Who is qualified to grade?

[Xue Sheng]

I will take your word that there are schools that teach Chinese martial arts in the USA that don't use rank but from what I've seen, some schools that in the past haven't used rank are starting to. This one school that I visited in NYC that teaches the Eagle Claw system originally didn't have rank but ended up coming up with a ranking system that consisted of colored sashes where a black sash was the lowest rank and a white sash was the highest rank.

I wouldn't say that the need to be ranked is entirely an American thing or that wanting rank is a typical attitude in the USA, after all there are some combat sports, if not martial arts I would at least call them combat sports, that have a long history in the USA that traditionally haven't and to this day still don't have rank. American boxing and American wrestling for instance, typically don't have rank.

you believe what you want, don't let my over 30 years experience in CMA get in your way...

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

I wouldn't say that the need to be ranked is entirely an American thing or that wanting rank is a typical attitude in the USA,

A: Could you give me a Taiji black belt?
B: How can I give you a Taiji BB if I don't even have a Taiji BB myself?

If you are a Taiji teacher B, what will be your respond to your Taiji student A?

 

[Same Trick]

white sash was the highest rank.

usually in Chinese tradition white is associated with death so it’s the color to wear during funeral processions, if one is not a direct by blood relative one may just wear a white cloth around the waist

 

[PhotonGuy]

you believe what you want, don't let my over 30 years experience in CMA get in your way...

As I said, I believe you.

 

[PhotonGuy]

A: Could you give me a Taiji black belt?

Does Taiji even have belts of rank?

B: How can I give you a Taiji BB if I don't even have a Taiji BB myself?

If you are a Taiji teacher B, what will be your respond to your Taiji student A?

That's assuming Taiji even has belts of rank, if it does anybody could hand you a belt and say you're a Taiji black belt.