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2011/06/28
There's been a little talk on Facebook lately about (earning) rank.
Black belt rank, specifically, about high ranks, like 5th, 6th,
7th, 8th, and 9th dan. I've put some thought into how rank is
earned; as many of you may know, how people earn high rank today is
subjective. Some people can serve years of apprenticeship under
another teacher to earn high ranks, while some people can get it
the way I did a year or two ago, by buying it.
Two years ago a Korean friend of mine persuaded me to buy my
"Kukkiwon" 4th dan (I was already a 6th dan under Ernie Reyes, Sr.)
with a check for $100. The price started out much higher and
included a referee's class, but as I continued to decline the offer
and say I wasn't interested, it finally came down to $100. I
wouldn't have paid that either, except I could tell my friend was
under some kind of pressure to produce money, so I acquiesced. When
the certificate came, as it had absolutely no value to me, I threw
it in the trash.
Today you can actually watch people, on Youtube, being filmed
taking their high ranking belt tests. In way too many cases, it's
not pretty. You have to wonder what these associations are thinking
when they graduate these people to the highest of belt ranks?
However there are also some fine examples of people who show a
level of skill that is extraordinary.
Take for example the short clip (2:51 min) of Mikio Yahara's 8th
dan test. Here you see a man, in his 60's, who is stronger, faster,
and more practiced that most black belts are in their 30's. That
this test was even put on video is remarkable. The video is titled:
"Mikio Yahara karatenomichi," if you'd care to see it.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Mikio+Yahara+karatenomichi
There is also a wonderful National Geographic documentary on
Youtube about what kendo practitioners go through to earn their 8th
dan. According to the piece, the pass rate for the 8th dan is less
than one-percent. Find it on Youtube under the title, "Documentary
about Kendo Part 1." Special thanks to martial artist/writer David
Lowry for pointing me to this remarkable video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncDBiQVWfZQ
How I See It
I recognize that as many of us age (I'm currently 51 years old),
our skill levels change. I've had both of my hips replaced, so
while I'm not crippled, I do have to train and practice with an
understanding of the consequences should I dislodge one of the
prostheses (artificial hip joint and socket) or wear one or both of
them out. A dislocation, I've been told, is extremely painful, and
once your joint has popped out of socket once, it's easier to
happen again. The second hip replacement, I've also been told, is
not nearly as strong or functional as the first.
So when I, someday (if ever), test for my 7th degree black belt, I
do believe my physical skill level will be high, but nothing at all
like it would have been had I not suffered the near-crippling
deterioration of both of my hips. Nevertheless, I will arrive at
that test in that absolute best shape of my life, all things
considered. Anything less would be, in my opinion, a slap in the
face to what my teacher taught me about being a black belt.
But for a test of high rank, there must be, in my opinion, an
additional set of requirements, beyond physical skills. I would
like to suggest that people testing for ranks of 4th dan or higher,
bring with them an on-line "Project Portfolio" of their work --and
that "work" should be one-half (or more) of the determination of
their success or failure in being awarded.
A Project Portfolio would contain all of the activities the tester
has applied herself to that serve as an example of how she is using
her level of skill and experience to affect the world.
What programs has this tester designed and initiated that perfectly
illustrate what they know and practice?
Is the martial arts world better because of this person's
contributions?
Has he or she designed and/or created programs to benefit the
international martial arts community and/or the world at large?
Is their work in peace education, health education, exercise
physiology, or in the creation of best practices?
Has this tester championed any particular subject, such as martial
arts history, injury prevention, environmental self-defense, heart
disease or any other killer-of-men, and/or any subject that might
indicate a level of understanding and awareness indicative of
mastery?
Jigoro Kano infiltrated and deeply affected the educational system
in Japan and promoted his Judo around the world. Choi Hong Hi took
his Taekwondo for one heck of a ride. Morehei Ueshiba left an
undeniable mark on the world and is still revered today. Bruce Lee?
Yeah. Helio Gracie? Undeniably. Dan Inosanto is a living example of
someone who is deeply engaged in the work of the high-ranking
master, as is Ernie Reyes, Sr., Jhoon Rhee, Keiko Fukuda (as age
98), the Machado and Gracie families, Bill Wallace, Joe Lewis, Jeff
Smith, and __________ (name your favorite martial arts master
teachers who have a stunning Project Portfolio of contributions to
the arts, here).
Breaking boards, owning profitable schools, hanging out for long
enough, being politically connected, being in black belt magazine,
and looking tough in photos shouldn't, I think, be considered in a
test for ranks of 4th dan or higher.
High ranking black belts should (and could) be the Jane Goodall's,
the Rosa Park's, the Wangari Maathai's, the Samuel Mockbee's, the
Aung San Suu Kyi's, the Ellie Wiesel's, and the Thich Nhat Hanh's
of the martial arts world. Our high ranking teachers and leaders
should be examples of what years and years of disciplined, focused
training DOES for someone; the kind of training thats intention is
to bring clarity and empowerment to the practitioner.
As it is today, we have 30 and 40 year old 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th
dans (and, sadly, there's an organization that's actually giving
out 15th dans and higher --to young people), that have, honestly,
not done anything (or even attempting to "do" anything), put in a
portfolio of accomplishments, that would speak of any
extraordinarily developed skills.
In fact, like the group that is giving out Ph.D. (doctorate) rank
to people / applicants who join their "Hall of Fame" association,
far too many high ranking black belts are, quite simply, an
embarrassment of mediocrity.
Rather than point out the embarrassments of our current "system"
(or lack thereof) for high ranking black belt testing, I am working
to set an example of one way it could be done, by assembling my own
Project Portfolio for my upcoming 7th dan test.
I am currently in my 11th year following my 6th dan test and have
logged 40 years of continuous study and practice of the martial
arts. But beyond my physical skills (always lacking), I see my
writing, my projects, and all of my work off of the mat as part of
my "test." It is meant to serve as one example of how I think the
process could/should look. You can see the work in progress
(evolving) at www.TomCallos.com.
TKC Productions, 21038-A Victory Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA 91367, USA
Black belt rank, specifically, about high ranks, like 5th, 6th,
7th, 8th, and 9th dan. I've put some thought into how rank is
earned; as many of you may know, how people earn high rank today is
subjective. Some people can serve years of apprenticeship under
another teacher to earn high ranks, while some people can get it
the way I did a year or two ago, by buying it.
Two years ago a Korean friend of mine persuaded me to buy my
"Kukkiwon" 4th dan (I was already a 6th dan under Ernie Reyes, Sr.)
with a check for $100. The price started out much higher and
included a referee's class, but as I continued to decline the offer
and say I wasn't interested, it finally came down to $100. I
wouldn't have paid that either, except I could tell my friend was
under some kind of pressure to produce money, so I acquiesced. When
the certificate came, as it had absolutely no value to me, I threw
it in the trash.
Today you can actually watch people, on Youtube, being filmed
taking their high ranking belt tests. In way too many cases, it's
not pretty. You have to wonder what these associations are thinking
when they graduate these people to the highest of belt ranks?
However there are also some fine examples of people who show a
level of skill that is extraordinary.
Take for example the short clip (2:51 min) of Mikio Yahara's 8th
dan test. Here you see a man, in his 60's, who is stronger, faster,
and more practiced that most black belts are in their 30's. That
this test was even put on video is remarkable. The video is titled:
"Mikio Yahara karatenomichi," if you'd care to see it.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Mikio+Yahara+karatenomichi
There is also a wonderful National Geographic documentary on
Youtube about what kendo practitioners go through to earn their 8th
dan. According to the piece, the pass rate for the 8th dan is less
than one-percent. Find it on Youtube under the title, "Documentary
about Kendo Part 1." Special thanks to martial artist/writer David
Lowry for pointing me to this remarkable video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncDBiQVWfZQ
How I See It
I recognize that as many of us age (I'm currently 51 years old),
our skill levels change. I've had both of my hips replaced, so
while I'm not crippled, I do have to train and practice with an
understanding of the consequences should I dislodge one of the
prostheses (artificial hip joint and socket) or wear one or both of
them out. A dislocation, I've been told, is extremely painful, and
once your joint has popped out of socket once, it's easier to
happen again. The second hip replacement, I've also been told, is
not nearly as strong or functional as the first.
So when I, someday (if ever), test for my 7th degree black belt, I
do believe my physical skill level will be high, but nothing at all
like it would have been had I not suffered the near-crippling
deterioration of both of my hips. Nevertheless, I will arrive at
that test in that absolute best shape of my life, all things
considered. Anything less would be, in my opinion, a slap in the
face to what my teacher taught me about being a black belt.
But for a test of high rank, there must be, in my opinion, an
additional set of requirements, beyond physical skills. I would
like to suggest that people testing for ranks of 4th dan or higher,
bring with them an on-line "Project Portfolio" of their work --and
that "work" should be one-half (or more) of the determination of
their success or failure in being awarded.
A Project Portfolio would contain all of the activities the tester
has applied herself to that serve as an example of how she is using
her level of skill and experience to affect the world.
What programs has this tester designed and initiated that perfectly
illustrate what they know and practice?
Is the martial arts world better because of this person's
contributions?
Has he or she designed and/or created programs to benefit the
international martial arts community and/or the world at large?
Is their work in peace education, health education, exercise
physiology, or in the creation of best practices?
Has this tester championed any particular subject, such as martial
arts history, injury prevention, environmental self-defense, heart
disease or any other killer-of-men, and/or any subject that might
indicate a level of understanding and awareness indicative of
mastery?
Jigoro Kano infiltrated and deeply affected the educational system
in Japan and promoted his Judo around the world. Choi Hong Hi took
his Taekwondo for one heck of a ride. Morehei Ueshiba left an
undeniable mark on the world and is still revered today. Bruce Lee?
Yeah. Helio Gracie? Undeniably. Dan Inosanto is a living example of
someone who is deeply engaged in the work of the high-ranking
master, as is Ernie Reyes, Sr., Jhoon Rhee, Keiko Fukuda (as age
98), the Machado and Gracie families, Bill Wallace, Joe Lewis, Jeff
Smith, and __________ (name your favorite martial arts master
teachers who have a stunning Project Portfolio of contributions to
the arts, here).
Breaking boards, owning profitable schools, hanging out for long
enough, being politically connected, being in black belt magazine,
and looking tough in photos shouldn't, I think, be considered in a
test for ranks of 4th dan or higher.
High ranking black belts should (and could) be the Jane Goodall's,
the Rosa Park's, the Wangari Maathai's, the Samuel Mockbee's, the
Aung San Suu Kyi's, the Ellie Wiesel's, and the Thich Nhat Hanh's
of the martial arts world. Our high ranking teachers and leaders
should be examples of what years and years of disciplined, focused
training DOES for someone; the kind of training thats intention is
to bring clarity and empowerment to the practitioner.
As it is today, we have 30 and 40 year old 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th
dans (and, sadly, there's an organization that's actually giving
out 15th dans and higher --to young people), that have, honestly,
not done anything (or even attempting to "do" anything), put in a
portfolio of accomplishments, that would speak of any
extraordinarily developed skills.
In fact, like the group that is giving out Ph.D. (doctorate) rank
to people / applicants who join their "Hall of Fame" association,
far too many high ranking black belts are, quite simply, an
embarrassment of mediocrity.
Rather than point out the embarrassments of our current "system"
(or lack thereof) for high ranking black belt testing, I am working
to set an example of one way it could be done, by assembling my own
Project Portfolio for my upcoming 7th dan test.
I am currently in my 11th year following my 6th dan test and have
logged 40 years of continuous study and practice of the martial
arts. But beyond my physical skills (always lacking), I see my
writing, my projects, and all of my work off of the mat as part of
my "test." It is meant to serve as one example of how I think the
process could/should look. You can see the work in progress
(evolving) at www.TomCallos.com.
TKC Productions, 21038-A Victory Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA 91367, USA
2007/07/10
Rank is most important to a new student. It gives focus to the workout's while the studnet discovers "The Way".
At some point in a student's training, it should become apparent that rank has NOTHING to do with training. If gaining rank stays a focus point of training after blackbelt than the student has failed to find "The Way".
I have trained for the past 27 years and outside of having to take a rank test when OSensei or Grand Master Quynh asked me to,I never think about my rank, I train almost daily at what I love. I never train for my next rank.
Rank is a enternal measurement and the true understanding of the martial artist can only be measured internally.
I know of a person who has practiced for the past 60 plus years. His teacher passed away 40 years ago and he has no one to test him anymore. He has become a great master but due to his no longer having access to his instructor, he is still a Sandan. Since his instructors passed on he no longer test,his rank has never changed, yet he is a Master by anyone standards, a truely great Master at that. Yet his rank is ofically Sandan.
At some point in a student's training, it should become apparent that rank has NOTHING to do with training. If gaining rank stays a focus point of training after blackbelt than the student has failed to find "The Way".
I have trained for the past 27 years and outside of having to take a rank test when OSensei or Grand Master Quynh asked me to,I never think about my rank, I train almost daily at what I love. I never train for my next rank.
Rank is a enternal measurement and the true understanding of the martial artist can only be measured internally.
I know of a person who has practiced for the past 60 plus years. His teacher passed away 40 years ago and he has no one to test him anymore. He has become a great master but due to his no longer having access to his instructor, he is still a Sandan. Since his instructors passed on he no longer test,his rank has never changed, yet he is a Master by anyone standards, a truely great Master at that. Yet his rank is ofically Sandan.
2007/04/22
I would like to know if we need to concentrate on rank testing on knowledge and understanding? Would it be benificial to work on applications, sparring, self-defense and let everyone get good and comfortable or would it be better to work on rank. The first is good as a martial artist, and the second is good for structure. The first will make the second longer and and vise versa.
What do you think?
What do you think?
