The Pred

, Now I remember you saying your Soke founded the art you study in his 30s. Did he promote himself from his current rank to Judan. Or did he slowly go up in rank. But if he did become a judan at 30ish, why would the by-laws be ex amount of age for say a rokudan. Please, I mean no disrespect. No disrespect taken!! We're speaking about 2 separate Tenure's; rank Tenure isn't age Tenure. In Shindokan, we do not place any Tenure with age; only with rank Tenure. As to the bold type above... http://www.karateforums.com/question-for-sensei8-vt48223.html I refer you to the bottom of page #1, 2nd paragraph of said thread. Yes now I remember !

, Now I remember you saying your Soke founded the art you study in his 30s. Did he promote himself from his current rank to Judan. Or did he slowly go up in rank. But if he did become a judan at 30ish, why would the by-laws be ex amount of age for say a rokudan. Please, I mean no disrespect.

There are always the X is better than Y, yet X isn't eligible yet due to a slight difference in age. But you have to draw the line somewhere. The drinking age is 21. What about a 19 year old who's fighting in a war, risking their life everyday? Have they not proven their maturity? Of course he/she has. Do we make an exception an put an asterisk on their ID card that says it's ok for them? No. The line has to be drawn somewhere. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, just stating fact. If someone is 16 and is better than an 18 year old that is worthy of their rank, then they'll still be worthy (barring unforeseen circumstances) when they're technically old enough to hold the rank. If they can't wait 2 more years to officially obtain that rank, then maybe they really didn't deserve it after all. You have to draw a line somewhere. Their will always be people who are exceptional or make you question the rule and make it seem unfair. But the line has to be drawn IMO. If your rule is 18, it's 18. If it's 16, it's 16. I'm not a die-hard believer in the rules are always the rules, regardless of the situation, but if its a great rule 99% of the time, enforcing it that last 1% of the time shouldn't cause major turmoil. If a student quits because he/she can't wait another year or two, they'll find another reason not too long after you've made the exception. Or they'll point to that exception next time a rule is enforced. Or others will. I'm a middle school teacher, so I'm a bit biased. I see parents and students point to an exception made for very good reason, and think it should apply to their child who has a different circumstance and the exception does not apply. Is it necessary though to have an age requirement? Drinking age, driving age and so on are set by governments because they cannot possibly hope to assess the maturity and character of each individual due to the shear number of people applying and holding licenses. The advantage we have in martial arts training is that we will spend 100's of hours training with an individual before they test for blackbelt so one would hope we can say something about the individual person and attest to their character rather than look at them as another statistic. We can actually pass a judgement on their maturity. I say this every time this type of topic comes up... but it really comes down to what you think a blackbelt represents and which doors it opens. I personally find it uncomfortable that an individual can surpass the physical and emotional requirements we associate with blackbelt yet be held back and barred from progressing within the curriculum simply because they are too young. I probably should add to this that I was awarded my 1st dan aged 14 and now at 24 hold my 4th dan so this probably colours my view.. Yeah, I mean if a student starts at 4, earns his brown belt in 5 years. He/she will be 9. So in the 9 years what do you? Do you have the student pay the normal tution rate? Or do you give them a black belt discount for waiting long? Or perhaps free quality gi for waiting.

Thanks for the feedback everyone, really appreciated. I guess my original point was. Oh, I'm in my early 30-40s, I'm going to start my own style. I then die then my students promote me to Judan, and or promote themselves to higher ranks. Then said students put on age restrictions for said rank, when they themselves would not have even meet them.

Now how can I say this with out being politically incorrect. A 16 year old male is physically stronger than an 18 year old female, yet, we would still (and rightfully so) let that female get the black belt. Not trying to sound offensive.

So would you not take a college class from a professor younger than you?

Now the topic of 10 year old black belt got me thinking. I totally understand, if you believe a person should be 18 to get a black belt. However, I find it ironic that people believe other certain rank should have a min age requirements. Since most founders of a well known systems would not even meet the min age requirements. Yes, I know their students promoted them after they died.

It would be just as challenging. Sure, he might be able to fall back on some experience, but by and large, its tough to beat a person who is in their physical prime.Very true !

Yes I would have to agree about the way parents can be, I think this is often true add many sporting events as well. My kids are involved in soccer and cheerleading and I can tell you I see a lot of the issues with the Parents. I do however, disagree with not allowing the parents and for the children's class especially. As a parent, I would not be as comfortable paying for something I could not view to see what my kid is learning. I teach with an open door policy and I encourage parents to stay and view their children hard work and class material. I think this happens to be one of the key points that keeps us successful at keeping students. I also have seen parents that help their kids out at home, because some of the athletic techniques we do as adults are very complicated for children. It's a great way to give them something to do together. I'm definitely not cutting down your place for doing it, I'm just saying it would not be a preference of mine to do so and offering insight as to why, take care. I tell the kids who turn around and look at their parents. Question do your parents go to school with you? They all say no, so I tell them not to look at their parents.

Trying to play devil's advocate here. Not counting mental maturity?, could a 70 year old man (who started training at 65) defend himself against a 30-35 year old man.

Personally, I didn't buy my Sensei's dojo; that would mean me buying the Hombu...and that's not possible. The Hombu is currently owned by the SKKA. I've owned 3 dojo's, and I've sold 3 dojo's; each one purchased by my highest ranking student of THAT dojo. If I open a 4th dojo here in Houston, TX, and when that time comes to retire...I'll offer it, as I've done before, to my highest ranking student. If I've no ranked high enough student at that time, then I'll seek help from the Hombu, or I'll leave that decision to my family to decide. Awesome

In regards to this topic. Has anyone ever bought a dojo from their current instructor? If so were you the highest ranking student, if not, how did things work out?

I always tell my younger students if they ever start feeling bored with it. Don't quit, just do just one less class than normal. One less class might be a huge difference maker for some. Now if it ends up with them only doing once class a week so be it. Better this than quiting.

If a school wants to do a junior black belt that's fine. However, if they are forced to retest for their shodan, it should be free.

Personally If I were you I would be the CI and owner. All your new students will start off as white belts anyhow. Furthermore, depending on how often you do promotions, by the time your students are at brown, you might already be a 2nd or 3rd dan.

Yes marketing towards kids will be your best bet. Do you plan on using contracts?

Best of luck, in terms of your competition, how many other martial arts schools are in the area that you plan on having your dojo?

Now is this dojo more of a sport dojo or streetfighting?

, thanks for your reply.

Was Greg older hence why he ranked senior to you despite starting 6 month later?

Furthermore, how old was your Soke when he founded Shindokan Saitou-Ryu? Isn't it when you find find your own art no matter the age you're automatically a 10th Dan?

Don't be to hard on yourself, as you stated before you were a JBB for 5 years so that should count for something. Besides yourself has there ever been people who gotten ranks just as fast as you or were you one of the execeptions.

Very insightful, thanks for the reply.

Now I browse these forms on a regular basis, however, I hardly post. However, I do find Sensei8 posts to be highly informative. Now here's my question, I remember seeing the post you made of when you started your martial arts training and when you earned your Hachidan. Did you feel at the time you met the so called time in grade requriements as some people say you need. I.E. Shodan-Nidan 2 years, Nidan-Sandan 3, etc. Or was that promotion political in nature.

If money isn't an option why not use both the judo gi top then, when it's time for kumite wear the heavyweight gi.