What age do you think is to young to have a blackbelt?

[IloveTKD]

koryo is the longest ive ever had to learn

[MartialArthur]

Being able to do the movmeents...heck, any monkey can do that (and have been trained to do so I might add), but being able to actually use tyhose skills when you need them is another story. Being able to pass on that information to others is also important, and a young person under the age of at least 16 (IMO) isn't capable of understanding the concepts needed to teach an art.

It is only the very rare and exceptional child (under 16) who is capable of being a black belt. I know a few of these children. They in no way "water down" the art, in fact they are shining examples of the benefits of martial arts. Our instructor program is a separate program. While all instructors are black belts, not all black belts are instructors. Under 18 cannot be certified as an instructor in our org.

[SubGrappler]

It is only the very rare and exceptional child (under 16) who is capable of being a black belt. I know a few of these children. They in no way "water down" the art, in fact they are shining examples of the benefits of martial arts. Our instructor program is a separate program. While all instructors are black belts, not all black belts are instructors. Under 18 cannot be certified as an instructor in our org.

I'd still disagree- a kid under 16 is not going to be able to defend himself against a grown man- period. As far as not watering down the martial art, you dont notice because the style has already been watered down from so many teenagers/kids in the past who have already recieved their black belts.

[Aodhan]

It is only the very rare and exceptional child (under 16) who is capable of being a black belt. I know a few of these children. They in no way "water down" the art, in fact they are shining examples of the benefits of martial arts. Our instructor program is a separate program. While all instructors are black belts, not all black belts are instructors. Under 18 cannot be certified as an instructor in our org.

I'd still disagree- a kid under 16 is not going to be able to defend himself against a grown man- period. As far as not watering down the martial art, you dont notice because the style has already been watered down from so many teenagers/kids in the past who have already recieved their black belts.

Well, if you use that as a basis, I know a lot of black belts that wouldn't qualify either. We have a 2nd degree in our school that is 5'2, and he is pretty weight appropriate. Someone 6'3, 270 that is fairly muscular is going to pose a huge problem for him. While I don't think that a 7 or 8 year old should be a black belt, I don't see a problem with early teens and up being black belts.

Aodhan

[MartialArthur]

Aodhan, that is an excellent example. I know several petite women who are very skilled and worthy of their black belt, but they may not be able to defend themselves against a 270 lb brute who knows what he's doing. On the other hand, I know a few 13 and 14 year olds who would quickly dispose of an average size man.

As far as not watering down the martial art, you dont notice because the style has already been watered down from so many teenagers/kids in the past who have already recieved their black belts.

I first started MA in 1983, so perhaps you are referring to a time before that. Since I have been in martial arts, I have seen an improvement in skills, training programs, techniques, cross training and the introduction of new styles to the mainstream. Today, most MA's introduce elements from other MA's that make them more effective. It seemed to be much more limited 20 years ago. If MMA existed back then, it was sure hard to find.

There were good and bad schools back then, and there are good and bad schools today. Today there are more of each.

[IloveTKD]

well, i dont think our club waters down the art especially because the people my age who tested did the exact same testing as the adults