8 year old WHAT??!!

[DeeLovesKarate]

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Did anyone read in the paper about the 8 year old blackbelt??? Am I the only one who finds it rediculous that one of the few times M.A. get's media attention, it's for an 8 year old blackbelt? No one is gonna taker us seriously. In my school, the tigers ( little kids) blackbelt, when they come of age, changes into a young adult green belt, or something of that nature, and when the young adult becomes one, it changes into an adult purple belt, or something of that nature. Am I the only one who thinks that an 8 year old blackbelt is really not possible? I mean, the belt says his rank, but what are they basing it on? He can't be old enough. For a TIGER blackbelt, maybe, but an adult shodan blackbelt?? Come ON!! Any responses, please???

 

Please, please, please, please reply,

 

Grrrrrrrrr,

 

Dee [/img]

[John G]

Dee,

 

This was taken from an ITF forum written by a Mr. Billy Council

 

"I was standing in line at the grocery store today and happened to look down. On the cover of "World Weekly New" tabloid it said world's youngest ninja. 9 month old black belt."

 

Interesting....

[LeaF]

I totally disagree with have young blackbelts there is no way a children could ever understand or fully appreicate what it means to be a black belt. At my dojo we may not grad for shodan unti;l the age of 18. This would seem llike a problem (since I joined at age 8 ) but frankly I like it it teaches you patiences and really seperates the people who come to train seriously and are commited from the people that simply don't care. Edited August 6, 2002 by LeaF

[Radok]

"I was standing in line at the grocery store today and happened to look down. On the cover of "World Weekly New" tabloid it said world's youngest ninja. 9 month old black belt." I saw that to! what is up with the mc dojo's?

[ZeRo]

it should take 8 years or more to get your black belt anyway so im saying thats just not right. it shouldnt really happen.

[shaolinprincess]

We have a 6 yr old who is three belts from an black belt. BUT she will not get here black belt for years to come. I, and our dojo, do not agree in having really young black belts. This is that far cause her father is the sensei, so she has practiced all of her life...

[KickChick]

In the Okinawan/Japanese systems wearing a black belt is a sign of maturity.... in other words, the student has demonstrated mature physical growth, knowledge of the physical basics of their system, has demonstrated, over time, an ability to make sound judgments and has shown mental maturity.

 

In terms of the definition of a "black belt" there are many different ideas. Some systems promote students who are good athletes ... can kick high, punch hard, or win at tournaments. There is nothing wrong with this idea, but a "traditional" view of the black belt implies mental maturity. So if it's "sport" karate ... maybe getting a black belt means something entirely different!

 

I do believe there should be a "junior" black belt rank to recognize a 'child's' proficiency. Can they teach? Sometimes. Sometimes better than some adults. Can they make sound judgments about people? Sometimes. But not always. That takes experience and years of development. Should we "hold them back" until they are 16? Sometimes but not always. Those 'children' who demonstrate the ability of black belt status should be given junior black belts (IMO) and a full ranking should be held off until mental maturity has been demonstrated.

 

I believe there are different situations regarding a child receiving black belt rank. The master at our school has 4 children 2 of which received their black belts at age 9 (they have grown up in the dojo and they live and breathe TKD everyday!)

 

.... Is there such a thing as "senior citizen" black belt ... cos' I've seen some "older" students IMO that shouldn't have a black belt.

[LeaF]

I don't think you can compare a senior to a child. Seniors are fully mature (mentally of coarse alothough there are exceptions) so they should be able to handle the mental protion of being a black belt. Physically well the can vary. I have seen some seniors who can kick the living $hit out of people a third their age. And others who well have troble doing push ups but the compensate for this. By doing other tasks... around the dojo and for the dojo community. I definatly believe they have earned their place because I believe the mentiallity of the person is the most important thing, and te still did the katas and stuff...

[G95champ]

No....No.....and..........NO

 

Im sorry to those who disagree but there is no way a 8 year old or a kid below High School IMO can be sound enought mentally to have a blackbelt. I made mine when I was 18 and a SR. In High School and I flet I was not old enought then.

 

I personally will not test my kids for Shodan until they get to the age of 16. Then I will only do it for "good kids" in class, school, and home. Respect is hard to earn and eaisy to loose my blackbelts will represent me and our school and my teachers to the best of their ability. That can;t be done with out mental and emotional development.

[Kensai]

Sounds like a Mcdojo to me!

 

I my dojo, you have to be 18 to get your black belt. I think that is good system, because you are mature enough to understand the skills that you have aquired.