no belt start

[sickwithit13]

i just started at Talium (https://www.talium4me.com) and they started me at no belt rather than white belt. Has anyone heard of this or is this common?

[dllee]

We start everyone with no belt even a white belt has to be earned

[solar_kid]

I'd never heard of that till now. The white belt comes with the getup at our dojo.

[gcav]

I've never heard of "no belt", but then everything is different for each school. If you are a no belt, how do you keep your gi top closed?

[sickwithit13]

you dont keep your uniform closed. its one of the cheaper ones where it's a pull over

[Shorinryu Sensei]

I've heard of "no belt" before when you start (I don't do it however). Do they charge test fee's to go from no belt to white belt? If so, it's probably an excuse to get more money out of you.

 

The same thing applies sometimes if they have 10 below black belt ranks, but have stripes for different levels of the same colored belt. It's often times used to get more testing fee's. It's often a good sign of a McDojo also. Let the buyer beware.

[TSDMGK_K40]

When I used to teach full time, I used to do this.

 

I would make them earn their white belt. It usually took them around 3 classes. I would basically just see what they're ability to learn and retain was, once they learned a few basics, and couple stances, and the first quarter of the first basic form, then I would promote them to 10th gup white. I wanted them to understand that they always had to earn everything, and not to expect any handouts.

[delta1]

I've seen this done before, and it is a good idea, I think. Students start out in a begginers class, or a probationary period. They don't have to buy a uniform, so they can go a couple of months and see if they want to stay with it before investing too much. Also, the instructorgets to see if they want to keep the person as a student, and when they join the regular class they at least have an idea about some of the basics and don't feel so out of place. They are promoted into the regular class and given their white belt, so they have more of a feeling of accomplishment and belonging.

[Sphintai]

Same here, I believe in the old 'Subak' saying. White is inocense. So, inosence can be compared with the lack of knowledge a beginner student has in the martial art.

[Red J]

They should give you a white belt. If you have to test and pay, then I would be skeptical.