Most martial arts use a series of colored belts, armbands, or clothing to reward progress and experience gained over time.  These usually start with lighter colors, beginning with white, and advance to darker shades as they go up.  This ‘light to dark’ scheme comes from ancient times when students would start out with a white belt, which would naturally darken from use over time.
Rank systems establish a structure in the gym or dojo to make it clear to everyone who the more and less experienced practitioners are.  This helps tremendously in training and learning because it clarifies who the best people are to go to for information and details.  It also clarifies who makes policy and standardizes technical preferences within the school. 
Although a rank structure clarifies many things for students and instructors in the gym, it is common that there is an unseen element within the system.  This is, included in each level, there is a range of abilities.  Some students will be exemplary in the level that they’re in, while others will be on the more challenged side of that level.  In between these ends there will be a variety of skill level and understanding for each student. 
There are many different areas that qualify where each student measures up in their rank level.  In addition to natural talent some of the areas that students should be aware of and apply themselves to are: attendance, attitude, coachability, etiquette, partnering, work-ethics, technical expertise, sparring or rolling abilities, teaching contributions, understanding of their art, personal development and overall support for the gym.  Most students will find some of these areas coming easy for them while other areas require more effort.  All students should strive to excel in all of these aspects of development because, in addition to determining where they land in their rank level, they also are considered for promotion to their next rank level.
One easy way to understand the ‘spectrum’ within each rank level is to use a common grading system borrowed from mainstream schooling.  This employs a letter system using A, B, C, D, and F.  Additionally, we can use + or - with each letter to more accurately evaluate the student.  The best students who excel in all of the areas noted will fall into the A or A+ category.  Students who barely make it into a rank will qualify as D or D-.  Students who rate at F will not be promoted.  In some cases, if a student is toxic or disruptive to the group, they may eventually be asked to leave the dojo.
Other considerations with this are the ‘Sempai/ Kohai’ effect.  This basically involves the progression from someone who has just started at a rank level, and someone who has been there for a while.  Naturally, when someone is promoted to a new level, or starts out as a beginner, they will not be as knowledgeable or adept in that level as they will be when they reach the end of that level, and are ready to advance to the next level.  Through training and learning over time, they will progress in their art and as a person.  So, ‘Kohai’ or new Black Belts will generally be less skilled and knowledgeable than ‘Sempai’ Black Belts. 
Some martial artists will rise to a level of exceptional skill, notoriety or position in a certain aspect of their art.  They may become a pioneer in their art, furthering the style that they learned or even creating a ’new’ art.  They might become a champion in competition and make a name for themselves around the world.  They might simply rise to a high level of skill and understanding in their art and gain a genuine mastery in all it’s aspects.  They become AA, AAA or AAAA level figures in the martial arts. 
Sometimes martial artists can excel in one or more areas of their art, but fail miserably in others.  For example, if a practitioner fails to develop mentally and stay humble along the way, their accomplishments will be overshadowed by a poor attitude and weak mentality.  As we advance with our accomplishments in the martial arts, we have a responsibility be ‘rounded’ and develop as a complete practitioner, treat others well, and set a strong example with our attitude and behavior.    
So, as you train, strive to be the rounded A student or better.  Try to excel in ALL areas of your art, including the ‘mental’ aspects.  Do your best in technical drills, learn to optimize the physical aspects, follow the rules for etiquette and treatment of others, and work towards being more positive, relaxed, and calm.  If you’re going to do it, do it well and go for the A!

In addition to fitness, self-defense skills or rank achievements, the martial arts also offer a variety of other benefits.  The most important of these are ’life-skills’ like focus, self-discipline, attention to detail, responsibility and perseverance.  These can also be among the most difficult for students to learn...especially younger students. 
Though it may not always be obvious, the majority of the drills and activities conducted in the children’s classes at ZenQuest have value in developing important life-skills.  Even games that are played at the end of class typically teach things like sportsmanship, respect for others, attention to detail, and a sense of honor.
At ZenQuest we provide a variety of strategies to help our students, including kids, learn these qualities.  Generally, they involve a time-tested strategy of matching consequences with choices and actions.  Hard work, dedication, positive attitude, and good conduct is rewarded with praise, privileges, and rank promotions.  Conversely, a lack of effort, poor attendance, negativity, and bad choices result in negative consequences like verbal queues and warnings, time-outs, and delays in rank promotions.
For this to work, it is essential that children’s parents support these strategies.  Of course, it is easy for parents to reinforce positive consequences for positive choices and behavior.  But it can be much more challenging for us when our child is given a corrective consequence for a poor choice.  Although this can be the most difficult challenge in parental support, it is also the most critical time to be supportive.  Often times it may only take one negative consequence to reinforce a boundary or correct a poor choice.
Parental support on simple things like attendance and timeliness is also very important for a young student’s success.  With the Instructors and parents all pulling in the same direction, children can learn important life-skills that will last a lifetime.  As they say, teamwork makes the dream work!

ZenQuest will host a free clinic for Law Enforcement, Corrections and Security personnel who's job includes restraining or arresting uncooperative individuals at times.  We will cover essential strategies for common situations, with consideration to the equipment that these personnel frequently carry, and professional and legal boundaries that they are typically subjected to. This is being developed in cooperation with local Law Enforcement and Corrections Officers, and presented as a community service with no charge to active personnel.  For more information or to reserve a spot please contact us.