Multiple Ranks

Many martial artists claim to hold rank in multiple martial arts. Some claim multiple black belt ranks, and some even claim multiple master ranks. How can this be?

First, it depends on what you consider martial arts to be, sports or “ways” of life. If you consider them sports in which you learn to play and participate, and that ranks just signify your status within the sport, then, just as you may be a baseball player, a football player, and also a basketball player, you may be a rank holder in multiple martial arts. However, if you consider a martial art to be a “way” of life, then you cannot legitimately claim high ranks in multiple arts. Once you pledge allegiance to a martial art and accept its teaching, principles, and beliefs, and it becomes your way of life, then you cannot also claim allegiance to another martial art.