Hyoho
2nd Black Belt
My thought are related to the country I have done nearly all my training, Japan. A system primarily invented for kids by Kano Jigoro. Lets not for get he was also a sports education minister. A system for more modern arts to give kids a sense of achievement.Over the years I have collected a decent number of black belts, and various degrees in different systems.
Currently I'm training in Muay Thai, where there is no belt system. Despite the fact that I'm proud of a few of the belts I have achieved, overall I am greatly enjoying training in a system that has no belt ranking system. It's liberating!!!
My belts have given me legitimacy over the years, and that's been helpful occasionally, to give me a platform to teach. But overall, I dislike what a belt system brings into the culture of a gym.
I'm not saying it's all bad, but what do you guys think of the belt ranking systems? The politics of belts? It seems everyone is either A. Over promoted or B. Under promoted and ultimately it can be all a major distraction from effective training.
Thoughts?
If you want to adopt and bastardize it for another art? It's entirely up to you. Dan grades are generally awarded by an association not an art. I took 27 Dan grades in various arts in all over the years. I did stop and it "did" interfere, when I was told it was best to meet certain people before my next test as practice alone was not enough. A not what you know but who you know system. Friends continued to the top being told what to do, stop smoking etc.
In one art I do they have now downranked grades from tenth to eighth dan. In a recent national grading only two people passed eight! Yes, they are downgrading grading.
So we don't wear belts. What is so nice is to walk into a dojo and see a well dressed gentlemen moving and using skills to an unbelievable level and you "know" he is high ranked.