Dumping the Dan System

[Gyakuto115 124]

Once you’ve been doing martial arts for a while, you can almost literally tell if a person has black belt level martial arts training by the way they walk and carry themselves.
I’ve met two JKA school trained instructors that I didn’t know, but just by how they walked, I knew they were on another level.

It’s known as ‘hin kaku’ (品格) is a Japanese term referring to ‘dignity’, ‘grace’, ’elegance’, ’quality of character’. It represents a high standard of personal poise, virtue and morality that elevates an individual above the ordinary. It is often associated with behaving with proper etiquette, calmness, and integrity.

Unfortunately, hin kaku often spills over into Kigurai (気位) which means ‘pride’ or ‘haughtiness’ in Japanese, often referring to self-aggrandised self-respect and an arrogant attitude.

 

[gspell68]

It’s known as ‘hin kaku’ (品格) is a Japanese term referring to ‘dignity’, ‘grace’, ’elegance’, ’quality of character’. It represents a high standard of personal poise, virtue and morality that elevates an individual above the ordinary. It is often associated with behaving with proper etiquette, calmness, and integrity.

Unfortunately, hin kaku often spills over into Kigurai (気位) which means ‘pride’ or ‘haughtiness’ in Japanese, often referring to self-aggrandised self-respect and an arrogant attitude.

This is one of them.
Hideo Ochi.
Definitely not arrogant!
I somehow wound up at a karate tournament by accident while stationed in Germany and he was sitting behind us in the stands, oddly not part of the event, but it seems like it was not a JKA function.
He was mostly ignored.
I didn’t speak German at the time or Japanese (think I found out later that he speaks English), but i kinda wanted to talk to him because there was just something bad@$$ about him.

 

[isshinryuronin5 4]

I

This is one of them.
Hideo Ochi.
Definitely not arrogant!
I somehow wound up at a karate tournament by accident while stationed in Germany and he was sitting behind us in the stands, oddly not part of the event, but it seems like it was not a JKA function.
He was mostly ignored.
I didn’t speak German at the time or Japanese (think I found out later that he speaks English), but i kinda wanted to talk to him because there was just something bad@$$ about him.


View attachment 33802

I saw him in action around 1970. I was impressed.

 

[gspell68]

I

I saw him in action around 1970. I was impressed.

Yeah.
I just watched some videos of him from around that time.
He was incredibly precise.
He’s one of only six or eight All Japan Grand Champions in its 70 year history.

 

[HighKick]

I don’t think there’s a “one size fits all” answer to this. People like to be part of a group. But all people are different, sometimes
vastly different.

We have to make them want to come to the dojo (or gym). Make them comfortable with the other people there, including those that are teaching. Advancing in rank is part of that, but I think there’s too much emphasis on that in a lot of dojos I’ve been in.

You can’t train everyone the exact same way. Not only are their physical skills different, their backgrounds and personalities are different. It’s actually easier with a large group than it is with a small group. Because you can use the group to take rookies under their wing.

You have to acknowledge, help, entertain and use positive reinforcement to reach them all.
And make them work their butts off at the same time. To me, the best motivation you can give a non athletic person is to help them get in shape that they didn’t think possible.

Fully Agree! Any school that is counting on a belt system to keep people had already failed.
IT IS NOT ABOUT THE BELT!