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I was studying Chinese Kenpo back in 1967. I have to tell you there was not a lot of martial arts back then. Judo had become known during the 50's, and karate was making it's impact during the 60's, but the kung fu craze of the 70's, and the ninjitsu phase of the 90's were still aways off.
I was studying what I just knew was the best art in the world, and I was studying under a person who I just knew was the deadliest man to ever walk the face of the universe. After all, everybody bowed down to him, and they all told me he was just unbeatable, and he even had trophies in the window! How could I ever doubt?
One day I was talking to a green belt who had just joined our school and who had known my instructor for years. "Look," he said suddenly, 'there's my name.' And sure enough, there was his name, right on and attesting to my instructor's certificate of rank!
Some time after that I was studying a form of Korean karate--sorry, there wasn't any tae kwon do back then, and the tae kwon do that there was used heian/pinans in their curriculum. This art was also taught by a fellow who was surrounded by all sorts of rumor. This time, however, I ignored rumor and certificate, and I looked at the teacher, and I ended up staying.
As time went on and I worked my up to black belt I received these beautiful, ornate certificates with original Korean writing and a real chop. But when I received my black belt the certificate was just a shoddy piece of paper with bad handwriting. My instructor said, "Oh, I left that organization. Had to make up some certificates on my own."
Curious, having the feeling that there was a bit more to be known, I asked one of the assistant instructors what the truth was. The truth, according to that assistant instructor, was that a couple of Korean fellows entered the school one day and told my instructor that the organization he belonged to was merging with another organization, so he would have to merge, too, and if he did so he would automatically be raised one rank, and so would all of his black belts.
My instructor didn't think too much of rank offered in such a manner, and he left the organization, and, you know what? It didn't bother me at all. Somewhere between the two martial arts that I had learned I had lost my appreciation for beautiful pieces of paper, and had gained an appreciation for martial arts that work.
As an instructor, these many decades later, I find that it bothers me that students are concerned with rank. As a fellow who could be accused of rapidly joining the ranks of old farts, I see the value of motivating by goal, but I also see the young becoming infatuated with social status to the neglect of workability. And when, as often happens, some young student presses my buttons on this matter I'll tell him, "Rank is to help me order the class, not for you to impress your friends.
I was studying what I just knew was the best art in the world, and I was studying under a person who I just knew was the deadliest man to ever walk the face of the universe. After all, everybody bowed down to him, and they all told me he was just unbeatable, and he even had trophies in the window! How could I ever doubt?
One day I was talking to a green belt who had just joined our school and who had known my instructor for years. "Look," he said suddenly, 'there's my name.' And sure enough, there was his name, right on and attesting to my instructor's certificate of rank!
Some time after that I was studying a form of Korean karate--sorry, there wasn't any tae kwon do back then, and the tae kwon do that there was used heian/pinans in their curriculum. This art was also taught by a fellow who was surrounded by all sorts of rumor. This time, however, I ignored rumor and certificate, and I looked at the teacher, and I ended up staying.
As time went on and I worked my up to black belt I received these beautiful, ornate certificates with original Korean writing and a real chop. But when I received my black belt the certificate was just a shoddy piece of paper with bad handwriting. My instructor said, "Oh, I left that organization. Had to make up some certificates on my own."
Curious, having the feeling that there was a bit more to be known, I asked one of the assistant instructors what the truth was. The truth, according to that assistant instructor, was that a couple of Korean fellows entered the school one day and told my instructor that the organization he belonged to was merging with another organization, so he would have to merge, too, and if he did so he would automatically be raised one rank, and so would all of his black belts.
My instructor didn't think too much of rank offered in such a manner, and he left the organization, and, you know what? It didn't bother me at all. Somewhere between the two martial arts that I had learned I had lost my appreciation for beautiful pieces of paper, and had gained an appreciation for martial arts that work.
As an instructor, these many decades later, I find that it bothers me that students are concerned with rank. As a fellow who could be accused of rapidly joining the ranks of old farts, I see the value of motivating by goal, but I also see the young becoming infatuated with social status to the neglect of workability. And when, as often happens, some young student presses my buttons on this matter I'll tell him, "Rank is to help me order the class, not for you to impress your friends.
About the Author:
Al Case has forty+ years Martial practice. Check out the Master Instructor Course at Monster Martial Arts. Visit the Uber Article Directory to get a totally unique version of this article for reprint.
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