Okay, I am not casting aspersions on anyone, or doubting anyone's credentials. I am just puzzled. Occasionally I'll come across someone on the internet whose list of credentials looks something like this (this is purely a hypothetical person):
10th Dan Hapkido
10th Dan Freestyle Karate
10th Dan Taekwondo
10th Dan Jeet Kun Do
7th Dan Danzan Ryu Jujitsu
6th Dan Judo
3rd Dan Arnis
How is this even possible? I can see myself having shodan or nidan ranks in two or three arts within some years, but I'd be very happy if I made it to 5th dan in a single art in my lifetime, and I'm a fairly dedicated student. Of course I got started late, but still, the only way I can see someone achieving such ranks would be if he began as a child in multiple arts, and never stopped. For example there's a 16 year old girl in my class who is a brown belt in both Kenpo and Jujitsu. She began at the age of 8. She has become inconsistent in her studies lately, but if she got back into it seriously she might achieve master level in both arts by the age of 30 or so.
Or, if someone spent ten to twenty years in full time study of martial arts, with no need to work or raise a family, maybe I could see all those master level ranks happening.
What am I missing here? How is this possible?