Thread: Should A Dan Level Be Highly Based on Fighting Ability?

Originally Posted by sojobow

should a Dan level be highly based on fighting ability?

Here's the old thread question: quote-----Should a Dan level be highly based on fighting ability? I myself have mixed feelings on this. Part of me wants to scream out yes and part of me wants to say no. I've trained with a few people that are really tough and natural fighters but lacked a lot of the proper form/technique. Thing I respect about these kind of people is that I can spar hard with them and not have to worry about complaints.........powerof.....endquote

Couple of posted answers:

quote........It is a problem, mostly with perception of what a bb is by the general public. Each system must set its own standards and ignore the public in today's world. If we were still a warring people, I would say that only fighters can be bb's in any system, but I think that now MA are for more then fighting in many systems - preserving knowledge, history, health, etc. - and a bb that lives up to those ideas is a bb in that system........
I don't like that idea, but it is the reality of today. endquote

and;

quote.....The problem is how do you TEST it???....My feeling is if I REALLY have to fight then I'm going to do as much damage as I possibly can....do you REALLY want to be My sparing partner???....this ISN'T the MMA ring we're talking about now....this is Head take downs and Combat Throws....this isn't jabs...but every time I throw out My hand I'm trying to gouge your eye....shrugs...even in circle drills people got pretty beat up ....and they weren't testing for a belt....I watched a guy shatter someone's cup during a purple belt test.....the intensity goes that high....endquote

Evidently, the last poster had to fight as part of his bb test. Your thoughts - especially those of you at Dan levels.

phui...

It's a phase or grade that simply means you're no longer a "beginner" (Kyu)

It MAY mean you're QUALIFIED to teach (beginners)...

That is all. It has NOTHING to do with fighting ability.

Just ask a 12 year old PeeWee TKD kid...

Originally Posted by Tant01

phui...

It's a phase or grade that simply means you're no longer a "beginner" (Kyu)

It MAY mean you're QUALIFIED to teach (beginners)...

That is all. It has NOTHING to do with fighting ability.

Just ask a 12 year old PeeWee TKD kid...

I agree with this statement. The biggest disparity between competition skills is always at blackbelt levels.

It means you are now a teacher.

In Kyokushin one part of the test for shodan requires the testee to fight 20 one-minute rounds, each round against a fresh opponent.

Originally Posted by sojobow

Or, you're now a Teacher who has progressed through the Ranks and is able to display system abilities. Then again, maybe you should define "Teacher" as in "teaches what"?

maybe its a simple as you say.

Sensei.

A teacher who teaches in his ranked system. I've seen shodoan's handed to the Ikkyu and I've seen Shodan test that last all day. The most profound thing I've seen is Black Belts getting promoted for winning Kumite at tournaments. I don't think anyone should get a Black Belt without some type of test.

I believe that the original idea behind a Black belt was, that it meant you had the skill, and ability to kill a grown man with your strikes.

Not a strike mind you, just a reasonable amount.


I don't see many 12 year olds doing this to grown men.

Originally Posted by kingoftheforest

I believe that the original idea behind a Black belt was, that it meant you had the skill, and ability to kill a grown man with your strikes.

Actually, the need for a black belt seems to have come from Judo. Kano made an art that was larger than any other that had come before it. People came from all over to learn in large training sessions. That had never been seen prior to the late 19th century.

The problem was in these large groups- who should be asked if there were problems. Kano gave some people black belts to serve as signs that they were people to ask questions of. They walked around the training and were visible to those that needed help. That is the start of the black belt. People whom you should look to for advice.

Go ahead and look to see if you can find a reference to what you think. You might also find a story about the belt changing color as it got dirtier. Again, that is a common myth that has built up over the years.

I commonly wear black belts around with my slacks because if I wore pink ones people may get the wrong impression, and although I am highly colorblind, I am told that brown and black don't match in an outfit.

whitebelt and black slacks....please beotch.
kiss kiss.

Gene Labell has been known to wear a pink ghi.

Originally Posted by Hardball

Gene Labell has been known to wear a pink ghi.

If he wants to wear pink, I am not going to say anything.

I just saw him on an episode of Reno 9-11. A little more run down than when I last saw him in an article, but maybe that was just the make up for his role. He still was able to do things a guy half his age would not be able to.

He must be pushing 80?