This is probably going to be a "touchy subject" that I shouldn't even attempt to discuss here. But we all only live once, and sometimes you just gotta say what's on your mind.

Recently I heard a person say, "Rank is nothing more than a students exposure to that level of material". In some respects I'd agree with that.

I heard another say, "Rank was created to help students have short term goals, so they could reach their long term goals. Sort of like stepping stones". OK, I'll somewhat agree with that one too.

And this list could go on-and-on. With each persons interpretation of what they feel rank is and its benefits. However I want to discuss this next response I heard.

"Rank is something that shows everyone else how good you are?" This is the one that really got me to thinking because you could say yes in an ideal world, but really the answer is no, and here's why.

Yes if the standards are set high enough, everyone knows those standards, and accepts them. But is that realistic to expect, especially when here in the U.S., there are over 4,000,000 people taking the martial arts. Does anyone really think that every instructor knows all the other instructors in the U.S., and they highly value each others opinion, along with their way of doing things? If so, why aren't we all learning one art from one Grandmaster?

Now I know that answer is somewhat ridiculous, and leaves itself open for much debate, and there are other factors to consider. However I'm trying to have fun while proving a point. To further illustrate that, and the other side of things, let's look at the no side.

I can't tell you how many schools I've dropped by, just to check them out, in which I've seen black belts, performing no better than green belts.

So again what creates this inconsistentcy from one school to the next?

Personally I feel it's because each instructor is allowed to set his own standards. Which is fine. But by doing so, without the backing of a "higher authority", or the acceptance of some group, this allows the possibility of one instructors view, as to what a black belt needs to do, look like, or be capable of, to be different than another instructors. Thus having one instructor, unconciously, questioning the standards of another instructor, and not accepting him or his students, until he knows those standards.

So is the color of a persons belt really a way to judge their ability?

Or is it everyone agreeing on a set of standards, or actually seeing the ability of a person?