I've asked advice about switching schools before and have since stayed at my current school, but I'm at a bit of a crossroads. I'm on track to earn my black belt in the next few months, however for some time now classes have become increasingly frustrating. Personally, I am driven to master my techniques, forms, skills, etc. and I'm ahead of my peers in material, so I'm currently focusing class time on refining and improving details. Classes, however are focused on reviewing beginner material for all the kids that were pushed through the ranks over the years. I very rarely get feedback or learn anything new anymore and my training partner is feeling the same frustration. And I hate to make it about money, but it is a factor - I pay a good amount to my school for the little teaching/feedback that I get and don't feel like the value is there any more.
With that, I'm sort of thinking that I'll stick it out to earn BB, then find a new teacher/school (same style/system for now) where I can get back to learning and progressing. While I completely understand I will have to prove myself at a new school to wear a BB there (I don't really care about rank and would wear a white belt as long as I'm learning and improving), but my thinking is that having earned the rank first will more easily give me an opportunity to prove myself as opposed to transferring schools as a Brown Belt. I don't want the new teacher to think I'm just going to a new school to be handed a black belt. Opinions and thoughts on this viewpoint?
I will add that I've participated in and observed quite a few of the black belt classes at my school and I'm not optimistic. They spend a lot of time on correcting basics, again for all the kids they have shoved through the ranks over the years and there is very little knowledge or teaching of the intellectual side of our art.
Reading through this thread, I believe you have received some very good advice on both sides of the fence so to speak, should you leave or should you stay? Is the color of the belt important or not? In the end only you can really answer that for yourself. In my personal martial arts journey (now in my 45th year) I've faced similar questions.
Short background to frame my response.
I teach a small program out of a Rec. Center now in my 20th year of teaching there. I teach two arts or programs Americanized TKD and an FMA program. I also teach a 3rd art on the side (Kobudo) as a sort of bridge between the TKD/karate and the FMA. I am instructor level ranked in several FMA related systems that I blend together in my classes, and high ranked in the TKD, and shodan in the Kobudo (which is from my parent American TKD org. ( not from a traditional group).
Yes your BB means something to the general public, and for the most part the general public doesn't care about it other than it generally means you can teach (or you are recognized as a teacher, a serious student, martial artist etc.). The general public doesn't care about the art, your lineage, your school for that matter; nor do they really care about your stripes on the BB other than they recognize more means higher rank. But in 20 years of teaching I've never had anyone ask me what my rank is, nor tell me it wasn't high enough to teach them or their kids. But I did have (in 1995) two martial artists (co-workers) come to me for lessons and then tell me "we'll see you after your get your BB". My test in Presas Arnis was in a couple of weeks.
It didn't matter that I was a active martial artist for 14 yrs, a 2nd dan in TKD, active in the FMAs for several years, only that I didn't have a BB in an art (the FMAs) that really didn't focus on ranks like they do in the Japanese and Korean systems. in their minds (small as they were) I couldn't teach them because I didn't have the right colored belt around my waist.
Your BB should mean something, but really it needs to mean something to you. You earned it, it's a starting point for some, and an ending for others. For me personally it was a starting point. My test was hard, it was important to me, and to my extended family, who saw what I do for the first and only time. They saw me get the crap kicked out of me, yet I stood up to the challenge, that was almost 40 yrs ago. That test still stands out in my mind.
Your test(s) should stand out in your mind as milestones. My 1st dan test in TKD stands out because of the physical skill and beating I took on the exam, my 2nd dan not so much. My 1st dan in Kobudo stands out as my worst exam. My Lakan Lima (5th dan) test in Presas Arnis stands out because my student and I got proclaimed as having the best test and so on. Whereas my Modern Arnis Lakan Isa test, I almost didn't take because I was so disillusioned with the testing process at the camps. Thankfully my seminar training buddy talked me into testing. Who knew that just 3-4 years later we would lose the Professor.
A previous boyfriend of my daughter's was a 2nd dan from a chain TKD school (a McDojo), he and his mom and sister all spoke casually to me about earning their BBs, they dropped out after 1st dan and the boyfriend dropped out after 2nd. Couldn't remember a thing, it was just another checked box on a bucket list for them.
Earning, or testing for your BB should mean something to you. Its your choice is it an end like the family I just described, or is it a start of something new?
After testing, you could start potentially teaching at a different location, such as a park or a Rec. Center. You will learn more about your teaching it, then in a class you are disillusioned with, just drilling it. You could set up a local study group, maybe with your training buddy, and advertize for other students, or form a cross traing group with other martial artists. Been there and done this too.
I don't have a new school picked yet, and like the idea of trying some out to find a good fit. Unfortunately there aren't any others close, so a downside will be less mat time (longer commute), but hopefully better training.
My training partner doesn't have the capability to go to another school (money or commute) and he told me tonight that he's pretty much done with our current school. His leaving will be a loss for all of us.
We have adult classes up to brown belt, then we are all together, kids and adults. I suggested an adult brown belt class for the few of us that are really determined, but the owners had no interest in it. From my experience, our black belt classes aren't much better. Again it's all the students they keep promoting that aren't ready or very good martial artists.
This is true, as my school doesn't hold much respect in the MA community. They have handed out so many black belts that nobody really takes them seriously. I know that doesn't say much about my own skills, but...
I believe so. I've done a ton of self learning and am always paying attention to others to see different ways of doing things and if there is added value. I feel I am objective in comparing myself to others I see at seminars, competitions, youtube, etc. I think I would benefit from a more challenging curriculum as it would push me harder, actually that is what I'm looking for. I don't believe the bb certificate from my school will mean much and will have to rely on demonstrating my skills.
I like this suggestion, I'll just have to accept less mat time (more travel time) and make the most of it. For about 10 months, I spent about 15-18 hours at my school per week - training and teaching (lower ranks). I got so burnt of the politics and bs that I stepped back to focus on refining my own skills. I truly miss helping students grow and develop their skills.
Unfortunately, I've also been considering what was previously unthinkable - just ending my MA journey now. My wife will say that I am obsessed, so I really want to find my fire again.
Thanks for all the feedback!
About the commute time.
If the class/instructor/school is good then don't worry about the commute. It will be worth it. I get it we are all busy. However what has kept me going in the martial arts is constantly learning, being engaged. So in my opinion if your brain is being fed, if it is engaged, then you will grow and that is worth the travel time, even at the cost of less training or matt time.
I live in a large metroplex, I have three remote groups that I teach and each are 45 minutes to 1 hr. away. 1 is a private student 2X a month, 1 is a group of about 4-5 students the other is the same size really and both are in opposite directions (north and south) of the metroplex, each one 1X per month. Then outside of my regular weeknight classes, I teach a free class in the park on Saturday mornings which is open to the general public. I teach these students because each one is different and I grow as a martial artist working with each group. My private student learns anything I put before him. The other two groups I'm trying a new FMA approach with varying success. My Saturday class is just fun and informative for me to teach. Regardless though I'm learning and I as a martial artist I am growing. Traveling is just part of it.
Traveling is a pain, and believe me I hear it from martial artists too. Yet last weekend when at a seminar, I asked the instructor if he taught private students, because he had something I wanted to learn, because he coud help me grow as a martial artist. He learned Modern Arnis in the Philippines from GM Remy and the organization there (now I'm not sure if it was from GM Remy directly or from the organization, or exactly what time frame (early 70's?)) but I do know that his Modern Arnis is different than what I learned as a seminar art in the 90's and beyond. That being said there is no question in my mind that I want to travel to the other side of the metroplex to learn from him. Which means another 45-1hr each way trip.
Kids classes/Advanced rank classes
I disagree with your school owners on teaching kids either advanced brown/black belts and adult advanced students together. In my TKD program I keep them seperated. The reason for this, is that kids don't need to understand the why as much as the adults (even though I explain it to them). What I mean is as adults we want to understand the indepth knowledge like the principles behind the techniques. Kids are fine with learning the next fun kick, or fun drill. Kids are more athletic (generally speaking) and can do the aerial kicks, the heel kicks, jump turning kicks etc. but do they need to learn arm breaks, joint locks, eye gouges, etc.? Adults on the other hand do need to learn, the more violent techniques. Having them do the aerial kicks, heel kicks, jump turn kicks etc. are a good way for them to see a DR. or chiropractor.
I already covered the BB item but.....
It is easy to be dissillusioned about your school when you compare yourself to others and think you BB doesn't mean anything. It represents all of your hard work, what you did inside of class and outside to earn it. It doesn't represent your school persay. If it would mean nothing to you, then walk away. Why bother?
At two times or period of time(s) for that matter, I faced the same dilemma in my martial arts training. I mentioned my training in Modern Arnis so I'll use that as my example. TBH I was really in a dark place when it came time for me to test for 1st black at the camps. I loved the martial arts, I had GM Remy up on the pedestal (he could do no wrong), I was in my 16th year of training in the arts. I was a 2nd dan in TKD and a Lakan Isa in Presas Arnis under hock Hochheim and in my 3rd year of attending Remy's camps. But because of my two prior tests at camps, I came to the conclusion my BB in Modern Arnis meant nothing. The arts (FMAs) because of percieved wrongs at prior tests, I came to value my future test in Modern Arnis as beneath me. So much so that I was going to boycott the test. I was foolish, young and dumb.
I am thankful to my training partner at the camps Arlie who talked me back from the cliff so to speak. He took the time to talk some sense to me. I had worked hard to learn the material, I spent mega bucks to travel and attend the camps, spent hours doing background work (writing notes and later typing them into a laptop) so I could in the future teach the art. I was going to throw it away by boycotting the test, for what end?
I mentioned above that if your test or your art means nothing to you to "then walk away, why bother". This is where I was at at the time. I was frustrated, dissillunsioned, mad, hurt, but still enjoying studying the martial arts. I had to get my viewpoint right. Because of the way the system was (how the testing was done at the camps), it didn't take away or diminish my efforts or skill in the arts. Whether I tested or not, really would have no impact on the future of Modern Arnis. But my attitude would.
I had a choice; throw in the towel and walk away; boycott the test and probably be resentful, angry, and frustrated with things because things didn't go my way; or do what I did and take the test do my best, moving on to support and grow in the art.
Well this was my first post back on MT in almost 10 years, it took way way longer than I had intended. I didn't even know my password was saved. MT looks very different now. I couldn't even figure out how to break up the quotes. I apologize for the length of the post. I was intrigued by the posts since I feel like I've been there in a similar way, and like my friend took some time to talk to me, I kind of felt the same. I hope may have helped.
