How do you pursue rank/promotion in your marital art of choice?

**Mr. Machette** · Posted On: 2/27/2013 7:24pm

Originally Posted by NeilG

Why put rank in quotes? Your school had ranks, and actually that sort of rank by instructor level is relatively common in older Japanese systems. We don't wear belts in kendo either, but we have ranks and the whole system is very rank-conscious.

Sorry. I put in quotes because we were not especially "rank concious" as you say. The Guro's would even claim loosley that "We don't really have ranks. You'll test for mastery of the first half of the curriculumn and eventually the second half too. When you've passed the first test you can host classes by yourself. When you've mastered you can open a school if you want."

Even the higest ranks in the system would downplay their "title". The GM himslef doesn't like being called "Grand Master" all the time. It's too stuffy for his taste. He'd rather you call him GM or preferably just "Rob". I am not pulling your chain! The founder himself prefers that you drop the honorific. It's a humility that trickles down from the highest ranks and IMHO made the classes a very comfortable and welcoming experience.

That's not to say it wasn't a big deal when people ranked. It was huge since there were only two ranks! But nobody and I mean nobody in the system would ever brow beat you with their title. That just wasn't the organization's style.

I won't claim it's better or worse than anyone else's school. Some people are big on the rigidity and traditional formality. The place I went to was a LOT more laid back than that. It happened to fit my personality better than the super formal schools I've visited. Your mileage may varry!

**Permalost** · Posted On: 2/27/2013 7:40pm

My FMA style has its curriculum broken into 4 quarters. Each quarter has a specific curriculum, and tests have a written component and a physical component where the student must demonstrate the curriculum with a partner (or solo, for the few sayaws). The written part is mostly details about history or pedagogy or other things that a student should know but can't demonstrate through martial arts. Recently I helped with a Guro exam, which included demonstration from all the quarters (mostly the latter) as well as rattan sparring against several opponents (I was one of three facing one of the guys testing).

When I did kung fu, they had a colored sash system, which I think was incorporated from the chief instructor's kempo background. Each sash test required demonstrating self defense techniques (like 20), forms (at least 2 starting at the 2nd sash), and kicks in the air and against a shield (progressively more as more are learned). Starting at 2nd or 3rd sash, some form of sparring was required for every test, with san da for the black sash. The purple sash test also included board breaking, because that level involved training with the wall bag (so there was some hand conditioning). Starting at blue sash, there were weapon forms to demonstrate, first staff, then broadsword and so on.

**Fuzzy** · Posted On: 2/28/2013 4:42am

My current school uses Judo belts (Yellow,Orange,Green,Blue,Purple,Brown,Brown-1,Brown-2,Brown-3,Black), the "traditional" curriculum is ridiculously structured, its basically a textbook of 3-6 month modules (3 for lower grades, 6 for higher) and you're expected to do your whole however many pages of techniques/drills then the requisite number of forms (I know, fucking forms) then spar a number of opponents equal to your level.

I'm kind of indifferent to belts really, I grade because its expected, and it wouldn't be a hell of a lot of fun to be in a class full of Brown belts who all started when I did while I'm only wearing yellow or whatever (not that we ever wear our belts), though I will freely admit that the idea of finally getting a black belt after dabbling in so many different styles would be nice.

That said, I chose the gym I train at because of its fight record and I train to be a better fighter, not for belts.

(Also please don't think we spend all our time doing curriculum stuff, its competition season so most classes are warmup, bagging, sparring).

**aznraven** · Posted On: 2/28/2013 10:39am

I like belts. I like grading, next grading would be for shodan and 20 rounds of kumite. Belts are useful for tournament/training divisions. Higher belts get a freer reign on training choice and can usually do sparring while juniors stick to kihon or bag work.

I have never thought of why someone is ranked higher if I could kick their ass. I am pretty sure I can kick my sensei or shihan's ass but what does that prove?

**MMAd MMAx** · Posted On: 2/28/2013 11:45am

It's good to have a goal and to have to perform under pressure.
I've got my brown belt promotion coming up next month and been training hard over the last few months. It's going to be approx 2hours of techniques, kata, press-ups, etc followed by 12 rounds of Kumite against fresh fighters.

Piss Poor Preparation = Piss Poor Performance

On the whole, my Rank isn't important to me. The people I have the pleasure to train with and learn from are far more important me. Just after Christmas I went and trained with our Judo friends on the other side of town and had no issue donning my white belt in my krotty gi and getting down to business.

Training and being healthy enough to train are what's important to me.
Gaining the belts and sharing the glory with other peeps who 'suffered' with me is the best feeling.

**DKJr** · Posted On: 2/28/2013 11:53am

I don't. I just focus on kicking ass and instructors just give them to me.

Of course your belt matters though. It's supposed to be an indicator of an expert's opinion of your skill level.

**Krijgsman** · Posted On: 2/28/2013 3:09pm

Originally Posted by DKJr

I don't. I just focus on kicking ass and instructors just give them to me.

Of course your belt matters though. It's supposed to be an indicator of an expert's opinion of your skill level.

Dang... well put.

**Lv1Sierpinski** · Posted On: 3/02/2013 2:52am

Back in TKD my only motivation to get the next belt was that I'd then learn new stuff (forms, kicks, etc.).

Subsequently I've been involved with things where you learn what the instructor is teaching that day, you don't see people doing something you're not allowed to do yet, just something you haven't learned (or usually for me something I've forgotten)...belt motivation dropped off the scale.