Does any one here remeber the adds on buble gum or on cerial boxes of order this book or plan and become a black belt, become invinceble, How about Count Dante?
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Extremely Strict Standards keep them from ever being Higher than they should be, also.
Why? I find an arrogant person jumping in over their head has entertainment value.
It is also Disrespectful to the Art for them to even be put in that Position, when they do not Deserve it.
So then it's a tradition. Because it isn't disrespectful in the least in other sports. It's just idiocy.
Not all Arts are Sports. You may well be Overlooking this.
And an Art doesnt need to be Traditional to not be a Sport.
I Refer once more to Kajukenbo.
But what art ranks it's artists?
...Most Arts, of course?
Aikido has Belts.
Wing Chun mostly uses Different Colored Shirts.
Kenpo has Belts.
And so forth.
I was referring to outside of MA. I don't have a belt that ranks me as a sketch artist.
I'm trying to understand the purpose of ranking. I can understand it as a traditional sign of respect. We do lots of things traditionally to show respect. But you're saying it's not for tradition. So then what is it? If ranking isn't competition and isn't for tradition, then what's left?
To Provide Recognition of Skill, Knowledge, and Capacity.
Mostly for the Benefit of the Instructor, not the Student.
The Main Reason youre having Trouble seeing this, is Lack of Experience. No Offense.
Bowing to an Instructor at a Traditional Dojo/Dojang/Hall/Whatever isnt Tradition. Its Respect. Because they Bow back. All thats Traditional is that youre Bowing instead of Shaking Hands. And if you DO Shake Hands, you do it in a Certain Way.
Belts and Ranks also Provide Recognition to the Student of their Level. One might Argue that this is Unnecessary, but this is were Martial Arts vary from Sports Variations.
In a Sport, you are Scoring Points. In a Martial Art, youre Learning to Engage in Combat.
Tradition is Associated by such things purely due to the Idea that only a Traditional Organisation would be Not-Sports-Geared.
To which I Reply:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHMgsx2hkJ0
Ed Parkers (Or is that Gracies? Some Kenpo Guy will know Point stands either way really) American Kenpo is an American Martial Art. It is called Kenpo Karate due to its Foundation, but the Art Originated in the USA.
They have Belts, Formalities, and everything. And they are NOT Striking for Points.
MMA and MT are Competition Geared - Which kind of Serves my Point wellIts Jeff Speakman's Kenpo 5.0. Mr. Speakman's interpretation of Ed Parker's Kenpo, transformed to also include grappling material from (I think) Trevor Sherman and Todd Nathanson.
As far as rank...not all systems issue belt ranks. Most MMA and Muay Thai schools do not. Southeast Asian systems (Filipino, Indonesian) typically do not either, other than the person in the front being called the teacher
Cyriacus - I realize it's lack of experience or I wouldn't be asking questions.
It still looks like a tradition, the purpose being a sign of respect for status and co-ordinating a class. The armed force have a tradition of rank insignia, the purpose being a sign of respect for status and determine a chain of command. It looks less like a matter of art or sport but a combat tradition. Fair enough.
I'm not worried that I'd be perpetually a white belt. I just have a personal aversion to status. It's not a problem with recognizing other people. It's just my own qualm.
Thanks for answering my questions.
I'm an army brat, that might be colouring my perspective.
I think it's better to ask questions than to jump to my own conclusions.
Army Brat is hardly an Excuse, since the Culture slightly Overlooks the Militaristic Functions itself.
The Military Promotes Recognition of Position.
As well as Intensive Physical Fitness, Adept Use of Firearms, Respect, a... And I Pretty Much Qualify by those Standard.
That aside, Yes, Asking Questions is Good. If anything, be more Open to the Answers; Unless youre Damn Sure of any Possible Contradiction. At this Point.
By the time my Dad left the British Military, he couldn't stand them. He's ex-special forces and it's best not to get him on the topic because he'll go off on a rant.