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Korean Martial ArtsDiscuss Korean style martial arts here - Hapkido, Hwa Rang Do, Jidokwan, Kuk Sool Won, Kumdo, Soo Bahk Do, Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do, Yudo
I heard that in Tae Kwon Do, they don't give out the black belt to someone young (under ~13 yrs), but give them a belt that has top half black but bottom half red.
Jet Li Fan,
Yes, that is true. At least as I remember in Korea.
Black/Red belt for juvenile is equivalent to an adult black belt. All the training and testing up to that point is totally identical.
I think the reason for the separate belt is really for not giving the young new blackbelt too much 'ego' that could eventually hurt them. They may have memorized all the forms and they may know how to execute the proper punches and kicks, but their body is not same as fully grown man. A yellow adult belt is always going to win a fight against a child black belt.
If I remember correctly, it only applies to their first black belt. Once they get passed their 2nd belt, they can get the blackbelt. Or, get to a certain age.
Are all those colors necessary? Did the ancient monks and warriors also get those colored cloth around their waist when they trained in the mountains?
I certainly can't see Ninjas dressed in all black but wearing bright orange belts.......
__________________
" ... Those who win every battle are not really skillful - those who render others' helpless without fighting are the best of all." - Sun Tzu
Belts are a way of creating a curriculum for a martial art, rather than simply learning whatever one's master decided to teach. Belts are a modernization, creating a system rather than simply a way (a Do). The number of belts in a system may grow occasionally to make the system seem more palletable, instead of getting so much information and staying at one level for a long time, it gets broken into more belts so that students can stay motivated. Granted motivation shouldn't come from the belt your wear. Schools use belts as a way of organization of material, as well as motivation for students (especially if the students are also customers in today's world).
I know some high-ranking young people who are very skilled, perhaps even more skilled than a low-ranking adult. Skill is generally individual, not age-based. A junior blackbelt could have had more years of experience with the art than an adult yellow belt as well.
As I remember from Korea in the 70's, only 20 some years after Tae Kwon Do was founded (After the Korean War) there were only 6 different colors - White, Yellow, Green, Blue, Red, and Black. You start off as 10th Gup (White Belt) and you go down to 1st Gup (Red Belt), changing color every 2 Gups until you get your First Dan (Black belt)
But there are other styles of Tae Kwon Do (Tae Kwon Do probably has the most number of different associations doing different things) and they have added additional colors.
In Tang Soo Do, you add a stripe between changing colors.
In Hwa Rang Do, there are 10 different colors so you can change color belts with each advancements.
In some Korean styles [maybe others as well], the Black/Red belt can also be a rank in the belt rank structure. Not specifically for rugrats, just a general rank in the ladder. Ususally it would/could be referred to as Jr. Black Belt, often after Brown Belt and before Black Belt. Also some may use it as a probationary Black belt before recieving official federation belt.
Personally, I like the old ways in regards to belts. I think there ought to be only three, White, Brown and Black. It's hard to find that anymore, especially in America because society puts so much emphasis on your belt color here in the states.
__________________ Very Respectfully,
Tim Nelson.
Dan. / YSL Hapmudo.
<a href=\'http://www.Hapmudo.net\' target=\'_blank\'>http://www.Hapmudo.net</a>.
In HRD, Black/Red is 1st Gup so it's an actual belt and a level that everybody has to go through, regardless of your age. However, the topic started was on Tae Kwon Do.
In US, the additional belts system can be seen as a marketing tool as well. The students glad pay for a new belt when they advance and the school makes more profit by having more colored belts than just a few.
Originally posted by ungraspable@Jun 12 2006, 06:29 PM Really? At my studio in California, that wasn't true. There is a belt inbetween red and black that is half red and black. That's very interesting.
At our school they will allow a child to reach black belt decided, then at that point they go to a slightly different way of promotion. The have red and then black Chevrons they earn and wear on the sleeve of their uniform. If they have completed all the training and are then 18 they are a 2nd degree black belt.
I tried to keep the explaination short mainly because I am not that familiar with the youth black belt program yet, as my son is up to green advanced belt right now.
Depends on where the school is and their choices for their students. Some people physically are able to perform well at 11/12 and even younger.
A black belt doesn't signify mastery. It should really signify what that person can do, and even more importantly what they can teach to others around them.
at seong's academy in fredericksburg, va where i studied for awhile, we started with no belt, and had to take a test for our white belt. i went through 11 gups, and 1st gup there was half red half black. the next belt was 1st dan. come to think of it there was a kid who was 11 who received a 1st dan...that's not to say that seong's was a McDojo's, because it wasn't Master Seong was a combat instructer for the u.s. and south korean forces during the korean war. and it's been awhile since i've taken a class or practiced but the three basic kicks roundhouse, side, front snap and all there variations are still fresh in my mind. variation like step side kick, spinning jump roundhouse, etc.
Depends on where the school is and their choices for their students. Some people physically are able to perform well at 11/12 and even younger.
A black belt doesn't signify mastery. It should really signify what that person can do, and even more importantly what they can teach to others around them.
Yes, I agree. At each Belt Ceremony all students are reminded that Black Belt is an excellent goal for motivation, but that is where your REAL training begins. Meaning that up to the black belt you are just learining the basics of Tae Kwon Do - beyond black belt is where you can start to really learn and utilize the martial art. Our black belt students help with training of the lower ranks during every class. I am thankful we have so many dedicated black belts for me to work out with - without them i do not think I would be as far along as I am now.
Black Belt vs. Half Black and Red
Linear Mode
