Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
Like what?
Certain Martial Arts' grading system is based on who you can 'hang' with, so to speak. If you can beat black belts, you're considered a black belt, even if you can't name the techniques, or demonstrate katas.
Technical knowledge is not as emphasized as the actual sparring. There are some MMA fighters who are considered 'Honorary' Muay Thai black belts, or 'Honorary" Jiu Jitsu black belts because of the skills they've demonstrated in contest. Even if they learned something like...miletich fighting. Not a traditional martial art, in any sense.
If you consider having a black belt to equate to being a 'master' of that art, then, by this logic, you can be a master of certain arts that focus on the 'practical' over the 'traditional' without EVER stepping foot onto the mat in a dojo that teaches that particular art.
Originally posted by Soljer
Certain Martial Arts' grading system is based on who you can 'hang' with, so to speak. If you can beat black belts, you're considered a black belt, even if you can't name the techniques, or demonstrate katas.Technical knowledge is not as emphasized as the actual sparring. There are some MMA fighters who are considered 'Honorary' Muay Thai black belts, or 'Honorary" Jiu Jitsu black belts because of the skills they've demonstrated in contest. Even if they learned something like...miletich fighting. Not a traditional martial art, in any sense.
If you consider having a black belt to equate to being a 'master' of that art, then, by this logic, you can be a master of certain arts that focus on the 'practical' over the 'traditional' without EVER stepping foot onto the mat in a dojo that teaches that particular art.
Cool. Didn't know that.