It's Time For A New Ranking System
I hate to say it, but ranking kinda matters
Competition rankings are where this all started, it was important to keep competition fair, and progressing toward a higher level over time. In fact the belt system we all know today was initiated by Jigoro Kano for the sake of keeping competition straight. However, over time, belts and other rankings became proxies for skill. A trophy for some nominal display of progress or achievement.
Humans do this a lot. We sub in an easier to achieve proxy for the real thing because the uninitiated can’t tell the difference, or the problem to our solution rarely manifests in a salient way. Of course, there eventually crops up a vocal contingent who calls out the fraud, and we are now at a point where belts and certificates are as derided by some as they are chased by others.
The belt system has become so ubiquitous that systems far and wide have either adopted a version of it, or taken the idea and applied it to some other token. Capoeira uses cords, some kung fu schools use the duan system of sashes, Master Toddy’s muay thai uses arm bands, Savate uses colored gloves. Some use shirts or patches, and, very commonly, many use certificates in lieu of clothing or accessories.
Most of this comes from a good place; a carrot on a stick to motivate people to keep training and progressing, and to keep competition fair. Yes, of course, there is a component of money or prestige in the practice, and this attracts less honorable folk, but I truly think most people are not cheats (self-oriented, for sure, that’s unquestionable, but not outright cheats). I honestly think that even most “paper chasers” aren’t consciously trying to stack the deck, I think they’re just opportunists.
Anyway…
I have been asked several times about a ranking system. Some people literally need that external validation, like a sort of gamification, to stay interested in the pursuit. I’ve resisted that for a long time. I have loosely attempted to created ranking a couple of times, but I couldn’t get it to stick. My particular blend of arts has multiple ranking systems or none at all, and coming up with something that can put it all under a single progression is not an easy task.
However, I have been sitting on an idea for a decade now:
And I might be almost ready to implement it. It won’t be precisely as described above, but the seed of the idea is there. A system like this would achieve a couple of things:
1) It would put ranking back on competition or some practical application, not just a regurgitation of a curriculum (Though training would certainly involve a curriculum to facilitate this, and there could be a technical test as well as a practical test.)
and 2) In the modern world, a lot of people train at multiple schools over time, so many come in with experience, and should not be forced to go through the motions out of some ritual adherence to cover over old ground. Instead, a “merit badge” system with clearly defined practical tests (such as acceptable competitions) could grant them honorary awards that cover that aspect, and let them focus on progressing rather than staying stagnant. Or, often worse, sometimes the established systems award honorary full ranking despite NOT having the technical knowledge of the formal curriculum. Just as bad as it is for someone to have technical knowledge, but no practical ability, a great fighter/athlete who has no technical knowledge of the formal system is still not worthy of rank.
Martial arts have two major components - the toolbox (and knowledge of what the tools are), and the skill to use the tools. Skills without tools aren’t of much use, and tools without skills are functionally inert.
I think I have about 90% of this new system figured out, and I am strongly considering implementing this year, perhaps even this spring.