Need a shoulder to cry on.

[ps1]

That's really odd!! Being a black belt within the Kwanmukan myself, I've never heard of a rule that a black belt can't be an uki. Additionally, we usually pair people who are testing together to be uki for each other. Logistically it's easier because this way people who arent testing don't have to show up just to be an uki.

Your son should be old enough to be asking these questions on his own however. You said he's been training for 8 years. Even if he started at 5 years old, he'd be 13 years old. I say if he doesn't care enough to be asking these questions himself, he doesn't deserve to be testing anyway. I think Mr. Anderson and Mr. Caldwell would agree.

[marmaduke]

As I understand it, Sensei's make their own rules. No one has ever heard of the board breaking for a Bo test, but my sons school has been doing it for years. And as the Sensei himself always says... He's the slowest school to promote. He prefers a student knows everything required. before he promotes anyone.

As for the Ooki, the Sensei wanted a Green belt to help out for the experience. Thats his way.

And as for Kwanmukan, the Sensei is also into Kajukenbo. His philosophy is to teach each High rank belt something different. One person is into Judo, another is into cane Katas, another uses Eskrima sticks, etc. I'm sure Mr. Anderson of Mr. Ellis would not interfere in the way a Sensei teaches his own school.

I don't even think Mr. Anderson gives a flying Kata how a Sensei teaches his own school. Have you ever seen Mr. Anderson visit a local school? All I have ever seen of Mr. Anderson and his daughter have been at the Medina tournaments.

Oh, and I'm curious. How was your Black Belt test? Again, Sensei's school, Sensei's rules. No one other than the Judges, Ooki, and the student being tested is allowed in the Dojo during the test. That includes family. When my son was Ooki for his friends Black Belt test, I had to sit at McDonalds for 4 hrs during the test. One of the Judges brought his wife. She had to leave.

My son never argues with his Sensei. He follows instructions

P.S. Who's Mr. Caldwell

http://www.kwanmukan.com/members.kmk.html

Granted, the list is old, but I have never heard of a Mr. Caldwell.

.

[AngelaG]

I think that there could be some legal implications to not allowing a parent watch a test if they insisted, if the student is below 16 years of age.

[marie curie]

I would go with what your son wants. Does he mind? He's a teenager, right? Part of MA is life lessons, like "when do I really need to speak up?".

[marmaduke]

Hey !! My son passed his Bo test. 2 hours of Katas, sparring, question & answer sessions, and board breaking. The other Brown belt didn't. He couldn't break a board with a Bo thrust. You're supposed to do it in one thrust, but it took him 3 tries before he got it. The Sensei had my son do it for him. He had a girl hold the board with one hand, and my son broke the board with one thrust. He wanted to show the other Brown belt that it could be done easily.

With this test out of the way, my son has earned the right to wear a black Gi top to class. (Everyone wears white up to this point). All he has now is a 4 hr. Black Belt test scheduled for December.

[bushido_man96]

Congrats! Tell him to keep up the good work!