Is this ok?

[marie curie]

One of my instructors is going to be teaching TKD at a local community center in about 6 months. He has BB's in (I think) two styles of TKD. The one that he is teaching is the very popular -you can get your BB in two years- kind. It's what has been taught there up until this point, and the center wants to keep its current students on track, and that is what the center wants taught, so that's what he'll teach.

Anyway, he'd like some TKD BBs to help out around the class (he has 6-12 year olds). He offered to, in the next six months, catch me up and promote to BB.

I did TKD for one semester in school before, and I have 4 years of karate, 2.5 of Kajukenbo, 2 of BJJ, and 3 of Judo, as well as one Study Abroad worth of Kung Fu. Because of all of this I pick up techniques and forms pretty quickly, and with my karate background all I'm lacking is the set of forms and kicks. I have no doubt that I will have all the material down by the time that he wants to promote me, and I will have a total of 10 months in, where its usually a min of 2 years to BB.

I don't think that this is a huge deal, since I'll know and be able to execute everything, and he will need help teaching, but I was just curious as to some other opinions on the situation.

Thanks!

[bushido_man96]

If you don't feel right doing this, then don't do it. If you feel that it isn't fair to yourself or anyone else involved (including teachers, students, and peers) then just exclude yourself from it.

On the other side, I can see where he would ask you to do this, with all of the prior experience that you have (although it does still sound a little off). However, whatever you feel is right is what you should do.

[Kieran-Lilith]

Well, we've all heard of people being promoted more quickly and things like that due to previous MA experience or rank. This sounds pretty similar to me. It does seem a bit off to me, but the reality is he probably needs help managing the kids and BB authority is what gets it right off. I can see where he'd be coming from on this one. The 6-12 group can be right little monsters sometimes.

[lordtariel]

With that much background experience, it shouldn't take that long to get to black belt. However, 1st black to higher levels of black should take you longer. If not I'd be concerned.

[marie curie]

Thanks for the responses- yeh, I'm going to do it because I think that he really could use the help and I shouldn't have any problem learning what I need to to be qualified. I just wanted to hear some other opinions to see how the situation might be viewed.

[jaymac]

You do have alot of great experience. Just out of curiosity, what is your current rank with this instructor?

[marie curie]

In both Judo and Kajukenbo (he teaches both) I'm going up to test for my green belt, which is just under brown in both arts.

[jaymac]

I feel that if you are diligently training to earn a black belt in that style, then it would be of no worry, but if he is ranking you just because he needs another adult black belt instructor, then it would be something I may have questioned also. I am sure you are qualified to do such a thing, but I would think in order to rank so quickly in that style, it would take 4 - 5 nights of training with him exclusively in that art. I believe Bill "Superfoot" Wallace earned a black belt in one year, but he trained everyday in order to do so. Good luck in whatever you do. You have great experience behind you to get you to your goal.

[marie curie]

Thanks jaymac!

[Montana]

Question: Why does the instructor feel you need to have a black belt before helping him out in class? I see no problems with a green belt helping.