| Colored belts are the grading system of choice | | | | Cardio Kicks, don't give them a black belt if they |
| for most martial arts and fighting systems. It is | | | | don't have the skills. What happened to gang style |
| great to have a goal to work towards, and when | | | | initiations when you would have to fight multiple |
| you have trained hard and you achieve that next | | | | opponents that ranked higher than you to move |
| colored belt you feel a sense of accomplishment. | | | | up? Wouldn't it b better to walk into the octagon |
| But, there are some out there that just feel that | | | | as a blue belt and then just destroy your 10th |
| the whole belt grading system in general has just | | | | dan opponent in 5 seconds? Some schools know |
| gone downhill, or is at least a far cry from the | | | | this and they have brown belts in the school that |
| days when Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee owned | | | | are UFC fighters, but that is another article! |
| the martial arts movie screen. Back when | | | | Martial Arts or a Subway Franchise? |
| someone was a black belt you knew they had | | | | Yes, you have to respect the entrepreneurial side |
| train extremely hard for a long time, and was | | | | of it and that this is capitalism in motion. Of |
| mentally tough and physically fit. | | | | course if you could open hundreds of schools and |
| Black Belt - $467.98 plus tax | | | | keep them full because you give away belts for |
| Now, there is simply no respect for someone that | | | | dollars and make millions, maybe you would would |
| says they are a black or brown belt anymore. | | | | do it also? But, back in the day when you told |
| Because, many schools are handing out those | | | | someone, "I am a black belt" they respected that |
| belts to students who have paid only in money | | | | because martial arts was built around respect, |
| and time, but lack the necessary skills they should | | | | integrity, and hard work? Maybe this is why the |
| posses as a high rank. These martial arts schools | | | | newest fighting systems like UFC and MMA don't |
| are considered a 'McDojo' since all you have to do | | | | offer belt grading anymore? So if you long for |
| is put in your order pay your money and drive to | | | | the olden days stay tough, stick to your principals |
| the next window for you black belt. There are | | | | and remember it's what you can do when it |
| some big martial art school franchises who have | | | | counts not the color of your belt that is |
| turned the whole belt grading system into even | | | | important! |
| more of a joke. Just by going to class and paying | | | | So, even though this article has been kind of |
| whatever they are charging to get to the next | | | | harsh on some martial arts schools, there are |
| rank you can get a new belt and keep moving up | | | | many out there which are sticking to their roots |
| the ladder. But this is regardless if you can really | | | | and actually producing martial artist rather than |
| spar, break boards, or do a concise form. | | | | black belts. If you are just handing out belts |
| Some Students ARE NOT Black Belts | | | | because someone is paying an entry fee please |
| When there is a 5'3", 300 pound person, that | | | | think about it and ask yourself, "does this student |
| looks like he has never been to the gym in his life | | | | truly posses the skills and abilities needed in order |
| gasping for air in the warmups and can't raise his | | | | to represent this belt"? If you can truly say "yes" |
| leg higher than his other knee to kick, it makes | | | | to every student within your school then |
| you wonder. Now I am not saying a person that | | | | congratulations you are sticking to the solid |
| size can't do martial arts but their skill is close to a | | | | foundation that the martial arts has been built |
| beginner and they carry around a black belt it | | | | upon, and if not then why not give them some |
| becomes absurd. If they want a class to get fit | | | | fries with that brand new black belt. |
| and learn martial arts have them go to TaeBo or | | | | |