons of organization, structure, motivation, learning and teaching aides, and others misuse and abuse it.
The second issue is what is it worth? Well, what
is "worth." The trusty dictionary defines it as "the quality that renders something desirable, useful, or valuable." Money (paper currency) is usually considered "valuable" or "worth" something, but only to those who recognize it as a form of exchange for what they really value. Take paper currency to some remote tribes and they might burn it for warmth. Substance from the ground (gold, silver, etc) is usually accepted as rare items of "worth" but only if the person you are dealing with desires gold and silver. The barter system exchanges goods for goods; services for services; or goods for services (corn for apples, or pigs for repairing the roof of my barn, or cattle for marrying my daughter).
The key here is whether or not it is "desirable," or "useful." People desire rank because it might give them a feeling of accomplishment, which should be understood that the skill
is the accomplishment of value, but the rank is merely a matching reflection of the skill (when applied truthfully). The rank becomes "useful" when it helps a teacher guide a student to a goal, or when the senior student is an inspiration to a newer student who understands visual aides, but has not yet grasped the value of the education, and when the rank serves as a standard of excellence that others can identify as accurately representing a level of skill or knowledge.
Black Belts might not need such divisions, but then it might be a good reminder that simply being a Black Belt is not the end of your quest for knowledge, and there are distinctions between a beginner and a Master, or even a senior Master and a Grandmaster. Each of higher levels should have learned more in those years, such that they have something to offer the junior Black Belt. These distinctions occur naturally, and are there whether you recognize them or not. Recognizing them just makes it easier for lower ranks to see what is yet to come in future decades. The higher degrees should not be for the ego of the Grandmaster, but for the humility of the beginner Black Belt.
I think that the "worth" of such ranks are not just limited to one's own organization or group. If others outside of the Martial Art get a sense of worth for the Black Belt (and varying degrees) some will tend to show respect, and give due rewards. Employers often hire a person with Black Belt credentials because they believe they will be reliable, level headed, and provide good leadership. They typically understand that it took hard work, perseverance, and dedication to reach the rank, thus this person is likely to possess qualities desirable as an employee (military rank is often looked upon in the same way by prospective employers).
Therefore, in my opinion, rank is inevitable, and its worth depends on what you are applying it to, and who is deciding if it is desirable. Since you are not actually "selling" your rank to another person, its "worth" is determined by what benefits you gain by others recognizing your achievements. This could be done without the paper documents and belts, but is more difficult to convey without any acceptable standard. Forgeries can bring the value of legitimate credentials into
question, but the worth is determined by convincing others that your "rank" is
equivalent to the "value" of
your skills, and having someone other than yourself saying it lends credibility to your claim.
Comparing ranks between different schools of Martial Art can be difficult, but not impossible. It is like the Fahrenheit and Celsius scales of temperature. Where one says 32 degrees, the other says "zero." Either way, nature dictates when water freezes or boils. You just have to make the translation just like between two different languages.
Well, that's my two and half cents! (for what it's worth)
CM D.J. Eisenhart
).
