little black belts

[ShoreiSmurf]

That is what I figured, as well.

[Isshinryu_heart]

the real problem that my school is starting to have is that we teach students starting at age 4, so by the time they turn 13, they've already been training for 9 years. We've added in intermediate belts for the kids - like the 4 year olds get a white belt, then a white belt with a yellow stripe, etc. But we are still getting to the point where kids are reaching brown belt by 9. In my opinion, 9 or 10 is still too young to test a kid for junior black belt, because the test is almost as hard as the adult shodan. But the problem is, how do you get those kids to stay interested if they know they won't advance in rank in 3-4 years?

[bushido_man96]

Just recently at my school, we promoted an 8 and 9 year old to first degree black belt. We also have another 9 year old first degree, and a 12 or 13 year old that is a 2nd degree recommended. When I taught in my own school years ago, I had a few 5-6 graders that were first degrees as well. Now, all of these kids are good kids, and attend class regularly. They actually make it to more classes per week than I do. There technique is sound, and they know their material well. They can teach the forms and one-steps to the lower rank without any problems.

The kids that just recently promoted to black belt, and the older 2r black belt are all the kids of the school's head instructor. They have not been shown any favortism. As a matter of fact, they both no changed at their previous testing for this rank, for getting stuck in some spots on some forms, and not meeting the board breaking requirements. The head instructor/dad has, on several occasions, held his own children, along with some of the others, out of testings because he felt that they were not ready.

So in my school, we do have young black belts, but they do earn it. All of our kids have pretty good technique for the most part. But, they are still kids, and there are still some things that will come better to them as adults. I do feel that by the time they get there, they will appreciate how they came about to be black belts.

[bushido_man96]

the real problem that my school is starting to have is that we teach students starting at age 4, so by the time they turn 13, they've already been training for 9 years. We've added in intermediate belts for the kids - like the 4 year olds get a white belt, then a white belt with a yellow stripe, etc. But we are still getting to the point where kids are reaching brown belt by 9. In my opinion, 9 or 10 is still too young to test a kid for junior black belt, because the test is almost as hard as the adult shodan. But the problem is, how do you get those kids to stay interested if they know they won't advance in rank in 3-4 years?

For our 4-6 year olds, we have a criteria set in which they work on things like focus, physical fitness, control, balance, memory, and such, by playing little games to keep it fun. There are a total of 7 stripes that they can get, and once they get all 7, they test. The testing is just a recap of demonstrating each skill that they get a stripe for, but they do it with less help from the instructor; it is more independent. All of their belts are white, but each one has a different color of stripe through the middle, like yellow, orange, green, and the highest is brown or red. Usually by the time they get through, they are of an age to get into the regular kids class. By that time they have some basic technique down, and know the respect and formal part of the system well enough to fit in. Each child is evaluated for their maturity level to see if they are ready. And usually by the time they are 7 years old, they go into the regular class. So during this time they do not gain any rank, but are still learning and having fun.

[MartialArthur]

I wonder if little blackbelts are something that are only in America??

I have heard that in China they start training children at a very young age. Another post on this board from someone in Korea said that almost all school children learn Taekwondo, but almost no one takes it as an adult.

I would think that in each case a child could earn a rank appropriate for their skill level.

..

[Blackbeltblonde]

Are you sure they weren't junior black belts? I know that in my school if you were under 14 or 15 you got a junior black belt.

Just a thought.

~BBB

[jaymac]

All in all, MA is different for everyone. For many, it is a lifestyle. If you have a child who started taking preschool classes at age 4 and has stuck with the school for over 7 or 8 years and advanced in rank and then all of a sudden, he/she cannot test for black belt even after knowing the requirements and maybe putting more time and effort in than older students, then you will probably lose their business. If Black Belt is the beginning of true learning, then even if they receive their black belt as a child, everytime they come to that dojo, they are going to improve. Teaching someone MA and their learning the system, their enjoyment of the Arts, and their constant improvement should mean something. I guess I would rather have a child grow with the MA and love it and have him/her as a student forever, than turn them away because I felt they were too young to wear a black belt. This was a good post.

[bushido_man96]

My son is 5 months old. I hope to start teaching him martial arts as soon as I can. Hopefully he will embrace it. If I get to start him early, I hope to get him past some of things that give me trouble. I will probably wait to start him in TKD classes until he is 5 or 6 years old. I want him to be technically sound with the very basics when he starts.

[ShoreiSmurf]

jaymac: I agree with you 100%. If they earn it they should get it. However, like I said, my state athletic board does not reconize black belts under 16 at tournaments. So we have to work around that

[longarm25]

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?

I think Tommy Franks is in his late 20's. I don't know that he's a 6th Dan. But he bought his 1st school franchise at 17. He has a school near me. I know some folks who have trained with him. He was older than 17 when he starred in Power Rangers.

He is in his 30's now and is a 6th dan.

Here is the website for his school:

http://www.risingsunkarate.com/

AoG

According to the internet http://www.ndcma.com/JasonDavidFrank.html

Kyoshi Jason David Frank 6 th degree Black Belt Achieved his 6th degree black belt in 1998 Tom Rivers New Jersey under Master Rick Herbster:

way to young my school wont allow kids to test until age 16 but even that is rare besides since when does belt color matter?