Fusion Mixed Martial Arts

Belt Ranking and It’s Personal Significance

As a martial arts instructor I am constantly being ask about my black belt ranking and if I can beat so and so. It sometimes irritated me to no ends, until today.

Today, I stumble on the best analogy that I can use to express the significant of my black belt and the ranking system that I used at my school.

I consider a belt to be simply symbolic, like a wedding ring. The ring doesn’t make you married…it simply reflects a commitment that you have made in reality. Non-married people can put on a ring and it doesn’t make them married. Married people can take their ring off, lose it or whatever…they are still married.

Your belt color doesn’t really mean anything except to the extent that it truthfully reflects the personal effort and commitment you have made to the art. If you aren’t really skilled, it won’t matter what belt you are wearing. If you truly are skilled, it also won’t matter what belt you are wearing…the skill is there.

The only importance to the belt then is when it accurately reflects the inner commitment to the art and acts as a symbol of that commitment. Additionally, to the extent that it shows that another person gives you honor and recognition, it is also symbolic.

http://www.sherdog.net/forums/f12/bjj-green-belt-1022761/index7.html#post32418671

Black belts in the Asian mindset are just signs that you’ve learned the basics of the system and are ready to learn more advanced techniques. Westerners tend to believe black belts are signs of “mastery”. Part of this is because of the “exoticness” of Asian culture and so everything is placed at a higher level than it should be.

http://www.sherdog.net/forums/f12/bjj-green-belt-1022761/index12.html#post32477168

More Links

• What is a Black Belt/ (teachstreet.com)
• Stacey Nemour: Martial Arts: Finding the Perfect Style for You (huffingtonpost.com)