You have another example of merit. You still earned it, just in a differant manner.loki09789 said:
What is an "Honorary" Black Belt?
- Thread starter masherdong
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masherdong
2nd Black Belt
Interesting opinions. Thanks for your input guys. Please continue to post them.
MichiganTKD
Master Black Belt
Some organizations bestow Honorary Black Belts on individuals who have contributed in many ways to make the organization better without actually being a student. Some do not. Ours does not, because I asked one time. You are either black belt or you are not. There is no "Honorary" about it. Now, if a non-student contributes to the organization in different ways, he or she will be recognized. But giving them an HBB almost insults everyone else who actually tested to earn black belts.
We have had situations similar to the ones described: students who were about ready to test became very ill or some other situation where they could not physically test, often due to health reasons. In these cases, they were allowed to paper test: They filled out the testing applications, as well as an essay detailing exactly why they were unable to test. complete with medical documentation. This, together with their Instructor's recommendation and their organizational history and credit determined whether they passed to Dan rank. it doesn't happen very often, because you get one chance to paper test. After that, you test normally or don't advance.
We have had situations similar to the ones described: students who were about ready to test became very ill or some other situation where they could not physically test, often due to health reasons. In these cases, they were allowed to paper test: They filled out the testing applications, as well as an essay detailing exactly why they were unable to test. complete with medical documentation. This, together with their Instructor's recommendation and their organizational history and credit determined whether they passed to Dan rank. it doesn't happen very often, because you get one chance to paper test. After that, you test normally or don't advance.
In your case I would guess these instructors have 2 reasons.masherdong said:
1. They want you for a student. It's sometimes hard for black belts to start over again as a white belt, so they're telling you that you can still be a "black belt" in their school.
2. They want more students. When someone comes into a school and sees only low ranking belts there, it looks like either the students don't stay long, or the school and instructor is pretty new.
Having black belts in the class makes the school look well established, and look like the students like it enough to spend many years there.
Now hopefully these instructor's will not give you a "real" black belt until you actually learn their material and test on it.
My personal policy is if someone has put in the years of training to become a black belt, then I respect and acknowledge it.shane23ss said:
I do not believe in "cross ranking", but they are welcome to wear their black belt along with the patch and uniform of the system they hold a blackbelt in.
Once they learn the Kajukenbo requirements they are welcome to test for a blackbelt in Kajukenbo. Then they can wear a Kajukenbo uniform, patch, with a black belt.
This has 3 advantages.
Number 1, you don't comprimize you ethics by cross ranking.
Number 2, you make the black belt feel respected in your school.
Number 3, visitor's and color belt students will be impressed that a black belt from another school/system is interested in learning from you.
If you cross rank someone, it will backfire on you. Because students and visitors will see a black belt in your school that dosent know your system. Makes the quality of your instruction and promotions look kinda low.
MichiganTKD
Master Black Belt
If someone has put in the time and effort to reach black belt in another system, I respect that they are a black belt in, say, karate, kenpo, aikido etc. However, once you make the decision to come to my school and train under me, the fact that you are a karate black belt is irrelevant. You are not a karate black belt in my class, and you are certainly not an honorary black belt in my organization. You are a white belt and will be treated as such. You will not wear your style's uniform in my class, nor will you wear your old patch. You will wear our uniform, a white belt, and our patch. You start again. A captain in the Army is not a captain in the Marines. The two are separate. They respect each other, but they are not the same.
If I tried to wear my Tae Kwon Do uniform and belt in aikido, I would be insulting the aikido students and Instructor. I would certainly not be allowed to practice until I changed into the aikido uniform. It doesn't matter what level black belt I am. They respect it, but it is irrelevant to their class.
If I tried to wear my Tae Kwon Do uniform and belt in aikido, I would be insulting the aikido students and Instructor. I would certainly not be allowed to practice until I changed into the aikido uniform. It doesn't matter what level black belt I am. They respect it, but it is irrelevant to their class.
MichiganTKD said:
That is the way it is in our school as well. Anyone with Kenpo, Karate, Aikido or whatever would have to start over as a white belt in TKD. And we have a time-in requirement, two months to yellow etc. although you can double promote up to blue. Only our uniform is worn, with our logo on the back, none other. Because when you join our school, that student trains at our school, and represents our school at tournaments and demos. TW
I cannot believe some of the responses with this issue, if you are a Black belt in karate that has nothing to do with TKD and vice versas. New style start over END OF STORY. Who would want a honorary black belt if you need one go buy it for $3.25 cents at your local Martial Art supply store. What a joke@!!!!!!!!!:erg::rofl:[img]http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/images/icons/icon8.gif[/img][img]http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/images/icons/icon9.gif[/img][img]http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/images/icons/icon13.gif[/img][img]http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/images/icons/icon4.gif[/img]
lulflo
Blue Belt
I agree with some of the things posted here, Shesulsa has quite a bit of what I would have written. But I also think it could be in reference to a martial artist who has studied an all emcompassing art, of which most or all of another art's criteria is covered. May not be the same mix and match or combination of movements, but all the same kicks, punches, cuts, strikes, locks, techniques, etc are. Since it is above the black belt level where the real learning begins, if someone is established to a point that they would only be re-arranging the knowledge that they have, but not changing much if any, then it would make sense that someone could receive an HB. I don't know what my take personally would be given the choice to accept one, but if it was forced upon me, as I have noticed sometimes masters/teacher can be pretty, let's say, persuasive, then I would of course continue to learn all the information so I could earn that black belt the hard way as well.
Farang - Larry
Farang - Larry
Danjo
Master Black Belt
This is the same policy that Gene LeBell has, as well as others. Even my old Shotokan instructor let a TKD guy wear his rank and uniform when he worked out with us. He wasn't considered ranked in Shotokan (as we didn't have red belts), but he was allowed to workout with the advanced students. He didn't stick around long enough to test. The idea was that at the basic level, he was not a white belt. He could punch, kick (really well), and move like an advanced student, so putting him with rank beginners (not to mention "treating him as such") would have been pointless.John Bishop said:
I think John Bishops policy is the best I've heard. I sought advice from Hanshi about this very situation because I had a TKD blackbelt come to me with 12 years experience from Choi's Tae Kwon Do, a respectable school that goes way back.
Hanshi told me to "reognize" his black belt (in other words he left it up to me if he should wear a black belt) but don't certify him until he knows my system at a black belt level.
Hanshi told me to "reognize" his black belt (in other words he left it up to me if he should wear a black belt) but don't certify him until he knows my system at a black belt level.
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masherdong
2nd Black Belt
I like that answer too.
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masherdong
2nd Black Belt
Lot of opinions about Honorary Black Belts. Good! Let's hear more!
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