Comments on: Ranking Systems http://wujimon.com/2007/03/15/ranking-systems/ journey in search of the way through taiji, martial arts, meditation and health Sat, 05 Nov 2011 23:17:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: wujimon http://wujimon.com/2007/03/15/ranking-systems/#comment-2329 Mon, 19 Mar 2007 10:03:46 +0000 http://wujimon.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/ranking-systems/#comment-2329 Hey TaiwanD:
Yup, I’m aware of the movement to adopt the duan system. Again, this is something I’ve never been a fan of and will not take part it. It may hurt me down the line, but oh well… ;)

]]> By: taiwandeutscher http://wujimon.com/2007/03/15/ranking-systems/#comment-2338 Mon, 19 Mar 2007 07:13:49 +0000 http://wujimon.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/ranking-systems/#comment-2338 Wujimon,

I’m sure you know about the grading system of the official Yang family, mainland Chinese wushu-orgs (there are several now) for Taiji. Or here in the Taiwan taiji scene. Some have duans and teachers’ certificates directly bought, some did contribute to their associations, some are pruely nice people and very few really have earned it.

]]> By: wujimon http://wujimon.com/2007/03/15/ranking-systems/#comment-2330 Sat, 17 Mar 2007 13:10:22 +0000 http://wujimon.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/ranking-systems/#comment-2330 @Chessman:
You’re right about the aspect of sparring within belt systems. I recall everytime I tested for the next rank, I *had* to spar. Taiji could use a bit of sparring.. ;)

@MartiaDevelopment:
While I agree there will always be some form of measurement, I don’t necessarily believe everyone is qualified to make such measurements. In addition, I still don’t have a good feeling about belts/rank as I think that’s the wrong goal within taiji. Again, my own personal take.

@TaiwanD:
My post was specifically geared towards a ranking system within taiji. Like you, over time, I began caring less about belt and ranks b/c that’s not my goal in IMA.

]]> By: taiwandeutscher http://wujimon.com/2007/03/15/ranking-systems/#comment-2331 Sat, 17 Mar 2007 02:38:37 +0000 http://wujimon.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/ranking-systems/#comment-2331 What about the master grades given away for contribution to the organisation, for teaching so and so many years, for publishing on the field, for any other honours achieved?
Are there wen (cultural)- und wu (martial)-degrees necessary?
What about the Taiwan Judo coach in the Olympic training center in Zuoying/Kaohsiung, who got a read and white belt (forgot 4th or 6th dan?) and then was beaten up by a visiting German brown belt?
I still tend to feel suspicious on all these organisations and associations which make a sport out of an art.
On the other hand, I also see your points of evaluating one’s abilities, especially fot the younger people.
Being nearly 40 myselt, I know what am I’m able to and also know what I want out of IMA. For sure it isn’t any belt or duan-degree.

]]> By: Martial Development http://wujimon.com/2007/03/15/ranking-systems/#comment-2332 Fri, 16 Mar 2007 19:39:14 +0000 http://wujimon.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/ranking-systems/#comment-2332 Zen masters who can’t read minds? Sounds like an oxymoron to me. :)

I did not mean to imply that these machines are the *only* way to measure skills; only that their existence disproves the theory (or, more accurately, the desire) that MA skills cannot be measured at all.

Without measurement there are no masters. Not now, not then, not ever.

]]> By: chessman71 http://wujimon.com/2007/03/15/ranking-systems/#comment-2334 Fri, 16 Mar 2007 13:16:38 +0000 http://wujimon.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/ranking-systems/#comment-2334 I like the last part of the quote from Good Will Hunting. In other words, if the teacher is good and the material is good, the belt system doesn’t matter.

I’ll tell you guys, one system that I used to do had a belt system a long time ago and they let it slip away. They were so much more organized back then and had to fight at each belt test. But guess what? No more belts equals no more belt testing. Result? No more fighting.

Sometimes belts add organization and that’s something that CMA can never, ever have too much of IMO.

]]> By: wujimon http://wujimon.com/2007/03/15/ranking-systems/#comment-2335 Fri, 16 Mar 2007 01:49:31 +0000 http://wujimon.wordpress.com/2007/03/15/ranking-systems/#comment-2335 Hey ZMS.
Your thoughts reminded me a bit about this conundrum I’ve heard about. We are able to build a computer that can beat the best chess player in the world, yet this same computer cannot beat a mid-level weiqi player (aka Go Boardgame).

Why is this the case? Does the computer not have enough processing power? Does the computer not have a lexicon of possible moves and scenarios? What’s the difference between these 2 games?

One is a game of destruction while another is a game of creation. What a computer lacks is intuition.

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