Although, I have been training in the martial arts for over 17 years, it has never occurred to me to not issue rank in the style that I teach. I've always been of the opinion that the ranking system was for the purpose of guaging a student's progress while also giving them smaller obtainable goals on their way to black belt. I still feel this way, but now I am thinking about doing away with the rank structure in my class.

Why? Because I teach only adults and I don't see the need for giving them a new color of belt every 6 months or so. Most of them could care less about the rank, they just want to learn how to defend themselves and learn the art form.

My current rank system has 8 ranks in it; white to black. I am considering reducing it to 2 ranks; white and black.

Have any of you guys used this sort of rank structure before? If so,..how did it work?