Your right....there are holes in my examples.
My University example doesn't fit every aspect of a belt ranking. Martial arts ranks aren't state endorsed, etc. Plus, of course in a University you can start where you left off, which I don't believe should be the case for M.A.. My example does fit the other aspects of what I had said however, mainly the points I was trying to illustrate.
Also...of course there is no guarantee that your belt rank will carry over from school to school, and you definatily risk starting from scratch. However, your black belt would still hold more leverage then an underbelt if it was the same system. I've seen many cases where the student and the instructor have made compromises, were the black belt student from the other school could wear his belt, but was required to retest for his current degree before testing for a higher rank, and so forth. It is also usually easier (at least it should be) for a Black Belt to excel in another martial arts altogether, making it easier to attain another black belt in that other martial art. My point was, that your black belt holds a lot more leverage then an underbelt in just about any situation you look at.
To me, I basically believe that there is a barrier, or "Chinese Wall" if you will between black belts and underbelts. Basically the underbelts are your "apprentices," who are subject to demotion, promotion, etc. Your "Knights" are your black belts. Does this illustration fit every aspect of the belt system in Martial arts, no it won't.
I don't know. If it sounds like I'm reaching here, it's because I am. The reason is that mainly, the belt system in Martial Arts is completely unique in and of itself. I can use examples to illustrate my points, but they will all fall short in one way or the other. The second part of my problem is that this is my way, and I really don't have or need a compelling arguement to back it up. And, I really don't care. I believe my way is right because of the results that can be derived from my way of thinking about rank; I feel that these results are better. I don't care if other people don't think it's "right."
My way is that the road to black belt is a journey. If you give up, take a break, vere off the correct path, etc., then you risk getting demoted, among other risks and trials on this journey. When you reach your first black belt, you are at the end of one journey, but at the beginning of another. That is what a black belt, to me, signifies: the end of one journey, a level of enlightenment or rebirth from the achievement, and the beginning of another journey. It signifies accomplishment as an apprentice, while opening up a new pathway to mastery. In your 1st journey you were subserviant to black belts; you looked to them for guidance, and you risked getting rebuked by them. This could mean a demotion in rank (in a very rare circumstance) by the head instructor. When you are a black belt, you now have many classmates who are under you, and who look to you for guidance. As a black belt you have achieved something that cannot be taken away, and new doors to greater experiences have been opened up to you. The consequence to that is with this black belt, you have great responsabilities to your art, to society, and to yourself. You have to own up to a lot more. You have new trials and tribulations, new things to master, and new things to learn. Really, your black belt is just a beginning. But, it is a new beginning that cannot be taken away.
This is my way. I think that "Black Belt" should be revered differently then any of the "under belts." This is how I teach my students, and this is how I treat my own personal rank regardless of the thought of my instructors. I take these things very seriously. If all instructors revered a black belt the same way I do, it is my opinion that they would be kicking out better quality students, and their students who recieved black belts would wear them with more respect, responsability, gratitude, and pride then people do today.
This is the way I grew up, and was taught. And this is the way I will teach, because when I give ANYONE a black belt, it is because I am sure that they are able to uphold the responsability. This is my way, wrong or right. If you want to follow a different way, then it's your livelyhood.
Now, if someone here on MT would like to enlighten us on some history behind belt ranking syestem in itself, then we can observe how the difference between "black belt" and "under belts" were treated in other cultures, in different times (mainly when "ranking" was first established in MA). I don't know enough history (nor do I have the time to research it), otherwise I could bring something forth of which we could make comparisons. I am very curious to learn how my way, the ways of today (which I think are different then my way), and the ways of the past hold up against each other. What are the consequences of each way of thought? If someone has any info, I think it would add to the discussion greatly.
As for those who say "rank doesn't matter," I also uphold that position to a degree. Your skill level is the bottom line. However, it would be nice if a rank really could reflect achievement in the combat arts. Unfortunatily with the way it is taken for granted, it usually doesn't, now a days.
:asian:
