Martial Arts With out Belts
- Thread starter ace
- Start date
Traditional CMA such as Kung Fu have no belt system either.
Nope, no sash, no belt system at all normally.
7sm
7sm
Matt Stone
Master of Arts
Usually, CMA have no "rank" system per se... just students and instructors. This is changing in the US a little, since people in the US tend to be very goal oriented (as well as the money making aspect for those schools who are less ethical in their instruction format).
In Yiliquan we wear a sash or belt (depends on the uniform and the occasion, both of which have been discussed on other threads). The real reason we wear one is as an aid to breathing training. When the sash or belt is tied snugly around the lower abdomen, it provides instant feedback on whether a student is performing their breathing correctly.
The secondary purpose of the sash or belt is a logistical one geared for the instructors - by having different colors (in Yili, it goes white, yellow, blue, green, brown, black, red), students who are training in particular areas can be more easily determined, separated, and taught more efficiently.
I don't think it is a bad idea, really. I know there are many CMA proponents who reject such a convention - they say that traditionally CMA has never employed such a system, and therefore it is bad. Whatever. I think their bigger concern is the tarnishing of the reputation of CMA on the whole by the unethical instructors, less so the changing of "tradition."
There is no standardization, however, that I am aware of (unlike JMA, where pretty much it is 10 below black, and 10 above black).
Gambarimasu.
In Yiliquan we wear a sash or belt (depends on the uniform and the occasion, both of which have been discussed on other threads). The real reason we wear one is as an aid to breathing training. When the sash or belt is tied snugly around the lower abdomen, it provides instant feedback on whether a student is performing their breathing correctly.
The secondary purpose of the sash or belt is a logistical one geared for the instructors - by having different colors (in Yili, it goes white, yellow, blue, green, brown, black, red), students who are training in particular areas can be more easily determined, separated, and taught more efficiently.
I don't think it is a bad idea, really. I know there are many CMA proponents who reject such a convention - they say that traditionally CMA has never employed such a system, and therefore it is bad. Whatever. I think their bigger concern is the tarnishing of the reputation of CMA on the whole by the unethical instructors, less so the changing of "tradition."
There is no standardization, however, that I am aware of (unlike JMA, where pretty much it is 10 below black, and 10 above black).
Gambarimasu.
Yes, that is the main reason you hear of CMA wearing a sash of some type.
Yeah, I agree with you on that one. We have a "level" system at our school, we don't wear sashes or belts to show that "rank" but it helps seperate classes and such.
7sm
Matt Stone
Master of Arts
The problem with "familial seniority" is that it isn't necessarily reflective of skill... Of course, that can be said for poorly managed belt systems as well.
I know that, at least in my little corner of Yiliquan, the standards are rigorously applied, and if you are at a certain level you are capable of a few things... This is maintained across the board. Sometimes "junior" grades are capable of "senior" performance, but that still doesn't get them "moved up" until they have checked the blocks for knowing the how, why, where and when of everything else...
Tough thing, these martial arts. Tougher still to maintain standards...
Gambarimasu.
I know that, at least in my little corner of Yiliquan, the standards are rigorously applied, and if you are at a certain level you are capable of a few things... This is maintained across the board. Sometimes "junior" grades are capable of "senior" performance, but that still doesn't get them "moved up" until they have checked the blocks for knowing the how, why, where and when of everything else...
Tough thing, these martial arts. Tougher still to maintain standards...
Gambarimasu.
G
GouRonin
Guest
The Russian Martial Art of Systema has no belts.
M
MartialArtist
Guest
Shuai chiao
wing chun doesn't really have belts, but they have a ranking system
wing chun doesn't really have belts, but they have a ranking system
M
MartialArtist
Guest
Yes, but shuai chiao is different from say, freestyle wrestling, or greco-roman
K
Kiz Bell
Guest
Koryu (old style/traditional) iaijutsu, kenjutsu and jodo have no belt/rank system. They use the "menkyo" system, which basically means you are a student until you get your teaching licence. There are a number of grades of teaching licence, and there are dan gradings I beleive, but no kyu grades. I have heard that some schools in America have instituted a kyu/dan grade system, but I have never personally encountered this, and it could be something certain schools do to get extra money. It is not part of the koryu system.
Primo,
Balintawak ( Filipino artial Arts from Cebu PI ) has only two ranks. Those ranks are Teacher and Student.
Rich
:asian:
F
FruitLoopy
Guest
Russian Martial Arts don't usually have belt systems.
G
GouRonin
Guest
You try and tie a belt up after drinking all that vodka!
:iws:
G
GouRonin
Guest
I think Sombo has belts because of the Judo/Jiujitsu influence. Such as it evolved from jiujitsu as did Judo(Japanese Randori), Brazilian JiuJitsu(Brazilian Randori) so Sombo is somewhat Russian Randori.
Each art developed the aspect they liked most about it. They have a lot of the same techniques but use certain ones more frequently. ie - The Brazilians are not big on the leg locks although they have them intheir arsenal. In fact some Brazilians look down on the holds as being cheap while the Russians don't care. The Japanese prefer to stand up more hence the Judo love of their throws.
In any case, the 3 arts kept the belts it seems but the arts origin are not cultural in Russia and Brazil.
Each art developed the aspect they liked most about it. They have a lot of the same techniques but use certain ones more frequently. ie - The Brazilians are not big on the leg locks although they have them intheir arsenal. In fact some Brazilians look down on the holds as being cheap while the Russians don't care. The Japanese prefer to stand up more hence the Judo love of their throws.
In any case, the 3 arts kept the belts it seems but the arts origin are not cultural in Russia and Brazil.
cali_tkdbruin
Master of Arts
AH HA!!! I knew there had to be a good reason for not using a belt...:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
