Did you pay for your Black Belt?

Question

okay, I guess Im oldschool on this. But how many of the black belts out there got to where there at just because they paid there school dues on time? I know there are many who earned there level and much honor on them. I only bring this up because i went to visit a school and the black belt teaching the class was about 350lbs and not at all in shape? Who would send there kids to this kind of school? it just seems sad that you can advance by payment and not practice..

Answer 1

I think there are 2 sides on this, there is actually ppl that get their black belts by paying, you can tell this by checking that this particular guy is in 4th dan or more with very few years f practice... you can see this on many self named sensei that love to use japanese names renshi shihan or so... and "say" they master more than 3 different styles ... huh???

Another fact is that there is ppl that genetically are big, my sensei's sensei is 80y.o., probably 100k and small, but if you challenge him, will surelly break your neck.   not all techniques are for everybody and at the end you can say who is who in the arena... have in mind that not all masters are warriors and not all warriors are masters.

Answer 2

I paid in blood, sweat, and effort. The McDojos shut down the schools that I went to because many found out that they could join a black belt club and be guaranteed a falsified black belt. Well I have seen their stuff it did not look too good, my system was Shu Ko Kai they were Tae Kwon Do.....they put the DO in McDOjo

Answer 3

Well, I've never paid for anyhting in Martial Arts, aside from weapons and books. I've earned my skill status (even though I doubted myself everytime, not feeling ready for it), but hey it's all up to Shihan right? I didn't learn at a fancy school mind you and Shihan had another job until he retired a few years back. So we trained with improv tools and places, and some of us have been injured. I broke several bones, tore soft tissue and the like.

I've gone to seminar after seminar, and have seen some rather large people.  I've seen the big guys that are out of shape completely and turn pale as they perform a kata. I've also seen a big guy put his foot at somebody's head in the blink of an eye, and been completely awestruck.

That said there are McDojo everywhere and cheaters flock to and from them. It's sad, but a fact of life none-the-less, it will never change as there will always be a person here who wants to make the quick and easy dollar. You just have to know who to pick, and let the false person fail when they do and fall where they fall. It's only hurting yourself when you worry about such things that won't be changed.

Answer 4

I paid my test fees, yes, but I did not pay for my belt.  The fees I've paid have only garuanteed a place for me at the testing board.

Answer 5

Glad to hear that there are still old-school martial artists out there.  No way I paid form my black belt, not in money anyway. I began my training in South Carolina in June of 1967.  In those days there were few choices of places to train. Most of the time I could barely afford the classes. Many times I could not afford them. For what ever reason my instructors felt that I should continue to train even when I could not pay. We trained hard and had no sparring equipment. Bare feet and bare knuckles. I remember when the foam sparring gear came out. I hated it then and still refuse to use it.

In May of 1975 I received my first of many black belts in several styles. What ranks and styles are not important. I'd rather be known for what I can do and explain rather than what belts I have. Seems to me that many martial artists tend to get out of shape and out of practice.  Yet they are quick to tell you what belt they hold. To me the only thing that means anything is what I can do now, not what I once was.

Always a student........

Answer 6

Black Belts should be paid for, they should be earned. It has nothing to do with being 300 lbs. That should disqualify you as a black belt. Yes, we all have seen person that wore a black belt that we don't feel should. As a black belt you should be able to demonstrate what you have learned. You should be able to articulate what you have learned. You have the ability and the maturity to teach other what you have learned. Many of us have gone through some ridiculous test to obtain our rank.

Doing a hundred round house kicks on he left and on the right. Then an hundred side kicks. Does that really make you a black belt. Be honest you rarely see a good hundred kicks. I'd rather see a good 10 kick than an hundred poor kicks. Most of us have participated in someone trying to get a black belt after they ran their mile or 5 miles. They do all of their kick, strike, etc. Then they do all of their katas. Then they have to spar with other students from the class (some bare knuckle), Then after all that they have to spar against all of the well rested black belts.

Does that make them better prepared to defend themselves and their family? Does it make it easier for the establish black belts to take advantage of those students? Many things that were done in the past should be left in the past. I really don't agree with paying some outrageous fees to test and even more fees to retest. You can't come to our class and after 2 or 3 year have mastered everything that we have to teach you. You may have learned a lot, but not have mastered everything.

Answer 7

I am now a Sandan in Judo.

Over my 20 plus years of Judo, I paid in blood, with a broken nose, ribs, fingers, toes, tatami burns and banged up ears.

I paid to live in Japan for two years to train with a Master and learned about discipline and humility.

I paid in sweat and tears practicing against 400lbs sumo wrestlers who would sometimes land on me during a throw.

All of it was worth it.

The physical part is over (per se) and now I am just learning the inner path of martial arts and what it truly means to be a warrior.

Respectfully,

Judobigdog

Answer 8

That's sad to hear.  I hate the posers, incompetents, wannabes and fat masters that have infected the martial arts.  I'm currently working on rules in my own school that will keep them out forever.  I can only hope that my students stick to them in years to come.

Answer 9

That sucks. There are always people doing this for the wrong reason. Karma will get him back.

Answer 10

no way i make my master pay

Answer 11

ok you have to think about how old this guy was. if he got his black belt and then put weight on. if you are able to do the techniques and the things asked of you then you should get the black belt. there is a guy who runs a ninjistu class before the class i go to who is a bit chubby but from watching him train u can tell he is a very good martial artist.

about me im 21 and a uni student so i drink alot and eat 3am food a fair bit and i have done kung fu for a long time. i am a black belt and i am chubby. having said that i am still one of the most flexible and in top 2 fastest there (hard to tell who is the fastest out of me and a friend) and i know i am the strongest with my legs, and i have the always been able to do what is asked of me and do it well.

so what i would say to you is go back to the class and try not to judge the guy by his cover, ad try to see he what he says is true and when he does something see if he produces unreal power from his techniques.

another thing i have just remembered is a guy in china who teaches dim mak is a litle fat guy  and on mind body and kick *** moves he hits chris crudelli with 1 finger crudelli drops like a bag of poo.

but on the other hand i could say in a black belt in traditional gio hung kung fu (just made it up) who could disprove im not a black belt as i made the style up

Answer 12

While I did not "buy" my black belt, I certainly paid for my training and happily paid the fee that accompanied my black belt test and international rank certification.  I continue to pay for training and rank testing to be sure that my skills are kept sharp and are being upgraded.

Now a full time instructor and school owner, I work very hard at providing my students with the best quality instruction possible.  As a professional, I have no qualms over charging a fee for my services.  No one in my schools can receive black belt rank simply by paying for it.  Stringent requirements are in place for all.  However, just as I expect to pay for my own martial arts training as well as training I receive in other activities I pursue, I expect to be compensated for the instruction I have devoted myself to giving.  

Being a great martial artist/warrior and being a well paid professional do not have to be mutually exclusive.

Answer 13

My fees were 100/year for classes $10 per belt test (twice per year), including $10 for black belt test.  Optional was $50 for an International Dan Certificate.  

Other cost:  100 man sparring.  

You earn a black belt through: Blood, Sweat, and Tears.

You buy a black belt with $$$$

Answer 14

My  probationary black belt test took about 20 hours. That was after 3.5 years working up the ranks from white belt. The test was gruling. The first saturday was doing all of the clasroom drills or one steps. We did 20 reps on a side. Than we did every kick in Taekwando twenty on a side. We did self defences 20 reps as attacker than as defender at full contact. Than we did our forms from white to provisional black belt. we were than required to show proficency with at least one weapon. I chose Arnise. I did two stick forms.

Than we had to demonstrate defence from those weapons.

We were allowed one week to recover for the endurance part of the test.

The second Saturday we did push ups to extinction. Fourty in one minuet were required to pass; however more got you extra points to carry to other endurance test. Fourty crunches with cross punches in one min. were required. We did fourty  T squats. Fourty fire hydrants, Standing in a deep hourse stance for four min. was required. Running 1 mile in 12 min. was required.  After the endurance you were required to point spar with fellow black belt candidates for three rounds each. That ment for some we had to do a few exrtra rounds because of the odd number of candidates.Than full contact with other black belts who would from time to time double up on you. I went home sore tired and I had to rest for about a half hour because I was shacking to much to drive. We had to wait for the test results till the folowing week.

Than I was told I passed an would have to show improvement on my 1 st Dan test the folowing year. I did show improvement even though I lost one round of full contact sparing I got KOed Thankfully it was my last round. .

Tell me about yours. My Mster said his was way harder than mine. Our school does not charge for this test just about $40.00 for the belt and certificate with regestration.

Answer 15

I paid for mine.  But not in money, it was in blood sweat tears and pain. Lots of pain. Each one after the first is a multiple of the last.  But I did also pay for my classes, as my Sifu has no other income, than that from the school.

It is very sad that these places exist, but in all walks of life you have people that are taking advantage of others, and those who fall easy prey to those tactics.  Unfortunately there isn't much that you or I can do about these schools besides offer a better product, and hope that people can tell the difference (btw-most can not)

Back in the day, there were organizations that helped regulate the teaching of Martial Arts so that this kind of thing didnt happen, but they were often corrupt and overbearing.

You could always go in and offer a challenge to the school, and attempt to show them up and prove that they are not skilled.