Black Belt Wiki Entry

On the wiki I found some information on black belt. It looked interesting so copied some quotes for commenting. Again, this is my view, my opinion, my personal thoughts, etc.

In Japan, however, rank often comes more or less automatically with time training and the black belt has little to do with the "master" level which westerners often think of when they hear the term "black belt". - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_belt_%28martial_arts%29

I am not sure this is true today. I say this because many of our systems here in America use the guidelines from Japanese organizations to determine how they will test and promote black belts. It is my belief now that Japan has fully and completely jumped on the wagon of commercialism - money truck, a means of income from around the world.

I can say that I am aware, personally, of one such individual on Okinawa who become wealthy because of the terms and conditions imposed through the association under the impressions that rank only has meaning if it comes from this association, this master, and that honbu-dojo.

In contrast to the "black belt as master" stereotype, a black belt commonly indicates the wearer is competent in a style's basic technique and principles.

Expanding on this a bit I would have said competency in the fundamental principles of the martial system. I am not saying they have mastered them yet I am saying they know of them and are now starting to apply them in unison to make them work real-time.

the student has a good understanding of concepts and ability to use them but has not yet perfected their skills.

My comment before this quote covers this.

a 'black belt' is commonly viewed as conferring some status, achieving one has been used as a marketing 'gimmick', for example a guarantee of being awarded one within a specific period or if a specific amount is paid.[3] Some schools place profit ahead of ability when using these tactics and are sometimes referred to as McDojos.

I have witnessed this first hand by the discussions of other karate-ka who literally provide me a list of items they must know to earn a black belt. It looks a lot like the criteria College's use to describe classes of instruction and like school syllabus/lesson plans with specifics that are graded so they earn a certificate. Read this book, take a knowledge test, get a grade. Write a paper on a subject, have it graded, receive an "A", and add it to the other grade. If you get four "A's," two "B's," and one "C" you pass and get a black belt.

I hear and read all the time how they have to meet specific goals, i.e. have understanding of five punches, three kicks, and four sparring/competition combinations with at least a "B-" on a kobudo weapon like the staff/bo.

a black belt student should not be called sensei until they are sandan (third degree black belt), as this denotes a greater degree of experience and a sensei must have this and grasp of what is involved in teaching a martial art.

Absolutely, it is far to prevalent that sho-dan go right out and start a dojo with the intent to make money when it might be apparent if they understood what a black belt is, my view of course, and understand it takes years to learn how to teach/instruct in general and more years to teach/instruct a physical/mental course like a combative marital system.

We just have gone wild and lost our course/bearing all in the name of cool things, instant gratification and egoistic self-promotion and prideful beliefs.