re:rank

Here's a question on rank that I was thinking of earlier. Alot of people think rank and time should go hand in hand. However, isn't the purpose of a belt or rank to show your progress? Now I've never been much for ranks, but my instructor very strictly leaves the curriculum taught at one level only at that level. So if I refuse to test, I could train with him for 10 years and he'll never teach me anything new. So I asked to be tested, and he told me, no, it hasn't been a full year since your last belt test. I argued that I thought I was ready, and he agreed, but still said no, because it hadn't been a year. What's with that? If you ask me, time shouldn't matter. I think if a student asks to test for one belt one day, and the very next day for the next belt, there shouldn't be a problem. I mean, if you were an instructor and you tested a student for a blue belt, then the next day you tested him for his red belt, with the exact same standards you would hold for anyone testing for a red belt, and they pass those standards, what's the problem? Rank should only be used to show progress, and by not advancing that student, wouldn't that be contradicting what the ranking system is for?

I don't think time in rank should be as important as the performance of a student when it comes to testing. If the student is ready then the student is ready.

However I also don't think a student should ask to test at all, it should be an invite from the instructor once they think the student is ready.

Rank can be a good indicator of technique but don't count on it. I'd agree with you about that. For example, most TKD black belts have trained 4-5 years to get 1st Dan. Because of my instructor's tough requirements it took me 9 years to get a 1st Dan. Most people would be grading for 3rd Dan after 9 years training.

Now, I'm a white belt but you'd be hard pressed to find a MAist of any rank up to 2nd Dan who would find sparring with me easy under any ruleset. (I'd present at least some difficulty)

i agree with christie with this because the waiting time is not only to ensure the student learns everything they need to, but also to make sure they understand what they were taught, since understanding and learning grows at a different rate.

wow that's a long time, 9 years.
I had to train 5 years to get black belt and another year to make it official under WTF rules. But i agree that rank shouldn't matter much. Belt rankings is mostly a JMA thing. Alot of the more tradional MAs, including classical JMAs, have only three rankings, beginner student, advanced student, and master. IMO, i think that is how it should be.

leo you're from singapore rite..... wat school are you in ITF or WTF?

STF basically under the Kukkiwon (WTF) but we train slightly differently. Other clubs in the STF don't train for as long as my club, typically a BB can be earned in 4-5 years in Singapore. However, if you train in my old club, my instructor has the final say over whether you are ready for a grading and he can forbid you from taking one. That's the reason why it took me so long, I was frequently seen as unworthy of grading.

Besides 9 years isn't that long, I've been training 16 years in MA now and I hope to have many, many more years yet. Maybe when I reach 40 years training in the MA, I'll admit that I've been training for quite a while.

Started September 19, 2002 so just shy of 3 years. Currently red belt. We train the curriculm set out by the WTF in full but are more a Mixed Martial Art (MMA) school. We then add Hapkido, Jujitsu, BJJ, etc. to the mix with a solid base in Taekwondo for a striking art. No much emphasis in WTF sparring.

Rank, time? Not really an issue as each school is different. Ours, there are requirements at each level so this is where rank is. There is also a minimal amount of time required for each belt based on hours/class time. The majority of the people go beyond this and more. You never ask to be tested, they will let you know. Every 6 to 8 weeks there are tests on Friday nights but if you can go will depend on you learning all of your requirements and them telling you that you are ready. I've been a red belt since April and will be for months still. The higher you get the longer it is.

For myself I try to go to 3 classes a week if not injuried.

I'm no killer. I'm no extreme martial artist. I do it for myself at my own pace. I rushed early to get through the ranks but soon realized it meant nothing if I didn't perfect those skills. Its not just knowing what has to be done to pass the test it is a matter of making it a part of yourself so that you can easily recall and use those skills when needed.

Rank means nothing more then your progress for the instructor to know what level you are at. Time should be based on minimal amount of class time/hours and when the individual is ready and confident. Ranks are still nice and are goals but they are small goals in the larger picture. Black belt ... yes I want to be one ... but also understanding that the black belt means only that I'm a black belt in my organization and that it is only the first step in a long term goal.

In my opinion, ranks only give a general idea of how good/knowledgeable a person is in Taekwon-do. I know plenty of lower belts that can actually win sparring matches against higher belts, but that's only one example. It seems like some people usually focus on a certain aspect of Taekwon-do. Some focus on patterns, some sparring, some the history/philosophy behind it. A person may be particularly strong in one aspect and weaker in another. More devoted people seem to be generally good at all aspects. Some people have different goals as well. Some people want to train hard in self defence and be a powerful contender in tournaments. Some people just want a little exercise and have some fun. So my main point is the belts are a VERY general way of showing ones skill level, because there are so many things that could affect someones skill.

EDIT: I've been in Taekwon-do for 5 years.

Just received my red belt in WTF Taekwon Do on Saturday. I started TKD 2 years ago this September. The test went well, of course, there is always room for improvement. It is amazing how the nerves can affect you during the testing despite the hours of preparation. Baring any injuries, I expect to test for my black stripe this time next year.

Learned a valuable lesson during the test. I was in the middle of doing my one step sparring techniques and suddenly had complete memory loss about 2 of the techniques, luckily the training set in. I stopped, composed myself and was able to remember and move forward. Had this happened when I was just starting out, I probably would have crumbled.

Sorry folks, slightly off topic.

"You never fail until you stop trying"

tkd papa....Good going and congratulations!

-B

Congrads.

Congratulations on the grading. Best technique, let the training take over.