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Styles: Western Boxing, Tai Chi, Animal Form Kung Fu, and Wing Chun
Posts: 1,932
Home Country:
Depends on what you believe a black belt is. If you believe it is a proficiency in prerequisite movement, forms, and physical skill, or even worse money spent, then it doesn't really matter what age a person is, does it?
If you believe a black belt signifies a certain responsibility and understanding of the basics and concepts of an art to a degree that the art can be used to fight and even better teach, then a young age would definitley be a detriment.
Working on the theory of it takes 3 years then the little fella in the above video could be a black belt before he is 8.
Is that a good or a bad thing?
He has dedication application stance and a hunger to learn when it comes to Karate but he doesnt understand the true meaning of karate but thats mainly due to his young age.
whats your thoughts on potential 8 year old black belts?
I think you misunderstand the parable. A young child simply does not have the mental capabilities to handle a blackbelt. A blackbelt is not something you simply earn, it is something you become. In my school, we test people every 3 months. Children under 12 are given an easier curriculum and thus take twice as long to get to ichi-kyu. Once a student reaches ichi-kyu, they may sit there at that rank for 6 months to a year depending on the student. IF (notice the large lettering) they have shown the blackbelt spirit, then they may get INVITED to test for blackbelt. On the test, they are tested on the technical aspects of possessing a blackbelt. IF (notice the large "if" again) they show that they know the technical aspects, AND they have shown a pattern of blackbelt attitude, they MIGHT pass their blackbelt test. Now, no child is even elegible to TRY to test for their blackbelt until they are 12 years old. Even then, if they are not mature enough, then they are passed over. In our system, you will never find a blackbelt under 12 years old.
Blackbelt is overrated, Its the martial arts that matters not the rag around your middle.
My sensai told me the other day.
'Your belt only covers two inches of your ass, you have to do the rest!'
He took the quote from a book but lets remember belts werent originally designed to grade and compare students they were for lower back support and wiping the sweat, mud and blood from yourself.
I really don't see the need for a junior blackbelt. With reasonable time intervals between gradings, by the time students get to the last belt before black, be it brown, red or whatever, they should realize that belts shouldn't be the motivation for their training. At least that's how I see it.
I really don't see the need for a junior blackbelt. With reasonable time intervals between gradings, by the time students get to the last belt before black, be it brown, red or whatever, they should realize that belts shouldn't be the motivation for their training. At least that's how I see it.
In my school, you can't even test for the first brown belt (3rd kyu) until age 14, and if someone doesn't like it, they are free to leave. But the kids are used to testing once a year, so this whole thing isn't much of a problem here.
In my school, you can't even test for the first brown belt (3rd kyu) until age 14, and if someone doesn't like it, they are free to leave. But the kids are used to testing once a year, so this whole thing isn't much of a problem here.
theres a wadu rye karate school near where I live, I would go but the class times are exactly the same as my taijutsu classes, I spoke to the instructor and Ive heard very good things about the teaching there.
I heard a parable that sounded almost exactly like this one once. It really has no ending though, so you have to take from it what you will:
A young man went to an old Karate master and asked "Master, my father is extreemly ill. His dying wish is for me to become a blackbelt in karate. If I train really hard every other day, how long will it take to achieve blackbelt?" The old Master replied "If you train really hard? Every other day? Three years." The young man was discouraged and walked away in a huff. Two days later he returned and asked "Master, if I train really hard EVERY DAY, how long would it take to achieve a blackbelt?" The masters reply: "If you train really hard? Every day??? 7 years." The young man was even more discouraged and stomped off. A week later, the young man returned and asked "Master, if I train really hard, train every day, live with you and train all day at the dojo, how long will it take to achieve a blackbelt?" The masters reply: "If you train really hard? Every day? live with me?? train every day all day?? Why, it would take you 30 years!" The young man looked down and said "Yes sensei", and walked into the dojo. Within 3 years, the man had attained the rank of blackbelt. There are no short cuts.
Three years was too short, his master should have been wiser
__________________ What do I know? Since I didn't post my styles or experience, I have no experience, no knowledge, no say.
That post before mine, was that for post counting? How about the one after?
Hey, my post count has the same palaverment tone as anyone elses'
I think you misunderstand the parable. A young child simply does not have the mental capabilities to handle a blackbelt. A blackbelt is not something you simply earn, it is something you become. In my school, we test people every 3 months. Children under 12 are given an easier curriculum and thus take twice as long to get to ichi-kyu. Once a student reaches ichi-kyu, they may sit there at that rank for 6 months to a year depending on the student. IF (notice the large lettering) they have shown the blackbelt spirit, then they may get INVITED to test for blackbelt. On the test, they are tested on the technical aspects of possessing a blackbelt. IF (notice the large "if" again) they show that they know the technical aspects, AND they have shown a pattern of blackbelt attitude, they MIGHT pass their blackbelt test. Now, no child is even elegible to TRY to test for their blackbelt until they are 12 years old. Even then, if they are not mature enough, then they are passed over. In our system, you will never find a blackbelt under 12 years old.
So what, there are 13 and 14 year old black belts?
Why stop at 12?
__________________ What do I know? Since I didn't post my styles or experience, I have no experience, no knowledge, no say.
That post before mine, was that for post counting? How about the one after?
Hey, my post count has the same palaverment tone as anyone elses'
In my school, you can't even test for the first brown belt (3rd kyu) until age 14, and if someone doesn't like it, they are free to leave. But the kids are used to testing once a year, so this whole thing isn't much of a problem here.
As it should be.
But other schools have to "sell out" to keep up the dollars, er enrollment.
__________________ What do I know? Since I didn't post my styles or experience, I have no experience, no knowledge, no say.
That post before mine, was that for post counting? How about the one after?
Hey, my post count has the same palaverment tone as anyone elses'
Black belt in Karate
A young child simply does not have the mental capabilities to handle a blackbelt. A blackbelt is not something you simply earn, it is something you become. In my school, we test people every 3 months. Children under 12 are given an easier curriculum and thus take twice as long to get to ichi-kyu. Once a student reaches ichi-kyu, they may sit there at that rank for 6 months to a year depending on the student. IF (notice the large lettering) they have shown the blackbelt spirit, then they may get INVITED to test for blackbelt. On the test, they are tested on the technical aspects of possessing a blackbelt. IF (notice the large "if" again) they show that they know the technical aspects, AND they have shown a pattern of blackbelt attitude, they MIGHT pass their blackbelt test. Now, no child is even elegible to TRY to test for their blackbelt until they are 12 years old. Even then, if they are not mature enough, then they are passed over. In our system, you will never find a blackbelt under 12 years old.
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