What is an Expert Anyway?

Are you an expert at the level of shodan (1. dan, black belt)? Nope. I mean, some schools award the level to kids as young as 7 or 8...

Can an expert be measured by rank at all? In my opinion, no. You can buy a rank, just tag along and get promoted - plus it is hard to tell exactly what the rank includes in many styles and arts.

Are you an expert after one year, five years, twenty years? it all depends upon what you've been doing all the time doesn't it; what have you achieved?

To me a martial arts expert is someone who knows a lot (like in a LOT) or most of the things within a given art. It's not knowing the ins and outs - it's having it ingrained in every fiber of your being. It's not longer about doing, it's about being...

Do you know the history, tradition, philosophy of your art inside and out?
Do you know the technical sides inside and out, all its applications and implications?
Can you teach them to me?
Can you break any given technique down and add your own flavor to it?
Can you watch someone do any given technique in any style, and tell how that relates to your own style?
Do you know the limitations and possibilities within your given art?
Can you tell and show someone how to improve any given method within your art?
Do you know the medical, tactical, strategical, ethical, juridical and spiritual foundations and ramifications of your art?
Can you apply your art as self-defense, or show/explain how and why it is not suited; can you add what is needed to make it suitable?
Can you make a study of how your art relates to fighting, weapons, grappling, locks, chokes, restraints, blocks, deflections, evasions, take downs, throws, self-defense, forms/kata, shows etc?
Can you discuss (and preferably show) how the mechanical principles of push/pull, friction, mass, momentum, torque, balance, movement, flow, distance, timing, angle etc. comes into play in a given method of your art?

If you can, then you probably are a true expert - a true master - of your art. And this humble student would gladly travel the world to meet you!