Kids and black belts

[jeffrogers]

His mom calls him "pumpkin head" He gets red in the face. But we have to call him "Sir"

[DarkAngel_Azrel]

I think there should me a minimum age restiction on what age you can recive a black belt i my opion i think you shouldnt be able to get balck belt unless your 15 . but as with life there is always exeptions so if the studant show exeptional skill then i think they should be able to get the belt but even the only over 12. my two cents worth

[Natural]

I'd understand, you need to keep practice you will be extreamly surpreise when people reach 1st 2nd dan they give up they think they know, you beginning to understand when you are 4th dan and upwards not even teth dan understand its has no limits.

[Mink]

through where Iam training 16 is the age used for a black belt grading, but over the years we have only came across 3 younger then 16 and grade them as a junior black belt . the belt is black with a white stripe through it with no kanji or dan. and a certificate saying shodan-ho (patential shodan)

 

but this is an area that is difficult what do you do when they turn 16 do they do another black belt grading as the adults do or should they just be given the black belt how would the junior black belt feel about this.?

[Drunken Monkey]

hmm, how about you consider giving the kid a black belt when he stops asking about it....

[Shorinryu Sensei]

Oh goody! My personal pet peeve! lol

 

I have seen a testing of a 6 year old for his black belt which was covered by the local paper and TV station. The kid was amazing for his age, but black belt material? Not even!

 

I've posted this before, but the way that I look at a black belt is this:

 

1. Does he have the maturity to be wearing that rank?

 

2. Are his techniques and knowledge of the art where it should be?

 

3. If I was absent from class, could this person step in and teach normal classes for me?

 

4. I think this is critical...can this person, against an average individual in a street fight, be able to defend himself or others against a larger, stronger opponent effectively?

 

I used to be an elementary school teacher, teaching grades 5-9 at various times. IMHO, kids under the age of 16 lack #1, #3 and #4.

[White Warlock]

Agree with Shorinryu Sensei

[MichiganTKD]

In our Organization, we don't have a minimum age for receiving a black belt. When a student can demonstrate the required techniques to the satisfaction of the Instructor and the judges, they are eligible for black belt. We do follow the Kukkiwon guidelines as far Dan testing ages for 2nd Dan on up. However, I expect to see Instructors and myself use a little common sense when recommending for promotion young kids. A 10 year old kid, no matter how exceptional, is still 10 years old. I would really have to be impressed with their technique and attitude before I allow them to test. Otherwise you get a bunch of grade school kids wearing something that implies good basics and effective technique. In fact, I've told student that Black Belt means your technique, as demonstrated in form and free fighting would work. Meaning you can effectively show speed, accuracy, stopping power, and control. If I feel that your technique would not work against somebody your size or bigger, I will not recommend you. And yes, I've seen more than a few Black belts in our Organization that I would not have promoted.

[turonaga]

that is why we in our dojo do not have students less than 17 years old.

[White Warlock]

Well, denying a child the opportunity to learn is far different than imposing false confidence. It is a very bad thing to give a child a black belt if the child does not have the proper state of mind. Such an action could cause a child to gain an overinflated ego, or consider himself 'better' than others.

 

It all pretty much goes back to the 'bragma' of belt rankings, which... for children... serves as a means to say, "i'm better than you are." And it is a rare child indeed that doesn't fall into that trap.