Kenpojujitsu3
Master Black Belt
- Joined
- May 5, 2005
- Messages
- 1,221
- Reaction score
- 9
Due to a "falling out" with my original instructor I left his school in 2001 to train elsewhere and didn't return until late 2004 and then only sparingly. Anyhow, when I returned I noticed a number of 'Black Belts' with no red tips. When I asked what that meant (as I knew they didn't hold rank in other systems) I was told they were Probationary Black Belts. Apparently something got instituted where the 1st Degree Brown Belts would accumulate hours after learning the prescribed 1st Degree Black Belt material. Upon completing 100 of the 200 hours required to test for Black they would be awarded a Black Belt with no red tips without any kind of test. These 'probationary ranks' then have all of the 'privleges' of a Black Belt before their test. They give students the "birth of pain" on tests; they get saluted to before class, after class, and whenever entering/exiting the studio; and they get to line up with the Black Belts among other 'privleges and duties'. I'm curious if this practice is done in any other kenpo schools and what people think of it. I think it cheapens the experience of the Black Belt test for them as nothing changes for them except 2 inches of red tape and a piece of paper. They're already doing everything that the Black Belts do without going through test to get there. Any thoughts or comments?
James Hawkins III, HI
Hawkins Kenpo Karate
Baltimore, MD
James Hawkins III, HI
Hawkins Kenpo Karate
Baltimore, MD