Comments on: No More Black Belts For Kids! http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/black-belts-for-kids/ Martial arts for personal development Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:15:55 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: LK http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/black-belts-for-kids/comment-page-1/#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-page-1/#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-page-1/#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-page-1/#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-page-1/#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.

]]> By: Urban Samurai http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/black-belts-for-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-10285 Urban Samurai Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:38:23 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/?p=1372#comment-10285 When I see a kid with a black belt I assume it is a "junior" black belt, not the same as the belt an adult would wear. Giving a kid a full black belt is just ridiculous. What kind of understanding would a kid have of their art? Would they even be aware that they are practicing an art? Could they defend themselves against an adult? There are so many reasons not to go down this road. It smacks of commercialism to me - give them what they want and take their parents money. Lulling kids into a false sense of security like this is doing them no favors in the long run. When I see a kid with a black belt I assume it is a “junior” black belt, not the same as the belt an adult would wear. Giving a kid a full black belt is just ridiculous. What kind of understanding would a kid have of their art? Would they even be aware that they are practicing an art? Could they defend themselves against an adult? There are so many reasons not to go down this road. It smacks of commercialism to me – give them what they want and take their parents money. Lulling kids into a false sense of security like this is doing them no favors in the long run.

]]> By: Thomas Tan http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/black-belts-for-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-10284 Thomas Tan Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:54:05 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/?p=1372#comment-10284 "What good is a belt? It holds your pants up." Although I too have some romantic notions associated with the belt system (it does seem pretty cool to say you have a black belt), I've just about given up on worrying about it. I figure I should focus on improving my skills, not fretting about a ranking system. “What good is a belt? It holds your pants up.”

Although I too have some romantic notions associated with the belt system (it does seem pretty cool to say you have a black belt), I’ve just about given up on worrying about it. I figure I should focus on improving my skills, not fretting about a ranking system.

]]> By: Martial Arts Mom http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/black-belts-for-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-10281 Martial Arts Mom Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:20:33 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/?p=1372#comment-10281 A friend of mine has a child who has his black belt. He earned it at 11 years old. He cried - literally cried - to his mom the other day when a kid took his hand held video game and would not give it back. I have seen his kicks & kata and although he is good for his age, he is NOT black belt material by a long shot. Needless to say, the dojo he was attending was a McDojo and the "Master" there runs a church out of the same space and encourages his students and their families to give to his church. This guy also has his own picture on the back of all their gi's and in his yellow pages ad, posters, etc. Talk about full of himself. A friend of mine has a child who has his black belt. He earned it at 11 years old. He cried – literally cried – to his mom the other day when a kid took his hand held video game and would not give it back. I have seen his kicks & kata and although he is good for his age, he is NOT black belt material by a long shot. Needless to say, the dojo he was attending was a McDojo and the “Master” there runs a church out of the same space and encourages his students and their families to give to his church. This guy also has his own picture on the back of all their gi’s and in his yellow pages ad, posters, etc. Talk about full of himself.

]]> By: Scott http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/black-belts-for-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-10279 Scott Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:24:59 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/?p=1372#comment-10279 I've solved this problem in my kung-fu school. I give out any color of belt the students want. For performances some students choose blue, some yellow, some red, some black, some don't care for belts and choose a head band or arm band instead. The best solution to this problem is to dilute the expectations of what a black belt means. Confucius said, "True merit is its own reward." I’ve solved this problem in my kung-fu school. I give out any color of belt the students want.
For performances some students choose blue, some yellow, some red, some black, some don’t care for belts and choose a head band or arm band instead.
The best solution to this problem is to dilute the expectations of what a black belt means.
Confucius said, “True merit is its own reward.”

]]> By: Bobby P. http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/black-belts-for-kids/comment-page-1/#comment-10278 Bobby P. Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:20:35 +0000 http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/?p=1372#comment-10278 In my tae kwon do outfit they would not generally award a black belt until the kid reached the age of 16. Up until then you just wait. Though the masters could vote if there was someone exceptional. At my Kung fu school they have a kids program and an adult program. In the adult program there is no belts, sashes, etc. You just move from basic to intermediate and on to advanced. To keep the kids interested they do award colored sashes though I think there are only three or four colors. How about camouflaged belts? I kid you not. At a TKD tournament we once saw a school that had a few of their students in camouflaged belts. My instructor about came out of his skin when he saw it. :-) In my tae kwon do outfit they would not generally award a black belt until the kid reached the age of 16. Up until then you just wait. Though the masters could vote if there was someone exceptional.

At my Kung fu school they have a kids program and an adult program. In the adult program there is no belts, sashes, etc. You just move from basic to intermediate and on to advanced. To keep the kids interested they do award colored sashes though I think there are only three or four colors.

How about camouflaged belts? I kid you not. At a TKD tournament we once saw a school that had a few of their students in camouflaged belts. My instructor about came out of his skin when he saw it.

:-)

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