mine was about 90 minutes for 1st dan
2nd was MUCH longer
My 2nd's gonna be close to the same, 3rd is instructor rank here for the most part so I think I have to write a paper for that. Not positive.
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mine was about 90 minutes for 1st dan
2nd was MUCH longer
I think some people might be of the opinion that if you do not go through a long arduous ordeal, then your "black belt" isn't earned, it was given to you, which is not the same thing as going through a long process of sweating, straining, bleeding, suffering, etc.
I understand that some people feel that way, but I personally don't see the need for it. Of course, none of my tests were particularly long or arduous. I've always spent more time waiting for my turn than actual time on the mat. My last test (at Kukkiwon) probably took 10 minutes or less to complete, not counting waiting in line. Actually, the color belt students at our club have a longer test than that.
I know after nearly 20 years of practice that it doesn't take a long time watching someone to see if they are skilled, even if I've never seen them before. If I can do it, then I feel pretty sure other people can, too, especially people with more experience than me.
Maybe not "crap", but seems like everyone but me advocates 4 and 5 hour tests designed to break students. I don't see a need for it.
Most of the time, BJJ brown belts are just handed a black belt one day right?
There's a place, at least in Western society today, for a coming of age right or challenge, and one place (not the only one!) to find that can be a martial arts program. But that doesn't mean that the test has to be some sort of ultimate torture test/crucible combination of BUD/S and fraternity hazing; it just has to be an experience that's out of the norm, and that pushes you in a way you haven't been pushed before.
You say that you see black belt as "a low level practitioner", but wouldnt that change from club to club and art to art? I mean, Im sure bjj guys dont see a black belt as a low level practitioner and I know where we train we dont view a black belt that way either. That may be the case where you train, but you cant really generalise that across all clubs and martial arts.To me, some people make way to much out of a Dan or Poom test. 1st Dan or Poom is a low level practitioner, 1 step above a 1st geup, like 1st geup was 1 step above 2nd geup.
All Dan and Poom holders are born out of these situations, for better or worse.
Perfect situation = Excellent instructor + Excellent student
Not so perfect situation = Excellent instructor + not so excellent student
Bad situation = Uneducated ignorant instructor + any student
As a parent, one of our goals should be to raise our children to achieve their potential in all that they can. This helps create an excellent student, for any subject. A part of that goal is finding the right teachers, excellent teachers who can help our children reach their potential in a given field of study.
As a teacher, our only goal is not to be that uneducated ignorant instructor, for the uneducated ignorant instructor smothers their students with the wrong motive, preventing them from reaching their potential.
That said, the Dan and Poom test can be open /closed - whatever, as long as the instructor is excellent, it will come out right because the motive of the instructor is right.
If the instructor is bad, then it is all bad, whatever it is.
The idea is that you are testing every day.
You say that you see black belt as "a low level practitioner", but wouldnt that change from club to club and art to art? I mean, Im sure bjj guys dont see a black belt as a low level practitioner and I know where we train we dont view a black belt that way either. That may be the case where you train, but you cant really generalise that across all clubs and martial arts.
ralphmcpherson said:You say that you see black belt as "a low level practitioner", but wouldnt that change from club to club and art to art? I mean, Im sure bjj guys dont see a black belt as a low level practitioner and I know where we train we dont view a black belt that way either. That may be the case where you train, but you cant really generalise that across all clubs and martial arts.
Maybe not "crap", but seems like everyone but me advocates 4 and 5 hour tests designed to break students. I don't see a need for it.
I grew up in a part of Kenya where coming of age is a very big deal, involving serious rituals that I will not write about here so as not to derail the thread. I don't believe that coming of age, though -- in any society -- shoul come at the early age of 8. Mind you I'm not saying we should not have 8-year old blackbelts, but rather that we should not consider an 8-year old blackbelt to be someone who's moved from the childhood stage -- the transition for which most coming of age rites are performed. There's a big likelihood that my 7-year old son will make blackbelt before he is 8, but he's not having any coming of age events until he is at least 13.
Exactly my own reaction. Glad I'm not the only one. I'll say though, even at 15, I'd be very suspicious of any attempt to bar me from my daughter in any way.Although my daughter is now 13, I have very strong feelings about activities for younger kids. NO ONE, and I mean No One, ever took her away from me into any secret place where I could not be present. Not doctors, orthodontists, religious leaders, or martial arts instructors. I was highly indignant toward those few who tried to do so and left their facilities in short order. It ticks me off even now, to think that anyone else believes they have the right to do anything to my child without my consent. How dare anyone try to preempt the rights of parents! (Can you see the bristling of my bear fur?)
Whether or not the parents choose to be there is a different matter (and another potential discussion about what schools expect from the parents in the way of participation and involvement).For the record I am frequently alone with students. Not one on one, but a group of students and myself as instructor, ranging from 6 to 13. That's the parent's choice, not mine.
For the record I am frequently alone with students. Not one on one, but a group of students and myself as instructor, ranging from 6 to 13. That's the parent's choice, not mine.