Ranking systems

[jsdduke]

To the beginner I think it's important to be able to gauge their progress against their peers,but as you reach black belt level I think it is more important to gauge your own progress against the stanards of the founder/head instructor of your style. Of course the ultimate answer is how you perceive yourself.

 

[hogstooth]

White belt getting so dirty it turns black is a fairy tale. However when my father started training he did not get colored belts. You wore a white belt until your instructor deemed you worthy to wear a black belt.
The colored belt ranking structure is an ingenious invention to keep students interested and to show progress. It keeps the fast food generation of kids interested because they can see their progress. Call it a way to keep score not unlike the video games they play with the different levels.
The guy that came up with it is a true buisness genious.