Why don't we fight for our belts anymore?

Question

Grading isn't enough and Judo is slowly dying because of it.

We have good fighters who have worked through the previous system of grading then fighting for a belt. But in the future as good at throwing or as fit as they are, we will have fighters with little or no experience of competition until they grade for their higher belts.

I am only one person and my views are my own, but I believe that Judo's essence is fading away.

Look at how many competitions are being cancelled due to lack of entries when years ago there was a chance of being turned away due to full capacities.

I will always follow it, but it just isn't the same sport anymore, it's too easy to grade up and you won't get that feeling of truly earning your belt anymore.

I wish we could compromise and change the rules back to the glory of the fight. What can a person do, when many are quitting and just don't see a point anymore?

Judo has gone from a competative sport, to an hour sessions a week keep fit class!

Answer 1

I agree with you somewhat on requiring competition for advancement, but not entirely. At least, I don't think that competition should be the ONLY component in determining advancement.

Considering the vast range of ages getting involved in all styles of martial arts, requiring competition of some of them would be self-defeating. At the younger end of the spectrum, many children lack the maturity or self-confidence to be able to handle competition, and at the OTHER end (that which I am rapidly approaching), the mind is willing, but the body, to paraphrase, is extremely "resistant" to the demands of competition. However, I do feel that advancement past a certain rank should have some element of competing, if only for the benefit of building the students confidence in his or her chosen art form.  Of course, competitions can be hard to find, depending on the discipline studied. For myself, I study Tae Kwon Do under the ITF, and finding ITF-sanctioned competitions in my area is a herculean task. There are other styles (Choong Sil predominantly) that hold irregular competitions, but one must be invited to attend. And, you are not testing yourself against others of the same style. As a component of rank advancement, I would think it important that competitions would be against others competing within the same rank structure you adhere to. Of course, instructors could be given some latitude in this, and evaluate their students based on the skills they display (not necessarily how well they place) in a situation like this.

Additionally, there are many students who enter martial arts training, especially at older ages, who are looking at it as a form of exercise, and have no desire to compete. they are there strictly for the health benefits, both physical and mental. Somehow it does not seem entirely fair to penalize them for not competing. A 45 year-old man who undertakes martial arts training for the first time may not be physically capable of competing, no matter how big his desire is. However, showing true dedication by training as hard as he can, and sticking with it, should be rewarded by advancement.

It is possible, to some extent, that governing bodies may take this question up and restructure the rank system, possibly adding rank designators to indicate who has competed and who has not. Or, maye add the requirement of competition to the prerequisites of being a certified instructor. While this may not seem significant, it could have a very positive effect of helping to weed out some of the manufactured or self-designated "masters" of questionable disciplines and federations that have run rampant in the martial arts world, particularly with the resurgence of many martial arts today.

EDIT: Wow, had a Deja Vu moment there...I would SWEAR that Muayi T's answer is a cut and paste of my answer....WTF?!?!?

Answer 2

It is happening in Karate as well.

I think the prevalence of this condition among the various martial arts is proof that society is dictating the art, much like old bujutsu transformed into budo.

One way to maybe help slow this is to make a special group of "oldtimers" and a few of those who would be willing to follow the "old ways"... this woud allow the masses to "play" with their weekly art, and then the truly serious would be filtered into these subgroups....

just an idea...

Answer 3

Sad to say but that's my observation too. I myself have witnessed this scenario, though I am not a Judoka, I'm looking this matter as the whole Martial Arts is concerned. One of the reasons why this is happening is that most of the Arts are being commercialized. Teachings are limited on a given time. Either a student absorb every teachings or not, when times up, it's up. Grading system is sometimes based only on the way how a student learn the basics and fundamentals and forms. During promotion time, when you can perform the requirements then you can have your belt upgraded. There's no test on how a student can prove his belt. In this case, you can have your belt but you can't defend it.

The very best thing to keep the old glory of this Art to prosper is to include tournament participation of every student as their requirements in upgrading  belts. They have to fight for their belts and prove that they are worthy to tie it on their waists....

Answer 4

i was trained in TKD long before it was "cool for soccer moms" or an olympic sport.. and now look what it has become,,,,  when i looked for a school to go back too.. the only thing i felt was worth my time was a muay thai gym... not because the style was better... but that the instructor hasnt watered it down, to increase enrolement.... (yet) it's all becoming about bussiness.... instructors arent willing to push their studests to blood sweat and tears, because they are scared that they will push them out the door.... and its a d**n shame... dont look for a style.. look for an instructor who hasnt "sold out"... good luck

Answer 5

As a Combat SAMBO student, SAMBO being based in Judo, we do fight for belts, ok so we do a three minute period on the mat, the whole bloody test is a fight.  Unfortunately we don't always go by weight, so my 5'6" 140 lbs body usually gets to wrestle with 5'10" very strong Russians.