TLH3rdDan said:
ok ive been thinking about this for a while... Do we really need to have so many different dan levels?
after a certain point most often 4th or 5th dan you are basically promoted for time in grade rather than mastery of new technique... so do the arts really need to have 10 different dan levels...? I for one think we dont...?
The issue of rank, and the various levels of color belts and degrees has been a controversial one, however I believe it comes mostly from a lack of understanding, rather than an "enlightened insight" to the value of belts. I mean absolutely no disrespect to anyone by this, but I have noticed that most people who completely dismiss the use of belts and/or degrees are either novice color belts, low ranking black belts, or those who have studied for a long time in systems that don't use belts.
My question is, how can a person unilaterally denounce something that they have little or no experience with, and do not fully understand. If you have legitimately reached the rank of 9th or 10th Dan, look back at your career and the belt ranking system, and say, "We should do away with belts," then your argument might at least carry some weight. Many people are just agreeing with the "opinions" of other non-high ranking Black Belts who have passed on their limited views on this subject.
Now, before anyone assumes that I am saying this because of my own attachment to rank (currently 6th Dan with the US Chung Do Kwan), I can assure that I have learned the lesson, and agree with the concept that the rank is not the goal, the belt does not make the Master, and too many schools and organizations are handing out belts like candy, or selling them purely for profits with no regard for skill. However, just because many (and I do mean
many) are misusing, and abusing the concept of belts, and higer degrees, does not mean that all high ranks are worthless, or that the concept of using degrees should be abandoned. In fact, quite the opposite is true.
For those that have come to the conclusion that the belts (or so many color and degree levels) don't really mean anything, or are not needed, I submit to you that there are subtle lessons to be learned by using them. One of which is this very same "insight" that you have "discovered." By using belts and degrees, we can determine who is in it for that, and who is interested in learning. Without the belts, everyone is forced to focus on one thing, and it becomes more difficult to weed out those who need to learn the lesson of materialism. I can't dangle a carrot in front of someone's nose to find out if they are more interested in the carrot, or the person who can teach them how to plant a garden, if I don't have a carrot to dangle.
On the other hand, belts and degrees serve a purpose greater than stroking one's ego, or even setting goals (which can be useful for those students who need that in the beginning). Those who think that high ranking Dans are only given out for "time" and "teaching" either are not above 5th Dan themselves, or are only familiar with organizations that place no value, or standard of requirements on the higher promotions. There is much more to "earning" a 6th, 7th, 8th or 9th Dan legitimately, for those few who do it right.
I was a much more developed student of the Martial Art at 5th Dan than I was at 4th, and the same is true at 6th Dan than I was at 5th. I am still learning! Although I have seen and understood most, if not all, techniques available to Martial Artists, there are always times of learning new applications, or countless situations and combinations in real-life self defense, not to mention honing your skills to make them better. I expand my knowledge and skills by learning and teaching weapons, Korean language, histiory, culture, philosophy, and other life lessons. The learning does not stop at Black Belt, nor at 4th Dan, and the Martial Art is not just about fighting - - so to think the promotion requirements should be based soley on what "techniques" you know, or your self defense skills, is a limited understanding of what it means to be a Black Belt in the Martial Art . . .
any Martial Art!
Teaching is another important issue in that we would not have the high quality students without the skilled masters, and we would not have the skilled masters without the Grandmasters. For those who believe that all these rank variations are the creation of "western" influence, I say that is simply not true. It is a modern developement because of the expansion of Martial Art teaching world wide, but the notion
came from the Asians who authorized the rank changes, and implimented them in the first place. They gave themselves higer Dan and "Master" titles to distinguish themselves from the many Westerners who were legitimately earning Black Belts. Then, they become 8th and 9th Dan Grandmasters to distinguish themselves from the dozens, then hundreds of Westerners who were teaching for 20 - 30 years and becoming legitimate Masters at 4th, 5th and 6th Dan.
TLH3rdDan said:
... wouldnt it be nice to go back to when it was simply a black belt and not 1st thru 10th dan black belt?
Some people do this in small clubs, but then their students, and they themselves are often cut off from higher education and the mainstream of Martial Art benefits. There is no going back. Centuries ago, in Asia, a Martial Art teacher who mastered the skills, survived battles, and taught a handful of students was rare. You did not need to separate rank among them. In the 1800s, a one room school house with one teacher did not need separate rooms for kindergarden through 12th grade. They did not need a principal or superintendant, with a board of teachers to discuss and vote on issues. The one teacher made decisions and knew which students needed what. Today, schools are much more advanced, with too many students for one teacher to teach and assess everyone without written report cards, and grade levels. A teacher's qualifications are identified by their degrees, and titles within the school system.
We need various color belts, and Degrees of the Black Belt for organization, structure, expansion, efficiency, and to verify the qualifications of teachers, and thier seniors as Masters and Grandmasters. Students and Instructors need to be able to walk into a tournament or seminar anywhere and be recognized by their rank because of the legit credentials they produce. Just because some shools don't use proper standards, does not mean the system of standards is wrong. It just means we needs to reach a point where we can recognize which board of examiners actually awards rank to qualified people for the right reasons.
This is my humble opinion!
CM D. J. Eisenhart
