Ninja Vanish!!
This question goes out to the TCMA's here who train in a system of Kung Fu that maintains a belt/sash ranking system. In your opinion, do you believe it is necessary to have this system in your style. Traditionally speaking they did not and most of us know belt ranks were for the most part an Americanized standard, but please give your opinions on why or why not they are needed. Thanks.
"The hero and the coward both feel the same thing, but the hero projects his fear onto his opponent while the coward runs. 'Fear'. It's the same thing, but it's what you do with it that matters". -Cus D'Amato
Itinerant practitioner
run a shop? yes, have them they are useful milestones and help to organize curriculum.
run a private session group? they are not necessary.
I find that schools need them. you have a lot of people that if they don't have a focus and a goal that is cultural contextual then it can become chaos and difficult to deal with.
Kung Fu is good for you.
Loud City
I run a sport school, but not everyone competes. So, essentially, unless they are focused on the training or some fitness goal, a lot of them tend to lose interest after a month or two because they aren't working toward anything in particular.Originally Posted by David Jamieson
In that regard, I think a ranking system helps traditional schools keep students focused by providing achievable goals, which in turn keeps them interested in training.
He most honors my style who learns under it to destroy the teacher. -- Walt Whitman
Itinerant practitioner
It's a good point.
No goals = loss of interest
something as simple as a piece of cloth and the requirements for getting it can really spur a person on.
even though you have a sport school, you can separate your fight team from the regular t-shirt seekers and give them goals through textile awards!
Lot's of people identify with status markers. Belts serve as that too.
If you use maintenance programs, you can always have people struggle to maintain rank like hardcore japanese schools do. lol
you could always go with the nascar approach and give people those badges to sew all over their stuff. lol The nascar Gi rules!
Kung Fu is good for you.
Registered User
Good question, I have been kicking this one around for a while. I remember in my karate days, I did enjoy receiving my next belt. It made you feel good, gave you a goal to shoot for and stroked your ego. That being said, judging from the prices that a lot of schools are charging to test for your next belt/sash, and seeing the way some schools award belts/sashes to people that don't deserve or earn them, it is just a way for most places to make more money. At the last school I attended years back, I was testing for my brown belt, the lower belts had to go first. I saw some **** poor examples of kung fu, even people who had forgotten part of their forms or froze in the middle and still they passed.
In its simplest forms the only way a school can make money is through it's monthly tuition. Schools have taken this to new heights now adays with belt tests, charging extra fees to learn more material, like black sash clubs or master paths. Some of the fees charged are really exhorbitant. It has really gotten out of hand. Frankly, I am amazed that people can even afford to attend some of these schools. Now I am not saying that all schools that do this are bad in anyway, there are a lot of schools out there that do charge fair prices but I believe that the bottom line of this question lies in the revenue stream.
Ninja Vanish!!
I do believe a goal to work towards is a positive factor concerning belts. I know when I tested under my Sifu the tests were a rigorous ordeal of everything you had learned up to that point, as well as hard sparring with all classmates, instructors, and anyone else pretty much invited to the test, which usually consisted of black belts from other systems. If you passed, you certainly had a sense of pride and accomplishment, that you had "earned" you rank. This can go a long way in developing one's martial arts.
"The hero and the coward both feel the same thing, but the hero projects his fear onto his opponent while the coward runs. 'Fear'. It's the same thing, but it's what you do with it that matters". -Cus D'Amato
周洪龍 金山鴻勝武舘 - 鴻勝佛家正宗
my personal opinion is NO! belts have no place in gung fu. but, commercialism calls right???? i do certificates if they really want....a ranking system was never employed at all in my teachers school.
Hung Sing Boyz, we gottit on lock down
when he's around quick to ground and pound a clown
Bruh we thought you knew better
when it comes to head huntin, ain't no one can do it better
Registered User
The belt system is idiotic and loathsome. You're just buying belts. I go to a wushu school in Houston, no belt system there, the motivation lies in how far you want to go in wushu, not by what color you want your belt.
the ass assassin
ming army sparring ranking system: win a fight promote one level. lose a fight demote one level. lose five or more in a row beat with stick and expel
we shud use that one
GM of Hadaka Korosu
If the belt systems MEANS something then it is useful.
Belts for the sake of belts is pointless.
Psalms 144:1
Praise be my Lord my Rock,
He trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle !
humungous the barbarian
what he said
I am pork boy, the breakfast monkey.
left leg: mild bruising. right leg: charley horse
handsomerest member of KFM forum hands down
Ninja Vanish!!
The thing is there are systems where you are not just "buying" your belt. Believe it or not, some schools that use the belt system don't even charge for the test or the belt, maybe for the price of the sash (Gene sells them for like 7 bucks.) The point is, if the ranking system is done correctly, fairly, and with an intent on the person earning it and giving them a goal to continue to develop their skills, it can be useful.
"The hero and the coward both feel the same thing, but the hero projects his fear onto his opponent while the coward runs. 'Fear'. It's the same thing, but it's what you do with it that matters". -Cus D'Amato
humungous the barbarian
your reward for the years of training are the skills that you can preform not a piece of cloth you can tie around your waist.
I never saw the point of belts i think they are an entirely trivial concept
I am pork boy, the breakfast monkey.
left leg: mild bruising. right leg: charley horse
handsomerest member of KFM forum hands down
周洪龍 金山鴻勝武舘 - 鴻勝佛家正宗
it is ONLY useful for the commercial school to keep students. I've known 3rd degree blackbelts who were holy terrors in the studio. but out on the street they freeze, crumble, stutter, and lose all focus when confronted in the street. i've witnessed this and was left disappointed.If the belt systems MEANS something then it is useful.
i hate belt ranks, especially when for the right price my 12 year old nephew can become a black belt.
Hung Sing Boyz, we gottit on lock down
when he's around quick to ground and pound a clown
Bruh we thought you knew better
when it comes to head huntin, ain't no one can do it better
Moo Moo
these are arbitary "standards".This question goes out to the TCMA's here who train in a system of Kung Fu that maintains a belt/sash ranking system. In your opinion, do you believe it is necessary to have this system in your style. Traditionally speaking they did not and most of us know belt ranks were for the most part an Americanized standard, but please give your opinions on why or why not they are needed. Thanks.
usually, we have basic/beginner/foundation, intermediate, and advance.
how to define the 3 levels depending on the style and teacher.
1. foundation level, they are not to be mistaken for "easy".
from day 1 to day whenever, everyone has to practice. it is your root.
2. intermediate, based on level 1 with some specialization
3. advance, specialization for fewer themes.
in ba ji;
1. xiao jia
2. da jia
3. lian huan
etc
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote