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Rank PromotionWe do not take the responsibility of
evaluating a martial artist or style lightly.
Although the integrity of some ranks awarded by other martial arts
associations, federations, governing bodies, and martial arts
organizations have been somewhat questionable, this sort of corruption
will not happen on the SMAA’s watch, regardless of all other factors! We
have strict criteria that must be met and yet we remain as
open minded
as any martial arts association, federation, governing body, or martial
arts organization (legitimate organization, that is, not a diploma mill!)
in existence.
Rank certificates are available to all
martial artists that wish to register their rank or be evaluated
and are approved for promotion by the SMAA.
While all SMAA members are free to
rank their students using whatever belt rank system they wish, the
belt rank
system
that the SMAA recommends using is as follows:
| 10th |
kyu, |
gup, |
or |
class |
(new student recruit) |
| 9th |
kyu, |
gup, |
or |
class |
white |
belt |
| 8th |
kyu, |
gup, |
or |
class |
yellow |
belt |
| 7th |
kyu, |
gup, |
or |
class |
orange |
belt |
| 6th |
kyu, |
gup, |
or |
class |
green |
belt |
| 5th |
kyu, |
gup, |
or |
class |
blue |
belt |
| 4th |
kyu, |
gup, |
or |
class |
purple |
belt |
| 3rd |
kyu, |
gup, |
or |
class |
brown |
belt |
| 2nd |
kyu, |
gup, |
or |
class |
brown |
belt |
| 1st |
kyu, |
gup, |
or |
class |
brown |
belt |
| 1st |
dan |
or |
degree |
black belt |
| 2nd |
dan |
or |
degree |
black belt |
| 3rd |
dan |
or |
degree |
black belt |
| 4th |
dan |
or |
degree |
red & black belt |
| 5th |
dan |
or |
degree |
red & black belt |
| 6th |
dan |
or |
degree |
red & white belt |
| 7th |
dan |
or |
degree |
red & white belt |
| 8th |
dan |
or |
degree |
red & white belt |
| 9th |
dan |
or |
degree |
red belt |
| 10th |
dan |
or |
degree |
red belt |
(All dan rank holders may wear a black belt if they
prefer)
In very rare instances, the ranks of 11th
and 12th degrees may be awarded posthumously to the founder (12th
degree) and his successor (11th degree) of legitimately recognized
systems, providing they reached the level of 10th degree during
their lifetime. These ranks may only be awarded by unanimous vote of the
Yudansha Taigu.
The SMAA policy for rank evaluation and
possible promotion
is:
There is no charge for rank testing and
evaluation. A martial artist seeking possible promotion through the SMAA
must have sufficient
time in grade. PLEASE NOTE:
meeting the time in grade
requirement does not automatically qualify you for promotion. Each and
every SMAA member must have his level of ability evaluated before
rank registration or promotion can be considered. This evaluation may be in the form of
personal or video evaluation. The ranks up through and including 3rd dan
are based largely on technical ability, while the ranks from 4th dan and
up are based more and more (for each successive rank) on teaching
ability, service and contributions to the arts.
Rank promotion fee
is to be paid
if the individual is approved for promotion.
Some may consider this verification process unnecessary, but
nothing could be further from the truth! No instructor would promote or
certify an individual without actually seeing what they are capable of
performing at, and we are in the very same position – but on a much larger
scale. If some feel this process is unwarranted, then clearly they are not
the type of martial artist the SMAA is looking for!
It is our sincere hope that each and every SMAA member understands the
reason for this…it is not meant to doubt an individual’s ability or question
their integrity…it is merely to confirm the ability of those
individuals that the SMAA has no personal knowledge of. If we document
their skill level in person or on video, then we are 100% justified in
certifying that individual at the appropriate level and NO ONE can ever
question our motives or integrity, or the credentials that we have
awarded. This is quite different from many other organizations where you
can just send in your money to get whatever rank you want, and often all
of this is done with no form of verification of that individual’s ability.
You will also note that we have
reduced many of the fees for
certifications and promotions...we don’t ever want money to be a factor in
how we administer our services to the martial arts…quite a change from how
things have been done in the past.
PLEASE NOTE:
We do not wish to circumvent
the traditional teacher/student relationship in any way. If an
individual is currently under the guidance of an instructor, the SMAA
will only work with that individual once we have the express consent and
blessing of his/her instructor.
The SMAA encourages the
highest level of loyalty to one's instructor and seniors. Please don't
ask us to undermine this loyalty by going behind your instructor's back
to explore possible rank evaluation, promotion and certification - we
will never knowingly work with another instructor's students unless
given permission to do so by that instructor.
Donn Schucker, Executive Director
P.O. Box 2171
Florissant, MO 63032-2171
Phone: (314) 606-7306
Email: ds@smaa-martialarts.com
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