There are alot of Duan systems out there. the Chinese government has a ranking system called “Duan” for top athletes and coaches in Mainland China. The Yang Family created their own Duan system within their own ranks from Eagle to Dragon…see here: http://www.yangfamilytaichi.com/associa … #article-2
Chinese martial arts originally did not have ranks. A belt was worn in ancient times in Chinese and Mongolian wrestling like Shuai jiao. Over time in competitions the belt go dirty, bloody, and eventually begun to change color through time , matches, and experience, so a worn out belt meant you have been around and have a level of skill.
Japanese master Jigoro Kano developed the first belt ranking system to gauge and measure a students progress. This was separated into stages in training to learn various methods of combat at each stage.
Now in the modern age, many schools adopted the ranking system to measure a students progress, marketing, and determine levels of progress from beginner to intermediate,to advanced. Some school choose not to use this type of system and or even compete against other schools in tournaments. They choose a seniority approach to structure and chain of command.
In my experience I first went to aTaiji school that did not have a ranking system. I later went to a VingTsun school that did by levels and not belt/sash., I didnt stick around long enough to get to level 3. I stuck around doing Long fist and Traditional Taiji, bagua, and xingyi with the first teacher for 6 years.
7 years later I trained at Omei wushu kung fu school by USA team coach Lu xiao Lin and Later with Sifu Burris at CMAI (Chinese martial artsinstitute) These teachers taught traditional shaolin and Taiji, and Modern Wushu and Taiji. Here there was level ‘Sash’ tests after a few years I eventually got a Black sash level 3. Not that it meant anything, but it gave a sense of self accomplishment. There were a lot of forms (at each level), two person forms, qi-na, weapons forms, sparring, and questions answer. notes from that time period- http://polariswushu.net/blog/2010/03/23 … 1997-2003/
Testing included:
Taijiquan- perform 24 taiji, 32 sword, 48 form taiji, 42 taiji, 40 yang form, 42 sword, 36 Chen routine, 56 Chen competition routine, 16 Taiji spear, Taiji 13 dao, Bagua and xingyi routines, push hands compete.
Kung fu/wushu- basic kick lines, shaolin Form 1, shaolin form 2, shaolin form 3, Old compulsory Long fist, Old compulsory sword, new compulsory long fist, new compulsory sword, new compulsory spear, qi-na applications, two person fight set, free sparring.
Where I currently at the BJJ, Judo, and our Muay Thai classes all have ranking tests. In the BJJ and Judo it is belts, In Muay Thai my coach created ranks/level. As time goes on the skills learned are more intense,and the tests get much harder. To me it sets goals and standards, so I am all for it.
Have you been to schools with and without ranking systems? what are your thoughts on ranking, tradition and non-traditional?
A traditional CMA master told me once ” i have a belt to hold my pants up!” haha