patusai Posted March 31, 2006 Posted March 31, 2006 I recently moved and saw a school next to a convenience store. I have nothing against it frankly. I saw what appeared to be shodan and nidan level students who were, if Istreach it a good ways, maybe 12 years old. I'm kinda thinking maybe 9 or 10 years old. Someone told me that the Green Ranger on the Power Rangers years ago (who9 was maybe 16) was a 4th degree black belt)I'm just curious. I know that back in the day that such things were different. What are (if any) the restrictions on rank for minors in the various styles? Are they any things that need to be done once they reach the a certain age that progress them from a child rank to an adult level?This may have been a topic before but I could not find it and I am so curious. Thank you so much for humoring an old man "Don't tell me the sky's the limit because I have seen footprints on the moon!" -- Paul Brandt
granmasterchen Posted March 31, 2006 Posted March 31, 2006 the youngest age i would make someone a real black belt is 16 and that kid must be awesome and truely dedicated to my school and martial arts as an art studied by anyone of anystyle. Normally i feel myself that you must be 18 to earn a black belt, but many 18 yr olds don't even show the mental maturity to hold the rank.....i must feel that person is mentally and physically ready for the rank before i offer them a chance to test. SO by going on the fact of mental age compared to physical/chronological age it may differ from one person to the next. But personnally i don't feel that children of a young age (below 15-16) should hold that rank, no offense to those that do but i feel they have not had enough experience in culture, society and arts world wide to hold the rank, even if they have been studying from the age of 4 or 5 and travelling around doing tournaments of if their father is a master....you may hold the physical knowledge but not the mental responsibilities yet, just my two cents though That which does not destroy me will only make me stronger
elbows_and_knees Posted March 31, 2006 Posted March 31, 2006 I recently moved and saw a school next to a convenience store. I have nothing against it frankly. I saw what appeared to be shodan and nidan level students who were, if Istreach it a good ways, maybe 12 years old. I'm kinda thinking maybe 9 or 10 years old. Someone told me that the Green Ranger on the Power Rangers years ago (who9 was maybe 16) was a 4th degree black belt)I'm just curious. I know that back in the day that such things were different. What are (if any) the restrictions on rank for minors in the various styles? Are they any things that need to be done once they reach the a certain age that progress them from a child rank to an adult level?This may have been a topic before but I could not find it and I am so curious. Thank you so much for humoring an old manyou mean the original green ranger - tommy? he was a tad older then he looked. Back then, he was about 19 or 20. He played a high school student on the show though. However, he's still too young to be a 6th degree bb, which is what he is now.In judo, you must be at least 16 (or was it 17) to get a bb. A lot of the jkd schools I've seen (and the one I went to) only accepted students around age 15 and up. at my thai boxing school, you must be at least 15. Those aren't style requirements though, they are school reqs. Judo is the only style I know of with a set age limit for a BB.
elbows_and_knees Posted March 31, 2006 Posted March 31, 2006 you may hold the physical knowledge but not the mental responsibilities yet, just my two cents thoughand they may not have the physical strength. when I was around fifteen, I had an eleven year old friend who was a 2nd degree in tkd. I was only an orange belt in shotokan and his strikes couldn't phase me. If he could do nothing against a 15 year old, what would he do against a grown man if necessary? I think that is something else that should be evaluated when considering an age for a bb.
patusai Posted March 31, 2006 Author Posted March 31, 2006 you mean the original green ranger - tommy? he was a tad older then he looked. Back then, he was about 19 or 20. He played a high school student on the show though. However, he's still too young to be a 6th degree bb, which is what he is now..6 degree at 20? Apparently MA is no longer requiring a lifetime of learning. Maybe that's the way it should be. I wonder who his instructor is? "Don't tell me the sky's the limit because I have seen footprints on the moon!" -- Paul Brandt
marie curie Posted March 31, 2006 Posted March 31, 2006 6 degree at 20? Apparently MA is no longer requiring a lifetime of learning. Maybe that's the way it should be. I wonder who his instructor is?Well really, isn't a BB "just the beginning" ? Just a thought.In my original style we never had a BB below 14, and the 14-yr-old was extaordinary in ability and maturity. In my current styles, I only train with adults.I'm watching a TV show right now about a 10-year-old BB inTKD.... I remember TKD BB's in my home town at 11 and 12 years old... and, having seen their techniques, I'm disinclined to think that this is a good idea in all cases. You suck-train harder.......................Don't block with your faceA good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. -Lao Tzu
UseoForce Posted April 1, 2006 Posted April 1, 2006 really, it all comes down to how you define a blackbelt, and there are as many definitions of a blackbelt as there are blackbelts themselves... If it works, use it!If not, throw it out!
parkerlineage Posted April 1, 2006 Posted April 1, 2006 Well really, isn't a BB "just the beginning" ? Just a thought. Good point. Really it should be - "a black belt is just the beginning of perfecting techniques that you spent years and years and years learning and refining to begin with."Age limit for AK black belt is 16, but it's not common, at least around where I live. American Kenpo Karate- First Degree Black Belt"He who hesitates, meditates in a horizontal position."Ed Parker
marie curie Posted April 1, 2006 Posted April 1, 2006 really, it all comes down to how you define a blackbelt, and there are as many definitions of a blackbelt as there are blackbelts themselves...That is very true. A system defines what a bb is to them- sometimes it is a very long, hard road, sometimes not long, but hard, sometimes neither, sometimes (very often, I've seen- too often) it's a very long road, but not hard... pretty much just put in your time, and keep learning things to a passing- not great- but passing degree. We got into this discussion about the term and rank of "Master" in another threadhttp://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=25606&highlight=master You suck-train harder.......................Don't block with your faceA good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. -Lao Tzu
Kieran-Lilith Posted April 1, 2006 Posted April 1, 2006 I'm not in favor of little blackbelts. I'm barely in favor of 16 year old BBs, and even then only if they're really, really, really dedicated, and have put in a lot of time, work, and are more mature than the rest of the insane teenage society.Really, I would prefer no BBs until 18. You're an adult then, and legally accountable for anything you might do. He who gains a victory over other men is strong; but he who gains a victory over himself is all powerful Lao-tsu
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