bwesleyp

Thanks for the insight. After reading our post and giving it some thought I am going to speak with my instructors and do some serious contemplation before each future test. Like you, joesteph, I have limited time to train due to work and family obligations. I usually only get to go once or twice a week. I think I am going to step up my training at home and focus on my own preparation for each test and not worry with comparing my skills to others or evaluating the skills of others. I can only be focused on improving myself. maybe I can also take your advice and find someone to train informally with outside of class. As far as the "other school"... after reflecting on my conversation with the instructor, I am thinking you all are right. I also heard some negative feedback about an interview one of my classmates did with him. He got the same impression. Thanks for the feedback.

I am sure this topic has been covered several times before, but I have a school/teaching method dilemma. I have been attending a tae kwon do school for over a year and just reached blue belt level. I have the utmost respect for my instructors and the school. They run a great program and for the most part I enjoy the curriculum (we get to spar almost every class). It is a big school affiliated with a national organization. The majority of the students are kids/teens with a few adults. I am 36 y/o and I enjoy class with the other adult students. However, I am starting to have some questions/second guessing as to how qualified I am to be at the level I have achieved and how qualified those above me really are. I have no doubt about the skills of the instructors. They seem more than well qualified. However, I am starting to wonder if we are all being promoted just to be promoted? Are the senior belts in my school really at the level their belt designates? We test every two months and have a jr./sr. rank for each colored belt. Testing covers forms/sparring/self defense/board breaking. If you successfully pass each one of these skills you move forward. The only qualification to test is to perform the skill in front of the instructor prior to testing to earn a stripe and pay the testing fee. Following this schedule one could reach black belt in about 2 1/2 years. However, I look at the skills, flexibility, technique, drive, proficiency, and focus of some of the black belts and wonder how they would be compared to black belts from a more traditional style of teaching. How would they compare to other black belts around the nation? I don't claim to be any better than those above me, but I want to be the best I can be and want to truly earn my rank. This has led me to inquire in another school that has a more traditonal teaching method. My dilemma is that I don't want to turn my back on my original school after one year. I don't want to let them down. I was going to try attending both schools for a month to see which one I liked best...but I feel like I am cheating on someone. It sounds like the new school will make me start all over from white belt. The instructor at the traditonal school will not let observe a class. He insists that I sign up for one month and attend so he can evaulate me as a student and him as an instructor to see if it will work. He is a Korean Master and seems very knowledgeable. I don't know much about the traditional teaching methods and he would not offer much in a way of explanation. He rambled on about balance in all aspects of life, and "qualifying" me as a student. I was intrigued, but at the same time sense a little bit of B.S. I want to truly learn and be proficient not just advance for the sake of getting a new belt, but do not want to start all over. What to do? Is the school/training what I make of it? Should I be looking to my school instructors to make sure I am ready to advance?