Patrick

Yeah, no reason to do it if you don't feel you're ready. Nerves are natural, though. Patrick

Welcome aboard, Matthias. Patrick

Congrats to the Lakers, Bob and the rest of their fans.

Congrats!

http://e3.gamespot.com/video/6266158/ Looks pretty cool.

My pleasure. Patrick

Thanks Brian. I think that, generally speaking, adults fall victim to the same trappings that a child or a minor might. I mean, what are the reasons you would withhold a black belt from someone, just because of their age? I've heard things like... 1. They aren't emotionally ready. 2. They aren't physically ready (strong enough). They can't fight. 3. It'll give them a big ego (might be the same as emotionally ready, but let me give it it's own place! ). The problem with these reasons is that all of these things are true for adults, as well. So, if that is the case, age becomes an arbitrary limitation that almost plays a stereotype. Yeah, most minors shouldn't reach black belt. But, most adults shouldn't, either, right? You should only reach it if you pass the necessary tests and gradings and have the appropriate knowledge. As an aside, the reason people hold back minors isn't always pure, either. For some people, it's a matter of insecurity. If a 13-17 year old can attain their rank, it somehow cheapens their rank or makes them feel like they are in some way inadequate. For some others, it could be a way to make more money, forcing them to test twice and earn the same belt twice. Just my thoughts. Thanks, Patrick

Chitsu, The legal question is a separate one to answer, I would say, and a good point to raise. I was speaking more to legitimacy and ability, than legal liability. That sort of choice must be investigated and weighed, certainly. I don't see it as a difficult correlation. People aren't born with some random ability to teach technology, any more than they are born with some random ability to teach martial arts. And the martial arts don't necessarily have to take any longer to reach a teachable level in. Understanding technology is a result of personal traits, time invested, attention to detail, practice and retention. Understanding the martial arts is a result of personal traits, time invested, attention to detail, practice and retention. (As an aside, what I was talking about wasn't really IT, though I suppose it may be IT related in some stretch, in that you sometimes use computers to achieve it. But, that's not a big deal. Online community and social media are more to do with people, than technology, as compared to general IT and the IT space). 19 is no longer a minor, so that's not really what I was speaking towards, but that doesn't really disprove what I said, anymore than it proves it. A small percentage of the population is able to teach. That includes both minors and adults. Those that do, have a desire to teach. When you were 19, did you have a serious desire to teach other people anything? Desire to teach is a very important component of this. You don't have two black belts, or whatever rank you want to start people teaching at, one who is 30 and one who is 19 and say "well, you're 30, so you teach." That's a recipe for disaster. It should be judged on merit and being on this earth for 11 years more does not give you inherent qualification as a better teacher - a better person to share knowledge with those who want to receive it. And even if you did have a desire to teach, you as a 19 year old does not reflect on anyone else as a 19 year old. Not that you were suggesting that - you weren't. There are 40 year olds who think they are indestructible. Thanks, Patrick

http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-of-the-day/cliffs-of-moher-couple/ Cool picture. Via Digg.

Welcome Pablo. Thanks for sharing that. Glad to have you.

Thanks for starting this thread. I listen to a lot of stuff: http://www.last.fm/user/iFroggy Some of the songs on repeat for me right now: "Hello Good Morning (Remix)" by Dirty Money featuring Rick Ross and T.I. "All I Do is Win (Remix)" by DJ Khaled featuring Rick Ross, Busta Rhymes, Diddy, Nicki Minaj, Fabolous, Jadakiss, Fat Joe, Swizz Beatz and T-Pain. "The Ghost of Christopher Wallace" by Jay Electronica featuring Diddy. "Hello Good Morning (Logan De Gaulle Remix)" by Dirty Money featuring T.I. "Find Your Love" by Drake. "I Want Your Love" by Dirty Money. "Power" by Kanye West featuring Dwele. "Airplanes Pt. II" by B.o.B featuring Eminem and Hayley Williams. Thanks, Patrick

Thanks for the note, Lupin1. I think that's the key there. It's a very rare 16-year-old who can teach adults effectively. Let's say that that is true. It's your opinion, which I respect. I don't agree with it, necessarily, but let's just say I do. Who's fault is that? Is it sometimes the fault of the adults or is it always the 16 year old? There are a few issues at work here. One of them is that we sometimes put too much into age. We dismiss youth and put false trust in adults, for no other reason than age. And then we get taken advantage of, for doing so. The second issue is perhaps one of manifestation. As an adult, some of us feel slighted that a minor is instructing us. We feel it is beneath us, that there is nothing they can teach us, because we are older than them. So, we manifest the weakness of this minor, even if it doesn't actually exist. We harp on the mistakes they make, when all people make mistakes. We remember when they are wrong, even though all people are wrong sometimes. And we see them with such a critical eye, an eye we'd never turn on our adult friends. People are people. The high school students looking to take advantage of a substitute teacher are no different than the adult martial artists looking to run roughshod over a 16 or 17 year old teaching them. Maybe you haven't met many vindictive adults, but I've met plenty. It may be somewhat rare to find a 16 year old that could lead a class that includes adults. I suppose. Part of this may be due to the stress the adults will place on the 16th year old, given this more critical eye. If you are at a good school where students have to earn their ranks, I don't know that it would necessarily be rare. But, if it is, I would say it's somewhat rare to find someone who has the ability to teach well, period. Not everyone is meant to teach. Not everyone is meant to get on stage and talk. Only a small percentage are. So, by it's very nature, only a small percentage of people are able to be a good teacher, whether they are 16 or 60. Thanks, Patrick

I'm pretty sure I could make a compelling case for why adults shouldn't be given black belts.

Good luck.

These seem to be pretty strong points to me. Age is a tricky thing and sometimes people get too hung up on it. This happens both ways. We disregard minors because they are too young, and we're too trusting of adults because they are old. Both of these are bad. I'm speaking at conferences more and more on the subjects of online community, social media and business and marketing as they relate to those areas. I have 10 years of experience in this space. I'm 25. I'm told I look younger than that, too. Chances are, when I step in the room, no one the depth of experience that I have. I would say a majority of the people I speak to are older than me (that % is slowly changing as I myself age). They can ignore what I say. But, it'll be at their own peril and ignorance. I see this as a similar thing. Most things you want to learn in life are experienced based. It doesn't matter if your instructor is 16 or 61. It doesn't matter if he or she can write his or her name on your piece of paper. All that matters is that he knows something that you want to know and can communicate that knowledge to you. And if you disregard the messenger of that experience because of their age alone, you do so because of issues that you have, not issues that that person has. Just my thoughts. Thanks, Patrick

Haha, yeah. But, we can still talk about other arts here, too. Like songwriting. Do we have any songwriters here? Thanks, Patrick

Hello, Thank you for visiting KarateForums.com. We removed a post from this thread in error. It can be found below. I apologize for the confusion. Thanks, Patrick

You're in the right place, but it's possible that you're the only one who has read this thread that does Shukokai. So, why not tell others about your art and what you'd like people to know about it? Welcome. Thanks, Patrick

Good luck to you nanook660.

Hey Sebastien. Glad to have you.

Welcome Rick, glad to have you here. Patrick

Congrats Conrad!

I went ahead and took care of that. Thanks. Patrick

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=44124 Via Digg.

Thanks for the replies, all. We appreciate the kind words about the community, GeoGiant. I'm really happy to hear it. Patrick