At what age is one ready for Shodan?

[Takeda Shingen]

...or brown belt kyu for that matter?

Some argue that mental maturity and ability to function as a sempai in the dojo is also a pre-req...

I see very young children running around with brown/black belts...

Thoughts?

Osu.

TS

[b3n]

I voted <17, anyone 15-16 and over should be able. The options should be <15 and 16<.

[karatekid1975]

I'm 30 and I'm not ready for shodan ....

[Meguro]

I didn't vote because I don't think it has anything to do with age. A lot of it depends on what shodan means in your dojo. If shodan means the memorization of a certain number of kata, attendance, and display of a certain skill set, there are plenty of 13 year olds who deserve a shodan, and many younger than that. Other dojo might expect their shodan to be able to teach, in which case some other criteria might be used. Some dojo give out a jr. black belt for young students, requiring them to retest when they get older to get a senior black belt.

I think it should be left up to your instructor; whenever he/she decides you're ready.

[y2_sub]

Meguro is right , it has nothing to do with age , I voted for <17 because if he deserve to be a shodan @ that age then why not

[Jay]

if your good enough why not at any age?

[feels]

Different styles. Different standards.

A rule of thumb for many Kyokushin dojos is...

At least, 18 years old

Ability to lead training

Kihon, ido geiko, kata, and strength requirements

Tournament experience

10-man kumite

[AndrewGreen]

There are 35 year olds with less mental maturity then the average 12 year old...

[Pralgo]

16 year old minimum age

[kivikala]

Per custom, I use the age of 18 as the subjective line. There's no magic to that number. Come to think of it, in my school, no one under 24 has ever made it to black belt. Hmm well whadda know.