Comments on: No More Black Belts For Kids! http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/black-belts-for-kids/ Martial arts for personal development Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:51:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: kasumi http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/black-belts-for-kids/#comment-14691 kasumi Sun, 10 Jul 2011 21:39:49 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/?p=1372#comment-14691 In my art when someone recieves a black belt they are Shodan which means beginning level. Not a master of anything. Just someone that has a basic understanding of the art. This takes 4 or 5 years. Then maybe 4 to 5 levels to be considered a Master which takes another, lets say 15 yrs. And we give belts that are black to kids but give then title of Shodan-ho, so they have another step to shodan and that step could take another 2,3,4 years. Jr. black belt is made up here in the USA. I've seen Jr black belt test fees as high as $150 dollars. *Mo Money Mo Money*,,,,,,,,,,,,, In my art when someone recieves a black belt they are Shodan which means beginning level. Not a master of anything. Just someone that has a basic understanding of the art. This takes 4 or 5 years. Then maybe 4 to 5 levels to be considered a Master which takes another, lets say 15 yrs. And we give belts that are black to kids but give then title of Shodan-ho, so they have another step to shodan and that step could take another 2,3,4 years. Jr. black belt is made up here in the USA. I’ve seen Jr black belt test fees as high as $150 dollars. *Mo Money Mo Money*,,,,,,,,,,,,,

]]> By: Dragon slayer http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/black-belts-for-kids/#comment-14245 Dragon slayer Fri, 01 Apr 2011 22:05:02 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/?p=1372#comment-14245 If you want to be a warrior join the Marines or the Army. If you want to learn to fight join a gang. Neither of these will grant a black belt. If you want to engage in an enjoyable sport that awards rank based on subjective merits join a martial arts school. BTW your "adult" black belt will probably not be accepted outside of your system. If you want to be a warrior join the Marines or the Army. If you want to learn to fight join a gang. Neither of these will grant a black belt. If you want to engage in an enjoyable sport that awards rank based on subjective merits join a martial arts school. BTW your “adult” black belt will probably not be accepted outside of your system.

]]> By: tkdgaz http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/black-belts-for-kids/#comment-13727 tkdgaz Sat, 08 Jan 2011 21:59:36 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/?p=1372#comment-13727 Its all reletive Its all reletive

]]> By: Dad of 10 year-old BlackBelt http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/black-belts-for-kids/#comment-12243 Dad of 10 year-old BlackBelt Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:04:17 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/?p=1372#comment-12243 The belt system is very useful so that in sport competition or simply in competition of skills you do not have an extreme difference in ability... but the lack of a fix standard damages the credibility of the system. If one meets the level of proficiency of a given belt a child can be awarded the same. This is not to say that the child can face an adult in close combat. He can't. There are issues of body mass that are impossible to overcome other than with strikes to vital points... and that is the problem. The mental attitude and responsibility required to strike at vital points that might permanently damaged the attacker is not in a 10 year old mind... specially if the attacker is a "little" school bully. So I am not sure about the usefulness of any Karate including taekwondo on the most likely situations a child will experience in real life... the art could be counterproductive in those occassion. But I have seen a video of a small girl in Florida that avoided an abduction from shopping mall by kicking the abductor... she was taking taekwondo and those kicks where enough to dissuade the abductor from continuing... so that part is possible. But no doubt that a consistent test standard is needed and no doubt that sub-par school will avoid it. The belt system is very useful so that in sport competition or simply in competition of skills you do not have an extreme difference in ability… but the lack of a fix standard damages the credibility of the system.

If one meets the level of proficiency of a given belt a child can be awarded the same. This is not to say that the child can face an adult in close combat. He can’t. There are issues of body mass that are impossible to overcome other than with strikes to vital points… and that is the problem.

The mental attitude and responsibility required to strike at vital points that might permanently damaged the attacker is not in a 10 year old mind… specially if the attacker is a “little” school bully. So I am not sure about the usefulness of any Karate including taekwondo on the most likely situations a child will experience in real life… the art could be counterproductive in those occassion.

But I have seen a video of a small girl in Florida that avoided an abduction from shopping mall by kicking the abductor… she was taking taekwondo and those kicks where enough to dissuade the abductor from continuing… so that part is possible.

But no doubt that a consistent test standard is needed and no doubt that sub-par school will avoid it.

]]> By: Melo/mother http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/black-belts-for-kids/#comment-11674 Melo/mother Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:08:40 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/?p=1372#comment-11674 I have two kids at age 7 and 11, the master want them to go for the black belt, however i think that it is just for the money I dont see how these kids could have a black belt at there age, who will they fight when they are 17 and 21 if they are in a realy fight, giving kids under 16 a black belt is just to get money out of the parents, go to the kids class and see what they are teaching your kids does it worth your black belt money I have two kids at age 7 and 11, the master want them to go for the black belt, however i think that it is just for the money I dont see how these kids could have a black belt at there age, who will they fight when they are 17 and 21 if they are in a realy fight, giving kids under 16 a black belt is just to get money out of the parents, go to the kids class and see what they are teaching your kids does it worth your black belt money

]]> By: LK http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/black-belts-for-kids/#comment-11440 LK Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:40:16 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/?p=1372#comment-11440 I think the main thing to understand is that a 1 st degree Black Belt is only a sign that you have achieved a BASIC understanding of your style. You can do the required forms, break and spar reasonably well, NOT that you have become a Master! No style is so complicated that it should take you 6-7 years to earn a Black Belt. If a child follows the exact curriculum as an adult and that adult is awarded a Black Belt for their efforts and the child is not awarded at least something, you are telling that child that all their hard work was for nothing. As you progress through the ranks of Black Belt a deeper understanding is required and a greater appreciation of the art is gained. I heard someone say that the first five ranks of black belt are what the student got from karate, the other five are what they gave back. I think the main thing to understand is that a 1 st degree Black Belt is only a sign that you have achieved a BASIC understanding of your style. You can do the required forms, break and spar reasonably well, NOT that you have become a Master! No style is so complicated that it should take you 6-7 years to earn a Black Belt. If a child follows the exact curriculum as an adult and that adult is awarded a Black Belt for their efforts and the child is not awarded at least something, you are telling that child that all their hard work was for nothing. As you progress through the ranks of Black Belt a deeper understanding is required and a greater appreciation of the art is gained. I heard someone say that the first five ranks of black belt are what the student got from karate, the other five are what they gave back.

]]> By: Marc G. http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/black-belts-for-kids/#comment-10695 Marc G. Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:33:49 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/?p=1372#comment-10695 I would agree that the belt is only worth the effort you spent to earn it. But, when anyone can earn one somewhere (even if not in your dojo) it still can have the effect of cheapening the meaning of it for everyone who did truly EARN it. But, then again, when all is said and done...it is just a strip of cloth. What it truly means is inside you. But, like I said on a personal level I would like to see it mean something more than what it is being reduced to. I would agree that the belt is only worth the effort you spent to earn it. But, when anyone can earn one somewhere (even if not in your dojo) it still can have the effect of cheapening the meaning of it for everyone who did truly EARN it. But, then again, when all is said and done…it is just a strip of cloth. What it truly means is inside you. But, like I said on a personal level I would like to see it mean something more than what it is being reduced to.

]]> By: Martial Arts News 6.14.09 « Striking Thoughts http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/black-belts-for-kids/#comment-10309 Martial Arts News 6.14.09 « Striking Thoughts Sun, 14 Jun 2009 12:07:03 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/?p=1372#comment-10309 [...] Development takes issue with black belts for kids. He was recently promoted to a black belt rank. He is nine years [...] [...] Development takes issue with black belts for kids. He was recently promoted to a black belt rank. He is nine years [...]

]]> By: Colin Wee http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/black-belts-for-kids/#comment-10287 Colin Wee Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:20:34 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/?p=1372#comment-10287 A black belt is worth as much as the effort you put in. It's not a comparison tool. I hear stories about young children grading to 2nd and 3rd dan. I try not to let it bother me, and make sure I get back to my own training quickly. So long as these black belt children don't come breaking into my home in the dead of the night, they'll not need to worry about the likes of me. Colin A black belt is worth as much as the effort you put in. It’s not a comparison tool. I hear stories about young children grading to 2nd and 3rd dan. I try not to let it bother me, and make sure I get back to my own training quickly. So long as these black belt children don’t come breaking into my home in the dead of the night, they’ll not need to worry about the likes of me.

Colin

]]> By: Nizzle http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/black-belts-for-kids/#comment-10286 Nizzle Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:20:04 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/?p=1372#comment-10286 There is no way any kid could honestly earn a blackbelt at a proper school! blackbelts do stand for knowing lots of techniques, knowing the proper way to use them AND being able to control the technique as well as the outcome of it. To be able to achieve these skills requires YEARS of training, thus even if you start your training as a child you'll probably be an adult before you manage to attain blackbelt status. I've heard some schools just hand out a new belt if someone wins a tournament or did a great demo (probably the case with your example), these schools are only in it for the money and do not deserve to be teaching at all in my opinion I've been training Karate for over 9 years now, and I'm up to 4th kyu.. and damn proud of it I did switch school (and style) recently and do notice that this school requires less perfection but still my opinion remains the same. There is no way any kid could honestly earn a blackbelt at a proper school!
blackbelts do stand for knowing lots of techniques, knowing the proper way to use them AND being able to control the technique as well as the outcome of it.
To be able to achieve these skills requires YEARS of training, thus even if you start your training as a child you’ll probably be an adult before you manage to attain blackbelt status.

I’ve heard some schools just hand out a new belt if someone wins a tournament or did a great demo (probably the case with your example), these schools are only in it for the money and do not deserve to be teaching at all in my opinion

I’ve been training Karate for over 9 years now, and I’m up to 4th kyu.. and damn proud of it

I did switch school (and style) recently and do notice that this school requires less perfection but still my opinion remains the same.

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