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KarateKen
Green Belt
Joined: 12 Nov 2021
Posts: 412
Location: Dojo
Styles: Karate
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 Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2023 4:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Absolutely. I would keep training and learning but it would be great to never test again. |
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Spartacus Maximus
Black Belt
Joined: 01 Jun 2014
Posts: 1902
Styles: Shorin ryu
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| Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2023 7:49 am Post subject: |
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| The key is training. Ranks and testing don’t really matter to those who train for themselves and their own personal advancement in martial arts. Not testing for rank doesn’t mean that one doesn’t continue to improve. |
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sensei8
KF Sensei
Joined: 23 Feb 2008
Posts: 16430
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Styles: Shindokan Saitou-ryu [Shuri-te/Okinawa-te based]
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| Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2023 8:17 am Post subject: |
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For the most part, Testing Cycles have been a means for the school to earn an income. Testing Cycles have been around for so long that they have become so ingrained in any MA school one wat or another. Therefore, testing is as common as breathing is.
Again, I would've never gave it a second thought of staying Shodan for the rest of my training days because my MA betterment is far more important than the seeking for ranks. The Testing Cycle has been around forever and a day whether there was any money attacked to it or not.
Testing Cycles are what they are and will continue on way past the time that we shuffle off our mortal coil.
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**Proof is on the floor!!! |
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Sailor Sindbad
Yellow Belt
Joined: 05 Dec 2019
Posts: 77
Styles: Kobayashi Shorin-ryu, Shotokan, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
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| Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2023 8:53 am Post subject: |
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| aurik wrote: |
| Many people I have talked to, usually those outside the martial arts, see earning your black belt as the end of your MA journey. |
And many people inside, as can be seen here in this thread. If they "don't care about rank," why did they wait until after making shodan first before deciding that?
I can see not wanting to make a grade that requires greater involvement than showing up to train x number of days per week like everybody else.
But staying a shodan for life in order to show off fake humility does the exact opposite of that. |
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sensei8
KF Sensei
Joined: 23 Feb 2008
Posts: 16430
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Styles: Shindokan Saitou-ryu [Shuri-te/Okinawa-te based]
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| Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2023 9:09 am Post subject: |
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| Sailor Sindbad wrote: |
| aurik wrote: |
| Many people I have talked to, usually those outside the martial arts, see earning your black belt as the end of your MA journey. |
And many people inside, as can be seen here in this thread. If they "don't care about rank," why did they wait until after making shodan first before deciding that?
I can see not wanting to make a grade that requires greater involvement than showing up to train x number of days per week like everybody else.
But staying a shodan for life in order to show off fake humility does the exact opposite of that. |
Solid post!!
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**Proof is on the floor!!! |
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Wastelander
KF Sensei
Joined: 18 Oct 2010
Posts: 2734
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Styles: Shorin-Ryu, Shuri-Ryu, Judo, KishimotoDi
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| Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2023 9:25 am Post subject: |
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| Sailor Sindbad wrote: |
| aurik wrote: |
| Many people I have talked to, usually those outside the martial arts, see earning your black belt as the end of your MA journey. |
And many people inside, as can be seen here in this thread. If they "don't care about rank," why did they wait until after making shodan first before deciding that?
I can see not wanting to make a grade that requires greater involvement than showing up to train x number of days per week like everybody else.
But staying a shodan for life in order to show off fake humility does the exact opposite of that. |
Personally, I made the decision that I didn't care about rank as a brown belt, rather than after Shodan. I spent 6 years as a brown belt, and I had no complaints, because my late Sensei had no problem teaching you if you wanted to learn, regardless of rank. He did eventually insist I test, so I did, but mainly only because I love teaching, and I know that people want instructors to have a black belt. I think it's less about humility and more about a lack of interest in the testing process. I was more interested in training than testing--sort of like I have no interest in competition. I also see the value, though, so if someone I respect wants me to give it a go, I will. It's just not something I seek out, myself.
_________________
Kishimoto-Di | 2014-Present | Sensei: Ulf Karlsson
Shorin-Ryu/Shinkoten Karate | 2010-Present: Yondan, Renshi | Sensei: Richard Poage (RIP), Jeff Allred (RIP)
Shuri-Ryu | 2006-2010: Sankyu | Sensei: Joey Johnston, Joe Walker (RIP)
Judo | 2007-2010: Gokyu | Sensei: Joe Walker (RIP), Ramon Rivera (RIP), Adrian Rivera
Illinois Practical Karate | International Neoclassical Karate Kobudo Society |
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LonestarCJ
White Belt
Joined: 29 Nov 2023
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2024 10:28 pm Post subject: |
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Last edited by LonestarCJ on Sun Mar 17, 2024 10:39 am; edited 1 time in total |
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aurik
KF Sempai
Joined: 08 Nov 2016
Posts: 505
Location: Denver, CO
Styles: Shuri-Ryu, Uechi-Ryu
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| Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2024 10:55 am Post subject: |
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| LonestarCJ wrote: |
| I am learning why it is important to advance the belt rank. It helps Sensei as well as other students to evaluate for one. For two it is an incentive. I'm sure there are many other aspects will learn. |
The (colored) belt ranks are an easily identifiable way of indicating what a student knows, is expected to know, and is expected to be ready to learn. This makes it easy to group students together to work on their rank-appropriate kata and drills. It also makes it easy for a higher-ranked student to determine at what level to train with the student. For example, when I'm training with a white belt, I'll take things much slower and more relaxed than I would with a brown belt. This is especially important in larger schools where you may not know all of the students by name and ability.
_________________
My Journey (So Far)
Shuri-Ryu 1996-1997 - Gokyu
Judo 1996-1997 - Yonkyu
Uechi-Ryu 2018-Present - Nidan
ABS Bladesmith 2021-Present - Apprentice |
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