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Blackbelt: What does it mean?
Posted On: 07/11/2008 11:53:54

I have had a lot to say recently about blackbelts, though more in terms of how they're obtained than the nature of them.  So I would like to put out on the table for all to see my definitive thoughts on the the nature of a black belt.

I have seen a lot of different ideas of what a blackbelt should or should not be.  I have seen a lot of comments made that the whole belt system should just go away.  After all, it is a comparatively recent invention in the grand scheme of things and does not contribute directly to one's training or skill.

Well I hate to break it to the 'get rid of the belt system' crowd, but while I respect and to an extent agree with that perspective, belts aren't going anywhere.  In the context of taekwondo, which is my primary art, the belt system was established by the time taekwondo was codified into taekwondo. 

So since belts are here to stay, I find myself looking at the next best thing.  Belts should have meaning.  I don't mean philosophical or a 'look at me, I'm special' meaning, but an actual, honest, meaning.  In the trades, we go from apprentice to journeyman to master craftsman.  The medeival guild apprentice system from which those terms come starts with apprentice.  The apprentice is taught basic skills of the trade.  Once the apprentice has leaned enough and has produced a work of suitable quality, he was given the rank of journeyman and documentation of this rank by his master or by the guild of which he was a member.  A journeyman then could travel about (hence the name, journeyman)and learn new techniques and methods.  After a period of time and after producing a qualifying example of his craft, his master piece, he could be received as a master craftsman by the guild and was given documentation proving his rank.

That is how I see the belt system.  The colored belts are a period of apprenticehship.  The first dan test is the equivalent of a qualifying work of the craft, in this case, the martial art.  The dan practitioner then learns more advanced techniques, perfects the basics, and take on a greater level of responsibility in the dojo or dojang.  Then after a period of time, the dan rank practitioner tests for his master level.  His or her test for fourth, fifth, or whatever dan the organization designates as master level is the martial artist's master piece. 

The idea of the qualifying work transcends age, race, religion, or ethnicity.  In the case of a blackbelt, the first dan blackbelt represents an effective fighter proficient in all the basics.  The test should prove the testee's effectiveness and proficiency.  Thus it should never be altered to account for age (very young or very old), gender, ethnicity, religion, or any other variable that we in the modern age like to compensate for.  You must fight this many people, break this many boards, show this level of proficiency in form and technique and show this depth of understanding of the art's tenets and philosophy.  The test should always be identical at its core, perhaps with some element added to specifically challenge different testees for those who feel that some personalization of the test is necesary, though personally I feel that the test should always be identical within a given art or school, with the personalization seen in the way that the individual testees approach the test.

My idea of what a blackbelt is is based entirely on proficiency, skill, and depth of understanding.  When going for a bachelors degree, the tests are not modified for the rare high school or elementary school age student who shows aptitude to be in college early; the whole point of them being there is that they have the ability to run with the college age students.  If the tests are dumbed down, then the achievement is meaningless.

Yet I see the opposite approach with black belts now.  Test requirements are lowered for grade schoolers and the schools that give them their blackbelt feel perfectly justified in this, often bristling at the notion of making the kid wear a poom belt or some equivalent.  Well, if the kid didn't take the same test, he or she shouldn't get the same belt.  Don't do 'A' level work, you shouldn't get an 'A'.  And just to clarify, I don't equate a blackbelt with an 'A', but you should get the drift of what I'm saying.

Ultimately, not everyone at their present level can pass a difficult blackbelt test.  Some need more maturity.  Some don't have the stamina at present.  Some need to work on their technique.  Some need to spar more.  But a blackbelt should be representative of a uniform standard of competence.  The standard should be applied uniformly to each testee, with no consideration for their background, age, gender, or whatever. 

By the same token, the standard should not be artificially ramped up to keep anyone but a Dolph Lundgren circa 1990 level athlete from passing.  It should not be artificially hard.  I read in Blackbelt magazine a month or so ago about an 'ultimate blacbelt test' which took a year to complete.  Interesting idea, and I'm not knocking it.  But I see it as too much to simply prove a proficient and skilled practitioner.  Maybe something like that for an eighth dan test, but not for a first dan. 

The first dan test should prove one's mettle as a fighter in the style for which they're testing.  No more, but no less.  Yes, I know that that 'do' suffix denotes way, and that there's more to a martial art than just fighting.  But the primary reason for learning a martial art is fighting or self defense.  But for self defense, you don't need a martial art.  Self defense comprises a skill set for a specific set of situations and does not automatically include fighting.  Taking a good SD course and maintaining skill in the techniques is not fighting.  Taekwondo is a fighting style. 

So what about those cute little eight year olds?  If they can pass the same identical test that the older students can, then give them the belt.  But if you need to adjust the difficulty of the essay, the quantity of boards broken, or any other aspect of the test, then they haven't earned the same thing that the older student has earned.  Which is why I am perfectly fine with poom belts or junior blackbelts that have a white stripe or are half black/half white.  This shows that the student is well trained and skilled but lacks the maturity to assume the mantle of blackbelt.  But don't put poom belts or junior blackbelts on kids with sloppy technique and lousy attitudes just to placate their whiney parents and don't set up your school to depend on BB testing fees.  Doing that just makes the martial art look bad.

The bottom line for me is this:  to be a blackbelt, one should be a proficient taekwondo fighter.  That is my perspective.   I've seen proficient fighters of both genders and in a wide range of age groups and across ethnic backgrounds.  Keep the standard the same.  Then it is truly equal.  No favorites are played.  And money is now out of the equasion.

In closing, I don't fault, look down upon, or otherwise disregard those who feel differently.  I didn't write this to put those who feel differently in their place.  I have heard a lot of differing, thoughtful views which I feel are legitamate views that I simply happen to disagree with.  Sincere and dedicated martial artists, whatever their views on the subject, are not a part of the problem, but part of the solution and I don't feel that the logistics of belt qualifications should be a divisive matter between good and decent teachers and practitioners.


Daniel

Tags: Blackbelt First Dan Dan Rank



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Viewing 1 - 8 out of 8 Comments

From: Old_Guy
07/14/2008 06:19:51

Not argumentative at all, in fact I believe that we want the same things a higher caliber black belt across the board that is earned and not bought. 

go to youtube and search for suchadad

or cut and paste these


http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pB1CHf2ViF8

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lPGpWpxy1zI&feature=related

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fwvMFwzQ63Y&feature=related

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=AabePt_fRaQ&feature=related

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=JaTuU3x_Lcw&feature=related

 

Larry 

 

From: CelticTiger
07/13/2008 21:50:11

My company blocks You tube too, so no apologies necessary.:)  Once you post it, I'll view it.

Sad to read what you've written, but I do appreciate the perspective and the info.  I do understand that the business end of things has definitely brought down the quality overall here in the states.  Too bad it has done the same in Korea as well. 


 


My perspective on what a blackbelt should represent was formed back in the seventies and is unlikely to change; at that time, blackbelts really were all that.  Most people who have no familiarity with martial arts still hold the blackbelt with a measure of healthy respect.  It is this perception that makes people want to get into martial arts and earn a blackbelt.  They don't want to be paper blackbelts.  They want to be the real deal.  Those eight year olds we mentioned?  They really believe that they're the real deal.  That is what they pay for, what their parents are paying for.  I don't want to be the one to fail in delivering the goods.  My students deserve better.  My masters deserve better as well; their reputation is reflected upon by how I conduct myself as an instructor.

If the Kukkiwon chooses to devalue what it means to be a first dan, well, that is sad, but it is their choice.  But I don't have to agree with it.  Eventually, people figure out that they're not getting their money's worth.  With the current popularity of MMA, effectiveness is once again a priority.  With the economy being what it is, people are less likely to pay into something with no substance.  People want good schools.  They want to know that the training they paid for wasn't just a big money pit.  The gravy train only lasts but so long and eventually, it is either derailed by a less expensive to the public gravy train or implodes under its own obsolescence.

By the way, I hope that I don't come across as argumentative; that isn't my intention.  Just sharing my perspective on the subject with someone who seems to share a genuine love of the art.

Daniel

From: Old_Guy
07/13/2008 15:42:30
The link will have to wait until I get home, works firewall has youtube blocked.  My apologies.


From: Old_Guy
07/13/2008 15:31:42
I haven't been back to the US in forever and a day so I can only comment on the classes that I have seen here in Korea.  I'll also include a link to a testing at Kukkiwon that should clear up a lot of why the prestige of earning a BB has been diminished.  The minute that TKD became a business and the roof over your head and the food on your table became proportional to the number of students in your class standards lowered.  We were so excited to be able to come to Korea and study TKD.  We thought that this being the motherland it was going to be the experience of a life time.  Visions of the Korean team in Best of the Best sprung to mind.  Forget those ideas...it is a business and it is on every street corner. 

First - TKD isn't taken that seriously, here it is an after school daycare with belts and uniforms including a pick up and drop off service.  Pick them up at their school and drop them off at your home.

Second - It is a kids game...no one does TKD past college unless they are teaching it.  It is rare that you see anyone doing TKD for more than 4 yrs...at that point they are playing school sports.

Third - With the amount of competition between schools the kids must be promoted or they will just pick them up and take them to a school that will promote them.

Fourth - (probably the most important) The test at Kukkiwon takes 3.5 minutes...thats right I timed it.  to rcv your 2nd degree throw 5 ax kicks with each leg, 5 round houses, 5 snap kicks and waist level, do 2 forms (their choice but the teacher usually knows what they are going to be) and your promotion form.  After this they slide a pre-tied hogu over you and give you a helmet and you spar for 30 seconds.  Not to win but to demonstrate that you can get out of the way and the attack.  Armed with this knowledge your instructor teaches you the test to be sure that you pass.


This is the way it is in Seoul and Daegu so I can assume this is pretty much the way it is all over. 

Here are a few more interesting things about TKD in Korea. 

I would be willing to wager that 90% of all students over the age of 25 are non-koreans that happen to living and working here.  With the influx of foreign busnesses the Koreans were quick to find english speaking instructors to cater to them. 

The only tournaments are the competitions between schools at highschool and college level, they can get intense.

All members of the armed forces are awarded BBs based on the hand to hand that they rcv...the longer that you stay in the higher your belt rank.  I ran in to a ROK soldier the other day who was a 3rd Dan and had never taken a class and knew no forms.

Worldwide only 1 in 10 persons who start TKD ever stay long enough to rcv a BB and only 1 in 10 of those will stay long enough to a 2nd degree.  According to the TKD times.

The foam dipped gloves that we used to wear are quick being replaced with a white dinner glove with a little padding on the fingers.  Punches are being discouraged in Korea's TKD and I expect them to eventually be taken out of sparring all together.  Kukkiwon will give you a warning if you punch during the testing. 

Bottom line it isn't the quality of the BB that is going to be the ruin of TKD it is the fact that we were sold an art that we fell in love with and then someone turned it into a business.  I can not tell you how much it meant to study with instructors who didn't have to short cut the system (200 students and a 6 month waiting list to get into class) because they were the only TKD class in Okinawa.  Not to mention that they cared about their students and the training that they rcvd.  Honestly, we had BBs come in from having learned their belts in Korea that couldn't make it through the warm up.  You want a better BB start at the top make Kukkiwon set the bar higher and then find instructors with the integrity to make their students meet it. 

From: CelticTiger
07/13/2008 08:42:50
I'll try to address your comment as best as I can.  You raise a lot of valid points, so I'll try to do you justice.

The stroke was intended to be broad.  Different masters emphasize different things and each school doesn't have the same test as the next.  As you pointed out, taekwondo is multifaceted.

But within the same school, the test should be the same for each student.  For example, a sixteen year old shouldn't be expected to train hard in preparation for the test, be required to do a five page essay and break one inch boards with ten different techniques while another student shows up not having trained hard, have a one paragraph essay requirement and only be required to break one half inch thick board with one technique just because that student is only eight.  It is insulting to the sixteen year old who worked hard to meet the requirements and took the class seriously to have the exact same accolade given to someone who didn't simply because that someone was only eight and incapable of training, writing, breaking and taking the class serioudly like the sixteen year old.  And while some eight year olds are exceptional, the vast majority cannot focus, train, or take the class seriously like the sixteen year old can.

I don't feel that taekwondo is only about fighting, and certainly, fighting isn't all that I'm interested in.  I can fight quite well; you don't need a comprehensive martial arts class to be able to fight in a real situation or to be able to reasonably defend yourself.  Personally, I think that the whole 'reality based fighting system' moniker is just a sales gimick 9 times out of 10 anyway.  I don't feel that taekwondo should be changed in any way to meet my personal vision; taekwondo as a martial art is fine as it is.  But it isn't taekwondo that I'm talking about, but the black belt and what it represents within taekwondo. 

I reiterate that the student to whom a blackbelt is awarded should be a proficient fighter.  By proficient, I mean capable of executing the forms and techniques correctly.  When partnering up the student for sparring, one would assume that weight and size would be taken into account on a general level, just as in boxing; there are highly talented ladies who weigh 130 pounds and who box.  But they would never be put into the ring against a guy who weighs 240 pounds.  Weight classes have no bearing on proficiency.  Likewise, there are a lot of guys who played football in high school and engage in pickup games with friends their own age.  These guys are all proficient; they can throw the ball effectively, run, tackle, and have a firm understanding of the rules and nuances of the game; they are proficient.

When it comes to the earning of blackbelts, I see far too many holders who are not proficient.  Their roundhouse kicks look like front kicks thrown at a slight incline, their punches are weak, they can't demonstrate offense and defense and their forms are sloppy if they even know them at all.  Funny thing, but all those other qualities associated with taekwondo, such as discipline, maturity, respect, and such, all seem to be either equally lacking, or not particularly well cultivated.  Generally, if the student isn't already demonstrating these subjective aspects of taekwondo, most masters won't even allow them to test, which is why I didn't address them to the same degree.  I've seen a lot of blackbelts over the years who are quite strong in the non-fighting aspects of taekwondo but who can't do a decent front stance and who couldn't defend themselves on even a rudimentary level. 

I don't believe that a test should be a straight pass or fail.  A fifty year old who took up taekwondo at forty seven may not be able to kick as high or as perfectly as a twenty year old who started when she was ten, but they can still pass the test; they may not excell as much in athletic areas but may write a much more insightful essay.  But both students can meet the minimums in the athletic/physical areas of the test, such as poomsae, breaking, and technique.  The twenty year old may be able to kick 180 degree side kicks, while the fifty year old can only kick about their own chest level, but the side kick is correctly done.  The twenty year old may be able to break 30 boards and the fifty year old only ten required ten (arbitrary number),  but both are able to meet the minimum. but the test should be the same test for each person at the same school.

As you said, there is something for everyone in taekwondo, but not everyone is at a blackbelt level.  Nor do they need to be.  Why is it that everyone who starts taekwondo somehow isn't getting out if it what they need if they can't pass a demanding blackbelt test?  I took automotive classes in college and even worked for a time in the automotive field, but I'm not ASE certified.  Does it mean that those classes are somehow of less value because I don't have that certification?  Absolutely not.  I took them to be able to work on my own car, not to be a career mechanic.

There was a time when blackbelt tests were, on average, much more challenging than they are now.  Somewhere along the line, at least in the states, the idea of having the belt became more important than any of the aspects of taekwondo that the belt is supposed to represent.  Somewhere along the line, at least here in the states, instructors stopped effectively bringing their students up to that level.  Martial arts classes on average are probably more expensive now than they ever were in the states, and is frequently accompanied by a contract of a year or two years.  But the quality of student is, on industry average, lower than it once was.  That is a crime.  Instructors who take the student's money and do not bring them up to blackbelt level, but have them pay the testing fee and give them the belt anyway have damaged the reputation of their school and of the art they teach.

My thanks for the comment and for engaging me in discussion.

Daniel


From: Old_Guy
07/12/2008 17:58:30
Thats a pretty broad stroke with your qualifications, proficient fighter against whom and what setting?  You say that you don't want to change the essay but you have to or define your bench mark.  No one gets a black belt until they can stand toe to toe with my 250lb, 6ft 4 inch bruiser, who has been studying since birth, and is 24 yrs old.  The fight will take place when
ever and where ever he chooses. Defend yourselves at all times.

If fighting is all that you’re interested in I'm surprised that you chose TKD as an art to study.  With so many other forms of (God I hate this term) "Reality Based Fighting Systems" to choose from why make the move to that art as opposed to trying to twist, mold, and bend TKD away from what it is and into your vision.  

The reason that TKD is the most popular MA in the world is that it offers something for everyone.  Those who choose to define their progress in TKD by how much better they are able to defend themselves have the ability to do that but that really narrows the focus of the art and by doing so makes you no better of a black belt that the person who only wants to do forms or the person who is only interested in having the fastest roundhouse to clean up in the sports arena.

The first school I went to covered all the bases.  Eric, Maria, and Sharon Suan made sure that everyone could spar, defend themselves, and that their forms and techniques were where they were supposed to be.  Excellent training and I was proud to leave having earned my BB through their school.  

My current class, under GM Kim teach little or no self defense and concentrates on flexibility, conditioning, and forms.  When his class tests at Kukkiwon it shows but they always do as well or better than their Korean counterparts.  BTW to get what I think is missing from GM Kim's class my son and I also train Muay Thai twice a week.  Because we think the combative portion or our training should not be ignored.

I had a point in here somewhere.  Oh, here it is...fighting and fighting alone IMHO shouldn’t be the sole criteria for your BB in TKD because there is much more to the art.  Your BB should be able to defend himself, spar, have solid technique, have great physical conditioning, be able to teach, be open to learning, know something of the roots of TKD, and contribute to the
community.  Show courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self Control, and Indomitable Spirit inside and outside the dojang.  These are the qualifications that took for me to earn my BB and when I am in the position to do, they will be requirements to earn a BB under me.

BTW...Having an 8 yr old defend himself against another 8yr old is not changing the essay or watering down the test it is called leveling the playing field.  I too am amzed at what paaes as a BB in some cases.  I console myself with the fact that even if the instructor didn't have what it took to say, "I'm sorry at this time you are just not ready" the student should have done an integrity check.  Bottom line is that you earn it you wear it, I only hope that if the time comes you can back it up they'll have the traiing required whatever the venue or that a bruised ego is all that they get.


From: CelticTiger
07/11/2008 20:22:53
I don't really have an opinion of time requirements.  We have just the situation that you describe at our school.  A gentleman who holds a blackbelt in Shotokan came in and went up very quickly, mainly because he wasn't starting from scratch.  On the other hand, I've seen people who've claimed to have taken four years and who weren't as good.  A lot depends on how much one trains.  Someone who trains several times a week may be able to make blackbelt more quickly than someone who only goes to class twice a week, misses class here and there, and never practices outside of class.  So I guess my thing is that I'm less concerned with the time than I am with whether or not they can legitimately pass the test.

I guess to sum it up, when the master says, 'you're ready', that is the time to test.  If its been a year, two years or five years isn't really as important.


From: Jeff23
07/11/2008 18:51:17
Again, very good, well thoughtout post. I know it isn't useful to just say I agree, but I agree. How do you feel about time requirements? What if someone from Karate (black belt perhaps) walks into a dojang and is very skilled and it only takes them a month after receiving their whitebelt to modify their techniques enough to pass the TKD blackbelt test? Based on the college analogy, I think I know your answer, but I thought it would be good for you to elaborate on the issue.

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