A History of Martial Rank

Most modern students don’t realize that the belts we use in martial arts are a very modern convention, one that has only been used for just over 100 years.  The link I’m including here presents the history of martial rank, including the much older menkyo system of certificates and teaching licenses (as opposed to the modern kyu/dan system).

http://www.e-budokai.com/articles/belts.htm

This article is well cited and provides lots of credible information.  And it’s a good reminder that no rank is worth more than the instructor’s good (or bad) name.  Each instructor decides for him- or herself what the various criteria will be for certain ranks, and no two instructors seem to feel the same way about it.  As for me, I would rather have it be said that I am far, FAR too hard on my students than to ever have it said that my black belt ranks were given out too easily.  That is my philosophy.  Many think I am too demanding, I’m sure.  Which is wonderful.  They are not welcome in my tight-knit group of high-quality students.  Despite working out on a full basketball court with a small group of students, I have no room in my dojo for mediocrity.

Getting a Blue Cliff TKD black belt is not designed to be easy.  It’s designed to make you better than the pretend, Tony Robbins-inspired, self-esteem bulging, self-respect lacking, shockingly bad, laughably weak people out there who give real black belts a bad name.  That’s the scoop.  If you’re not willing to work, stay home.  If you’re not willing to suffer, we don’t need you.  Or I can recommend any number of Tucson dojos that will be happy to take your money and give you nothing except a piece of cloth and a lot of lies.  And if you only care about getting a black belt, I can give you a wide range of retailers who will supply them for anywhere from $5 – $150.  But if you want my signature and stamps on your certificate, I hope you’re willing to work as hard as I still work every day.  Because black belt is a lifestyle, not an event.  You are never done improving.  That is the hard truth.  But it is, at the end of the day, the truth.  And that’s what matters most to me.