Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Correia
I'm of the opinion of a balance of the approaches/perspectives.
A lot of the debate points depend on what one considers to be the meaning of a black belt (or any rank). Martial arts used to be just young guys, and, in some cases, very competition oriented; hardly any women, even. Now we have thirty, forty and fifty something year old women and men starting training. Realistically, their achievement will never match that of a 20 year old starting training.
I don't believe in black belt mills, and I believe in a slower track for youth. But I do think that a promotion system and schedule can accommodate today's broader array of students. Ranks just mean different things, then. perhaps, then they used to thirty or forty years ago.
That's all I've got time for now . . .
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The meaning of a black belt... the start of your REAL journey and learning -- that's been drilled into us for so long!
I absolutely know I will NEVER look like the 18 or 20 year olds in our dojo... I can only do so much with these old hips! But I just do my best and work hard to improve my fitness both in martial arts and in general (outside the dojo).
One interesting debate I've seen is: can ANYONE earn a black belt, if they take enough time and put work into it, or is there a point when physical limitations (age, weight, fitness, flexibility, injury) make that achievement impossible?
What if the student doesn't want to give up and wants to continue to progress, but they are no longer able to meet the standards of the higher rank even when making the maximum effort they (personally) are capable of? Some schools just give the belts out anyway, but does that detract from the "value" of belts / rank given to people who can meet the true physical standards?