Rank, and perhaps reputation may get them in the door, but they only stick around if realities meet the expectation. FWIW I have had no official ITF association since 2010 and that is one of the first things I advise people who find me looking for an "ITF School" . If they are looking for ITF rank, or other organizational rank advancement I help them make the appropriate connection but are welcome to train with me.
Briefly.
Growing up in the church, one thing I heard was, "The biggest thing that keeps people from Christ is Christians." Basically that when Christians go holier-than-thou on people they're trying to witness to, or preach fire-and-brimstone and then prove themselves to be massive hypocrites, it tends to turn people away.
I am not sure that is analogous.
Yes, unless the specific school/system has their own rules.
Unless it's changed, that's incorrect, at least as far as Kukkiwon is concerned. This is what I found on a few websites, including one post from our very own Andy Jeffries: Kukkiwon Promotion Rules changes
Alas, the effects of 30+ years of rampant, out of control growth, little to no regulation and the status quo Korean political hierarchy competition. It led to decades of really, really Bad black belts being promoted. In NO way do I mean to infer TKD is bad. The extremely loose WT/KKW model (mostly KKW) was never solidified due to never-ending pissing contests and a Whole lot of ego. WT caught a huge spark and carried the whole thing for a very long time. Somewhere along the way they (WT/KKW) discovered what MLM is and they are leveraging the model with all the 'necessary' qualifications. 100% play-to-play.
I was responding to when you said this:
I don't know. I'm 50/50. I've personally been focusing on BJJ for the last 3+ years. There's definitely a lot that I've learned, and it's influenced how I want to teach. However, I think Taekwondo has more mass appeal.
The genius of General Choi was a style with strict parameters. This also alienated many. The Genius of the KKW / WT model was to welcome any number of systems under it's umbrella which created a mess perhaps taking the long view to later create stricter standards.
You are mistaken. But you're also not. There are hundreds of organizations out there, and all have their own rules. In our MDK system, Dan ranks can promote to one level below the instructors rank.
Honestly, I do not feel like any real attempt at standard have been made until recently. And the method is one huge money grab. Still rather easy to get to 1st - 2nd or 3rd Dan, then the money grab begins shortly after. It is easy to see where the years spent in flux can feel wasted.
But you are corralling you school and teaching to one general group. Yes, from a profit and sustainability standpoint this model is very important. But it can sure make for some bland, vanilla training.
There is so much more to unpack in your OP but this is one of the most glaring. By NO means does having a 4th Dan certificate and placard that says "master" make you or anyone else a mater or their art. Far, far from it, and that kind of thinking tilts it in the other direction.
I think the main problem is whoever came up with the idea of using the term "master" for a lowly 4th degree black belt. In other TMA, that term commonly refers to someone with 30-40+ years in their art with a rank of 8th degree or higher (and even they are often reluctant to describe themselves as such). While an art is free to name its ranks any way they want, to be honest, I cringe when I hear that term used for one just starting their journey to the depths of their art. That's just me and no offense meant to those dedicated 4th and 5th degree practitioners who are stuck with that honorific.
No, but having these given to me from someone else proves that someone with the authority to promote to those levels and titles believed I am worthy of them.
Prior to 1970 in the USA most anyone using the Tk-D moniker was an ITF affiliate or off shoot since WT did not yet exist and other Korean systems had not yet latched on to the name to capitalize on growing popularity. In fact man yof those including Tk-D often advertised as "Korean Karate" ITF always used that derivation of the Korean term (Not exact translation) for 7th and above since prior to that the entire syllabus has been learned, There is a book "Living the Martial way" where the author critiques an unnamed org for devaluing the title from 5th to 4th and questions how you can be considered a "Master " of a system when the entire system has not yet been learned as a requirement for advancement to that rank.
