This grading thing is foreign to me. Iv studied Muay Thai for years. I have always been critical of gyms that introduce grading systems. The great practitioners are not graded, so how do you justify grading people? A bit like what was said about Mohamed Ali.
Having said that, if you look at Muay Thai, once it makes its way to the west, you have no idea what people know, who they have fought etc. Did someone fight bone hard Thais who went pro at 6 years old, or is it all sex tourist fights against skinny amateurs paid to take a beating. You just cant know, and so its so hard to know if what your being taught is legit. I dont know how many times I have seen someone who has been taught utter bullshit get into the ring and get destroyed in a Kickboxing fight.
In Jiu Jitsu they would have had a way of telling whether or not this gym was just a random guy, making stuff up. Theres a lineage and people are accountable. I dont know about other countries but in NZ these gyms are common. Iv seen a BJJ whitebelt obliterate a black belt from a local "street jiu jitsu" gym on the ground in an MMA fight.
I dont need a belt to fight with confidence, but I would definitely like one to teach with confidence. Theres a big difference between putting your self on the line and putting someone else out there based on your knowledge, and having that knowledge judged by a master is a great thing.
Having said that, if you look at Muay Thai, once it makes its way to the west, you have no idea what people know, who they have fought etc. Did someone fight bone hard Thais who went pro at 6 years old, or is it all sex tourist fights against skinny amateurs paid to take a beating. You just cant know, and so its so hard to know if what your being taught is legit. I dont know how many times I have seen someone who has been taught utter bullshit get into the ring and get destroyed in a Kickboxing fight.
In Jiu Jitsu they would have had a way of telling whether or not this gym was just a random guy, making stuff up. Theres a lineage and people are accountable. I dont know about other countries but in NZ these gyms are common. Iv seen a BJJ whitebelt obliterate a black belt from a local "street jiu jitsu" gym on the ground in an MMA fight.
I dont need a belt to fight with confidence, but I would definitely like one to teach with confidence. Theres a big difference between putting your self on the line and putting someone else out there based on your knowledge, and having that knowledge judged by a master is a great thing.
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