Should there be continuing education for black belts?

Being presented with your black belt is a huge accomplishment for any martial artist. It means you have spent many years, and much blood sweat and tears to earn the privilege of wearing a black belt. And with wearing that black belt comes many responsibilities. When you are a black belt in martial arts, you are considered by many, including the law, to be a "deadly weapon". When people see you with a Blackbelt around your waist, they look to you to be able to teach them martial arts, they expect that you can perform martial arts, and they look to you to be knowledgeable about how to defend yourself so that you can teach them. Shouldn't you be able to teach, and at the minimum be able to perform the basics of the system that you are belted in? What about someone who got his black belt five years ago, and hasn't done a single day of training since they received their black belt, what about someone who has not done one day of training in the past 10 years?

If you went to a doctor, he got his MD 10 years ago, but has never touched or even seen a patient since he got his medical degree, would you want to go to that doctor? If you knew a cop who graduated from the police Academy, 10 years ago, and hasn't worked as a police officer, or even picked up a gun to practice in the past 10 years , would you want that guy protecting you and your family? How about if your spouse was an ICU and the nurse that was taking care of your wife hadn't done any nursing in the past 10 years, would you want that nurse taking care of your wife? I could say the same for many different activities, and occupations, paramedic, EMT, lawyer, physical therapist. Many occupations, and professions that take a lot of work, and time to get your certificate or degree in, require continual education and testing to keep their license. I think the same should be for martial arts.

I think it's great to put in so much time and energy, effort, blood sweat, money to train for and earn your black belt, but I think you wearing that belt around your waist is such a responsibility and an honor, there should be continuing training and education to keep that belt. A doctor spends a lot of years to get their degree, but they have to prove that they are worthy of continuing to practice medicine by continually educating themselves. And testing their proficiency and knowledge every two years or they lose their license to practice. A registered nurse spends many years in school to get their degree, and they have to take an extensive test to get their license to be able to work as a registered nurse. However every two years they have to spend at least 30 hours learning the latest in techniques and technology, and they are tested. If they do not spend at least 30 hours in their continuing education, they lose their license and they cannot work anymore. Shouldn't a martial arts Blackbelt hold the same Standards?

I by no means think that a Blackbelt has to prove himself to any governmental entity, however, I feel they should show their proficiency and their willingness to continually learn and practice martial arts. I think they should show a minimum of physical conditioning, and showing proficiency in the latest techniques in their system. I think if they are not willing to do that, then they should not have the right and the honor to wear a black belt. I think a black belt should be continually learning and training as a martial artist. I think all martial artists should continually learn and train, and if they don't, I don't feel they are martial artist they are at best a partial artist.

And again, I definitely don't think the government or any bureaucratic agency should be involved in martial arts, but I think we should police ourselves. I think if you want to consider yourself. A martial artist, you should at minimum behave as one. I think to be considered a martial artist. You should keep yourself mentally, and physically, strong, brave, fit and healthy, and proficient at the latest of martial arts techniques. I think each system of martial arts should have their own system and practice of making sure that their own students and instructors from white belt through black belt and including all levels of Blackbelt, making sure that they are proficient, and representing their system, to be what it was created for; the ability to protect yourself and your family, and everything that that entails.

Tell me what you think about my idea. Do you think it's a good idea, a bad idea, do you have any suggestions? Either way, God bless you all live, clean, train, hard, and don't let anyone take your lunch money.