An idea about the belt system

[PassiveGuy]

A TKD student can train in a class for 6 months and probably become a yellow or purple belt. They still have a fairly novice ability level and probably can't fight very well. Why? Because the training they get is geared towards that belt level. But in Muay Thai, boxing, kickboxing... You can train for 6 months (also you can easily train on your own, along w/ classes) and become a fairly good boxer, and a good fighter. Kickboxing and boxing are pretty simple, and they use alot of instinct and real life fighting(well, in a ring). You can train at home in TKD but alot of people dodn't know how, or concentrait(sp???) to much on forms. So, if you worry about fighting, then youll be a good fighter. If you worry about belts, youll get yer ass handed to you.

[Ryu (non-working password]

I agree to a certain extent. But I also think that there are MA out there that have a good belt/skill ratio. I really can't stand the 11 year old black belt (even though I was up there when I was a small kid too) But when you get into arts like judo and especially BJJ, the belt ranking seems to be secondary to your actual skill level. For instance, a white belt in BJJ can be really badly skilled or incredibly dangerous! People in that system tend to focus more on the actual skills it takes to knock someone down, choke them, escape from a pin, or armlock...
So as they progress in those skills, the belts are almost "there" with the ride. You cross a different threshhold. But it all depends on your training. I went up to black belt in karate when I was young, but could barely fight with it because I was too involved in testing, forms, etc like you said. I am a white belt in BJJ, but have been doing it for more than 2 years, and can (and have) beaten black belts in other systems. So I think in BJJ the belt system tends to be good. You better believe a brown can beat a white, etc etc !
There's not any "free rides" in the art. At least none that I've seen. Anyone have any stories on the contrary?

Ryu

[YeLLa-TiGeR]

A belt doesnt really mean much from the black belt, your skill is measured in the number of tournament wins you have uinder your black. From 1st dan to 4th dan it means crap. 5th dan implies that you no longer fight and that you are a master. Most if not all TKD fighters in the Olympics were 1-4th dan ranked. The majority being the 2-3 dans.