Although this may or may not have been discussed in it's own thread, I know that it has been discussed in almost every thread that I've read about young black belts and 1st degree "masters." Here is something that I've noticed and have wondered about...
I'm pretty sure that most black belts (or equivalent), if asked, will say that shodan/chodan/1st degree black belt is really only the beginning, the first level, that one has only mastered the basics, or something to that effect.
Many of the same folks will turn around and list amazing feats of athletic prowess, a giant litany of requirements (techniques, kata, etc), and a depth of understanding similar to a dual-track bachelor's degree in history and philosophy as requirements for "their" students to reach this first rank.
While I may exaggerate a bit, the question still remains in my mind... How can both premises be true? If 1st degree only means that you have mastered the basics, which I figure to be blocks, punches, kicks, throws, locks, stances and falls, then I would imagine that a shodan has mastered the equivalent of moving the chess pieces, not actually playing the game.
There is one of three things happening here...1) My definition of basics is WAY too limited; 2) People downplay the achievement that is shodan; 3) Shodan means that you have mastered more than the basics.
I know that compared to what was historically expected of a karate 1st dan (after Funakoshi started using the dan system), many of us put in far more time and effort to earn our first rank.
I'm probably missing something though...its been a rough couple of weeks...
I'm pretty sure that most black belts (or equivalent), if asked, will say that shodan/chodan/1st degree black belt is really only the beginning, the first level, that one has only mastered the basics, or something to that effect.
Many of the same folks will turn around and list amazing feats of athletic prowess, a giant litany of requirements (techniques, kata, etc), and a depth of understanding similar to a dual-track bachelor's degree in history and philosophy as requirements for "their" students to reach this first rank.
While I may exaggerate a bit, the question still remains in my mind... How can both premises be true? If 1st degree only means that you have mastered the basics, which I figure to be blocks, punches, kicks, throws, locks, stances and falls, then I would imagine that a shodan has mastered the equivalent of moving the chess pieces, not actually playing the game.
There is one of three things happening here...1) My definition of basics is WAY too limited; 2) People downplay the achievement that is shodan; 3) Shodan means that you have mastered more than the basics.
I know that compared to what was historically expected of a karate 1st dan (after Funakoshi started using the dan system), many of us put in far more time and effort to earn our first rank.
I'm probably missing something though...its been a rough couple of weeks...