Changing Federation for DAN promotion...

[Brucie]

Hi everybody,

I'm just curious if someone have the same "bad feeling" that I have (or I can see).

I don't know if it is common, but I see sometime some martial art practionner with black belt, trying to switch Federation to Federation in order to obtain higher DAN promotion. I don't know if this "curious approaches" really work, but I think it's very strange when you see: 2th DAN in 2004, 3th DAN in 2005, in some background/resumé. :confused:

Personally I do not find this approach acceptable. But I'm persuaded that is made more often than we believe.

Could I have your opinion on this subject ?

[Pyro]

Happens all the time. Welcome to the wonderful world of McDojos. Would you like fries with that blackbelt?

[mixmastersenior]

That seems to be a cheap way to climb through the ranks. The problem is, if you go the cheap route, you get a cheap Black Belt. The general public may be impressed, but other real practioners will spot it very quickly. IMHO, these "Paper Tigers" are trying to fill some need to feel important. In rare situations, a High ranking Black belt may need to find a new federation because they cannot advance any further in their present situation. but this is a rare occurance. There is no shortcut to Master. And why would you want one?

[Kwajman]

Strictly for political gains usually.

[Thomas]

I can see the benefits of switching federations because of poitics, training, location, or whatever. I think sometimes switching federations can be a good thing.

But, to switch federations just for promotion without spending the time to learn the new system and "pay your dues" is not. I think that if you switch to the "same" art in a different federation that the rank can be honored (like a "reconciled" rank) but before promotion they must demonstrate a knowledge of the art up to and including that level.

In my own experience I was promoted to 2nd dan in the IHF in 1999. I returned to the states and joined an ICHF school and applied for "reconciled" 2nd dan status. Then I had to go through the whole curriculum from white to 3rd dan (if I wanted to test) and demonstrate it (testing) before being promoted to 3rd dan. It took me a while but finally I tested and was promoted this summer (2005) to 3rd.

[Jungdo]

first off way to go Thomas for the rank testing.
And also I feel the same way that Thomas feels.
The sad thing is that it does happen alot more than we want to believe.
Case in point there are people that train in an art for so long and then feel that just because they have trained in art they are "OWED" the rank. And when there tracher says no. They will whine and cry about it till they get from them or. They will change the name of the art that they were in. And claim that it is modern.(when it is not) And then say that they are grandmaster all mighty.
It is all ego really when it comes down to it. It is more about the rank now than it is about the training. I would rather train the rest of my life and never have rank. And know that I am good, than to have a peice of cloth to remind me how good I am. Remember people that the rank can't fight for you when it comes down to it. That and to many people put way to much faith in the rank. Just because you are a 10th dan or whatever, dosn't mean that you can fight.
I think we have to get real about rank. Or things like this will get worse than they all ready are.

[Dave Boy]

Afraid its the same over here in England.

In general, Hapkido guys in this country have to travel to train with high ranking Koreans (or any nationality for that matter) - either to the States or to Korea. Needless to say, this doesn't happen too often (with a couple of noted exceptions). A number of instructors seem to have switched 'associations' or 'instructors' over the past few years - and hey presto, as if by magic a Dan Grade appears!!!

JUNGDO is right in my book, it does seem to be all about ego.....you've got a 4th Dan, I need one as well - sad but true.

Nothing wrong with changing associations, instructors or even a syllabus in a quest for knowledge - but like Thomas said, learn the stuff and 'pay your dues'....

Anyone else find themselves in Thomas's position of switching schools - and what happened? Good or bad?