New MA: Black to White?

Black Swan

If you have started training in a new MA, do you continue to wear your advanced belt (uniform permitting) from your old MA, or start all over with white (or the lowest colour in the new MA)?

Of course, if the old and new MAs have many similarities, you can perhaps test out and come in at a higher grade than white in the new MA, but certainly should not be equal to the belt of your old MA (unless a beginner in both)?

After this introduction, now, to the thing that really concerns me... A master instructor I know has a 7-dan in TKD and a 2-dan in Aikido. He instructs both MAs on different scheduled days, but always wears his highest black belt (7-dan TKD) when shifting to the instruction of Aikido. These two MAs are very different (essentially standup vs. grappling, not to mention other differences).

I also know a 4-dan in Shotokon, who also teaches Japanese sword, but is no way qualified at black belt level in sword (Yet he continues to wear his 4-dan when teaching sword). Once again, two very different MAs.

How do you feel about this? Is it misrepresentation, or does it matter?

dlofnep

You wear a white belt.

waterford mma

i wore a hapkido red belt to a ralph gracie seminar (couldn't find a white belt) . . he pointed at the belt an said this seminar might be a bit too basic for you. . .

i definitley think you should wear a white in new martial art regardless of rank in previous martial arts

arybvtcw0eolkf

Back to white.

Nothingcompares

My white belts are all tiny and don't keep my jacket shut. I usually wear my brown belt (judo) to all the martial art classes I do that I wear a gi in. I have a blue belt that I could wear but that might look like I'm trying to masquerade as a blue belt, I don't think anyone could think I'm actually a brown belt in bjj.

If I'm training somewhere I've never trained before I usually ask if its ok to wear the foreign belt (:)) but the instructors never seemed to care. Having said that, I don't do anything "too traditional".

TBH who cares about the belts. I don't have any time for martial arts etiquette that isn't just normal human being etiquette (except I hate people wearing shoes on the tatami, but that's a hygiene thing).

Magic Eight Ball

Blue_Lagoon wrote:

After this introduction, now, to the thing that really concerns me... A master instructor I know has a 7-dan in TKD and a 2-dan in Aikido. He instructs both MAs on different scheduled days, but always wears his highest black belt (7-dan TKD) when shifting to the instruction of Aikido. These two MAs are very different (essentially standup vs. grappling, not to mention other differences).

I also know a 4-dan in Shotokon, who also teaches Japanese sword, but is no way qualified at black belt level in sword (Yet he continues to wear his 4-dan when teaching sword). Once again, two very different MAs.

How do you feel about this? Is it misrepresentation, or does it matter?

Yeah, it seems like a major misrepresentation to a new student.

The last time I checked there wasn’t a rank that makes you a master of every martial art!

Tae Kwon-Do and Aikido are very different styles, why would anyone wear their TKD rank to a aikido class?

So does this mean If I was a 1st Dan in ITF, I could wear that black belt to my first BJJ class?

NO, course not, it’s not only misrepresentation, but it’s disrespectful.

I don’t see why anyone would do this other then maybe pride, maybe it isn’t easy on the ego to wrap a nice new shinny white belt around your waist after achieving a Dan grade in a other style.

It’s a strange one alright.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Nothingcompares wrote:

My white belts are all tiny and don't keep my jacket shut. I usually wear my brown belt (judo) to all the martial art classes I do that I wear a gi in. I have a blue belt that I could wear but that might look like I'm trying to masquerade as a blue belt, I don't think anyone could think I'm actually a brown belt in bjj.

If I'm training somewhere I've never trained before I usually ask if its ok to wear the foreign belt (:)) but the instructors never seemed to care. Having said that, I don't do anything "too traditional".

TBH who cares about the belts. I don't have any time for martial arts etiquette that isn't just normal human being etiquette (except I hate people wearing shoes on the tatami, but that's a hygiene thing).

Thats all good and well, but I think most here are thinking of a situation whereby someone goes over completely to a different style. In which case I think that person should start at white again.

A few of us here cross train, like you, and just wear their 'normal' belt when visitng another club.

pma-ire

because my style is mixed i respect all grades and give people the provisional grade equal to there own. letting them work towards the next grade in an agreed time frame.

i do see where a style is very focused on one aspect can be less open to this. but i don't see why similar styles cannot accept the others grades?

RealJohn

Do you want to train or do you want to show off?
If you start a new martial art, you are a white belt in that martial art. The colour of your belt shouldn't make a difference. Just go and train. And unless you're worried about being caught with your pants down, don't wear a belt.

cowzerp

I'd be most concerned with the trainer wearing the higher graded belt as this is pure false advertising and all ego, wear a white unless you've let it be known that its not a representation of your level at the style...

thefizz

It doesn't matter how many Dan grades you hold in how many different martial arts or how many years you have been training, if you join my club you wear a white belt and grade the same as everyone else.

pma-ire

thefizz wrote:

It doesn't matter how many Dan grades you hold in how many different martial arts or how many years you have been training, if you join my club you wear a white belt and grade the same as everyone else.

what martial arts do you teach?