Aggrivated!!
I would like some input from some of you with expertise in running your clubs or teaching. My problem is that I have not been tested for blue belt even though I know I am ready. I know I shouldn't be concerned with my ranking, but I would like to learn more but unfortunately at our school we can't learn the other forms and new techniques until we are tested. I have seen some and helped others get tested for their blue. I don't want to come off arogant, but I knew these techniques and forms months before they did even though some of them have been training for even a 6 months to year before me. I learn forms and techniques quickly because I want to progress and I take my training very seriously where others seem to just do it as a past time. My theory is that these people got tested before me just because they have been there longer, and it is not skill related. I do not agree with the theory of it takes this long to get this belt or you have to have this many classes to get tested. If a person shows that they are excelling, you should not hold them back based on business model, or to spare other students feelings who have been training longer and take longer to grasp techniques. When I talk to some of the black belts I get their questions like "You must be testing soon", this has been going of for about 4 months. I haven't mentioned anything to my sifu because I don't want to seem pushy. I have been through this at previous schools I have trained at, and the fustration gets to a point where I eventually leave. I really like the style I train now, and know I can gain a lot from the school. But at 30 years old, I am tired of being delayed in progression for a knowledge I am paying for especially when I see others get promoted because of time. I am at a dilemma because I don't want to seem pushing the matter to my sifu, but at the same time I can't take the aggrivation much longer. To the people on the forum, how do progress your students? Is it similar to what I have seen? Am I right to be upset?

Hello Pak Sau, Before I answer your question, I’m going to tell you a bit about myself. That way you will know where I’m coming from. Hopefully, you’ll come away with a different perspective. I have usually found it uninspiring to be frustrated. I have been training since I was 10 years old. Until I joined Moh, 12 years after that, I sampled a variety of systems. I was what was called a perennial yellow belt (and oh so unhappy about it). After I joined Moh, my training took right off. Indeed, it became the focus of my life. I did sample other systems while still an exponent of Moh. But it was Moh which held my interest. I am now 51 and have been with Moh for well over 2 ½ decades. I train a version of it that works for me. Now as you may or may not be aware, Moh has often held rank out as a carrot. But then so have many other systems (I speak from experience here). Thankfully, I had learned all my advanced material early on. But… This was also a disadvantage to me. I ended up having to put much of my advanced stuff back on the shelf (as it were). I had to concentrate on more basic maneuvers before I could progress. You spoke of having left previous systems because of your rising frustration level. You also spoke of time in rank as not real important (my words here). With all due respect I have several questions and then a suggestion. Time? How long have you been training in your current school? Specifically, how long total in this school and how long at the rank you now hold? Also, how long is the average time for a student to hold a rank? Knowledge? Is it possible for you to acquire the knowledge you seek elsewhere within the system? Specifically, can you use DVD’s, books, private lessons for instructors, etc.? And would you or could you accept that knowledge? Clarity? Have you approached your teacher, specifically, and asked if he thinks you are being held back? Is it possible that you are not as good as you think you are? (I have both seen and been a victim of the swelled head syndrome.) The suggestion: This is actually a three part suggestion (and it is apart from asking questions of your primary teacher). I realize that you are already doing some of these. Be in the here and now: Enjoy your training for what it is and what you can do with yourself now. Remember, that we live in a time when martial knowledge is relatively easily acquired. Take pride in your abilities as they are. I have known of men who could fight and were very dominate personality types. Yet they were filled with self doubt and worry that “someone else” would acquire a higher rank. Improve your knowledge base: Look for ways to improve your knowledge base outside of usual channels. Higher ranked black belts, DVD’s and books are a start in that direction (as I already mentioned). Volunteer to teach lower belts and do it on a regular consistent basis. Teaching will improve your abilities very quickly. Commitment: It reads like you cannot stay where you are in your heart. And I can relate to that! Something is going to give, one way or the other. So rather than leave and possibly repeat this pattern, stay within this system. Commit yourself to getting a Master’s rank (in your heart). I have seen experienced pros get fantastic results with this level of commitment. You don’t have to grovel or swagger but you do have to walk the walk (instead of talking the talk). And just because you don’t go fast, doesn’t mean you aren’t going at all. Ray Dalke (?) was with the J.K.A. for over 25 years. Finally he left and started his own organization. There is something to be said for time in rank building confidence. I also know of a Master who achieved his black belt in 1/7th the time in normally takes. He was a solid, powerful fighter who also went his own way and walked his own path. So ability can be acquired with passion and commitment. The trick is finding the balance between the time in rank and ability at a rank. I hope I have given you some things to think about. Regards, MrE2Me2 Without prejudice E&OE

I think you should talk to your instructor. I have gone through similar situations after I stopped teaching for TKF. I can learn at a very rapid rate and I log the hours of practice to develope the skill or change the way I move to suite the style. Originally some teachers (Won't name names) wanted to simply ignore my dedication to the arts and teach me at the regular pace they teach all students at. I had to take them aside and talk to them saying, "If it's going to take me 7 years to learn this style from you i'm not going to be able to stick around. I fully believe I can absorb what you can teach me at least 10 times faster than the average student, so please increase the quantity of knowledge you share with me and I will be certain to practice it until my skill is to your satisfaction before moving forward." Most instructors (not all) will put you through some tests at this point, sparring, forms, coordination tests etc. But if you have the skill and ability to learn they should realize it. If they don't it is very likely they are teaching for the money more than for the satisfaction of helping shape another persons training. I think in your case you should talk to your instructor and be completely honest in a very sincere and calm mannor. Tell him you feel you are ready for your blue belt test and wanted to know if he agrees, and if not why he thinks you are not ready. If he is vague like TKF instructors tended to be ("When you are ready, you will know.") etc then you have to tell him you want some straight up answers as you take your training very seriously. If he tells you that belt testing doesn't come around until _____ 2007, then you need to let him know that the wait for the belt test simply because it is structured like that doesn't work for you and you would prefer to be tested sooner. How the instructor reacts to all of these things will tell you alot about his personality as a teacher. He can have amazing skill but if he isn't going to share it openly then can you truly trust he will ever share it completely? Instructors have to try and operate around a schedule, but if the schedule and structure of their classes interfere with the developement of their students then they are not very effective teachers. It is true that a person's training begins at "black belt." But rather than using the word black belt let us say a persons training truly begins when they have aquired the complete knowledge of the style. You can refine the basics for years but until you see the advanced you cannot truly understand how everything ties together. Once you learn the advanced you can look at the basic knowledge with new eyes and appreciate it more. Don't be afraid to talk to your sifu. If he has your best interests in mind he will tell you straight up why you have not been tested. If he has his own best interests in mind he will dance around the questions. I have 1 student, a young woman, who must go home and train for hours after I show her anything new. I never need to spend more than a few minutes on review because she comes in to her next lesson better at the techniques/forms than she was when she left her last lesson. She pays close attention to the fine details when she is taught so rather than having to give her a rough blueprint of a form or technique to practice then refining it, I am able to teach her forms with every intricate detail included the first time she learns it. Most students go into information overload if I try that. Anyhow the reason I mention this is because she has absorbed knowledge so fast, and developed skill so quickly that she has done in 1.5 years what normally takes one of my students 4 years. I don't hold her back, and as long as she can continue to learn at this rate (and maintain her previous knowledge) I will continue to teach her at this rate. I look forward to the day I can tell her, "That's it, I have nothing left to teach you!" To me that is the greatest accomplishment an instructor can make. To share everything they know with someone. I have not been teaching long enough to pull this off yet, and I picked a very large amount of knowledge to maintain, but because I place no limitations on how quickly my students can learn I know that one of my senior students will eventually earn their black sash and move from student to peer. At that time I would not charge them for lessons any longer but welcome them to come train with the classes as they please. (As well as practice teaching! That is an important part of learning.) Anyhow this post has been rather long, sorry about that but I do hope it helps you find some answers. MrE2Me2's post above has some great advice and questions that I think will help us figure out just what is going on with your situation. in closing, don't be afraid to move on. Just make sure that if you do you find a teacher that will recognize your previous training and accelerate your current training. It doesn't take a serious student 10 years to learn a style. It takes a 3 hours per week student 10 years to get a black belt that truly means nothing because they are sloppy at many things and likely have forgotten most of their basics.

Thanks MrE and North, Great advice, I believe I will talk to my sifu. I really do not want to leave the style and for the first time since I have been training in various martial arts over the years I want to get my black. One of the guys from the club also said to talk to my sifu, because what might causing me grief in my head might not even be a thought in sifu's head. And to keep in mind that I am not his only student and me bringing up the matter shows interest and willingness to progress. I have also been warned to not compare myself to others skill level who are either above me or at the the same belt level. While I may have more athletic ability that others above me, what is judged on is how much you personally have improved not if you are better than so and so who is higher rank than you. I will keep you posted. Thanks again.

Hello Pak Sau, You have been given some good advice. I’m glad you are considering it all. Good Luck! I’ll look forward to reading about your progress. :-D Regards, MrE2Me2

Test coming up this week. Thank you for all the advice. All it was a matter of was showing a little initiative and asking my Sifu. He didn't even hesitate to schedule me for a test, but it did take a while to schedule it due busy schedule and tests not being taken during regular class time. Thanks all, it was much appreciated.