Having been training in Chinese Kenpo with my teacher for just a little under a year now, he finally felt it was time to test a select few students for their orange belt. Of the 15 students in class, only five were selected to take the test.

We were tested on a long list of techniques and maneuvers which most of us recalled and performed with accuracy. Sure, most of us erred a few times, but we performed effectively enough to earn a passing grade.

As a reward, the new orange belts were invited to a cook out at the instructor’s house, this past Sunday, as a chance for us all to get to know one another in a more relaxed setting, no martial arts involved.

Most martial arts styles and schools have a ranking system which normally consists of colored belts or sashes. These ranks are normally earned by students after much hard work and dedication, with the ultimate goal in most organizations being some level of black belt.

Ranks are bestowed upon students after the student has proven himself capable of performing at a particular level. Sometimes belts can also be earned by seniority, since a student who has been learning from a master for years, is better versed in the master’s philosophy and style than one who just began.

With martial arts schools operating all over the world, some school’s ranking systems have been heavily monetized. Some schools operate with the sole intent of taking their students money and giving them very little knowledge of actual self defense. I’ve heard of these kinds of schools referred to as “McDojos”, where one can walk in throw down some cash and walk out with a black belt.

Some martial arts instructors go to great lengths to become “masters” by setting up their own school/style and having other “pseudo-masters” acknowledge the new school/style as legit by giving that “pseudo-master” an additional “master” title in the newly established martial arts style. A community of pseudo martial arts masters is created which can leech off of each other for credibility, while milking their students’ money.

These pseudo-masters are ultimately hurting their students, and setting them up for extreme failure should they face an actual self-defense situation. Martial arts instills a sense of confidence and humility into a person, but should the situation arise where you must defend yourself armed with pseudo-martial arts, you are surely guaranteed to hurt yourself by using improper techniques, or getting beaten by your opponent.

The Taekwondo school I attend charges a monthly fee, and an additional belt test fee every time you are ready for a belt promotion test. The first few belt ranks in this school are actually pretty easy to obtain, but after the first three, the master decides when/if you are ready to take the next belt exam. This adds a degree of reliability to the ranking system in my school, but nothing is full proof. I myself only request permission to test, from my master, when I am 100% sure I know everything that is required for the next belt. I hate being the guy who looks at/copies others in a weak attempt to cover up my inadequate knowledge and form, I want to be the one everyone attempts to copy off of! This coming Tuesday, I will hopefully be partaking in a test to earn my Purple belt in Taekwondo!

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