I posted this on another forum, and the responses were very interesting, and very heated. After carefully consulting with the staff of this site, I am posting it here, for reply, debate and countering.
Please, speak your mind, but keep things within this sites rules.
Thank you.
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What is 'Rank' really worth?
People get bent out of shape over belts and ranks and certificates. Why? In the end, rank is truly meaningless. It is but a means of keeping score, or setting a pecking order, within a single organization. Once you get outside of the structure which issued the rank, the system breaks down.
I asked a while back, who is the better person and who is the senior person when comparing same numeric ranks between arts, styles and even organizations studying the same art. I rarely get an answer.
Some will point at the college model, but aren't degrees from some universities seen in a higher light than those from others?
Which looks better? Harvard or "University of Pheonix" on your diploma? Both, accredited universities. One though, has the reputation of tradition and high standards.
Same is true in the martial arts.
2 schools teaching the same art my have different criteria for belt levels, and rank. One may be very strict and insist on perfection, another, lax in precision.
The argument towards peer-review boards is the same. The quality of a board is totally dependent on the quality and experience of those sitting on it. Not their ranks. The worth of anything issued by these boards is a cumulation of who is on them, and who they have issued it it, and how they issued it.
In 2003 I received an invitation to become a "soke" from some group in Florida. I don't remember their name and flushed the email as spam. I do remember laughing as I was a blue belt at the time. For a meager $300 I could 'accept' this great honor due to my contributions to the arts and mastery of them. I passed. Some here hold differing opinions on me and my skill level. Truth is, I'm not 'good' enough now, nor was I then to suddenly 'buy' myself a promotion to grandmaster status. But, what is the worth of an 'honor' if it is simply because your name is on the mailing list?
Those boards that collect your money and issue you certs without seeing you, or because you sent in a video they probably didn't watch....they are part of the problem.
The ones that you stand in front of, and show everything you have, and make you think, and explain, and sweat and maybe even bleed...who have people on board who have been there themselves...those are the ones worth considering, as they are more likely truly interested in the quality of the arts, not just easy money.
The bottom line though is, rank, is merely a means of keeping score.
Some are worth more than others, but at the end of the day, experience and ability count for more than any piece of paper or number.
Please, speak your mind, but keep things within this sites rules.
Thank you.
======
What is 'Rank' really worth?
People get bent out of shape over belts and ranks and certificates. Why? In the end, rank is truly meaningless. It is but a means of keeping score, or setting a pecking order, within a single organization. Once you get outside of the structure which issued the rank, the system breaks down.
I asked a while back, who is the better person and who is the senior person when comparing same numeric ranks between arts, styles and even organizations studying the same art. I rarely get an answer.
Some will point at the college model, but aren't degrees from some universities seen in a higher light than those from others?
Which looks better? Harvard or "University of Pheonix" on your diploma? Both, accredited universities. One though, has the reputation of tradition and high standards.
Same is true in the martial arts.
2 schools teaching the same art my have different criteria for belt levels, and rank. One may be very strict and insist on perfection, another, lax in precision.
The argument towards peer-review boards is the same. The quality of a board is totally dependent on the quality and experience of those sitting on it. Not their ranks. The worth of anything issued by these boards is a cumulation of who is on them, and who they have issued it it, and how they issued it.
In 2003 I received an invitation to become a "soke" from some group in Florida. I don't remember their name and flushed the email as spam. I do remember laughing as I was a blue belt at the time. For a meager $300 I could 'accept' this great honor due to my contributions to the arts and mastery of them. I passed. Some here hold differing opinions on me and my skill level. Truth is, I'm not 'good' enough now, nor was I then to suddenly 'buy' myself a promotion to grandmaster status. But, what is the worth of an 'honor' if it is simply because your name is on the mailing list?
Those boards that collect your money and issue you certs without seeing you, or because you sent in a video they probably didn't watch....they are part of the problem.
The ones that you stand in front of, and show everything you have, and make you think, and explain, and sweat and maybe even bleed...who have people on board who have been there themselves...those are the ones worth considering, as they are more likely truly interested in the quality of the arts, not just easy money.
The bottom line though is, rank, is merely a means of keeping score.
Some are worth more than others, but at the end of the day, experience and ability count for more than any piece of paper or number.