10 year old Black Belts!

[sensei8]

Not every dojo that awards JBB are trying to pad the bottom line on a P&L Statement. It's an time honored act that's done not for money but for awarding those from the ages of 13-18 years old who have earned them. Those styles of the MA that use them will have a hard time convincing those styles of the MA that don't use them, and vise versa.

I can see a lot of strong points from both sides of the fence.

[Rez]

there are some young black belt in mt Dojang as well. When I mention this to the assistant instructor when my family was signing up, he rolled his eyes and said... "Not all of these kids earn their belt in this dojang. Some transferred over from another school that closed."

[Hawkmoon]

A sensitive subject ....it involves your child, someone elses child....tears angry parents the list goes on and the emotions get hotter and wilder even public!

I look at this as Junior Black belts are just that 'junior', its not an insult its not a bad thing it's a good thing it should be promoted!

Its the future of the club, the style the art!

'Kids' need to see progress, this means a peer from there own group/age who they can relate to wearing what they do and will see as the high(est) grade! If stopping a kid from grading to 'black belt' is so bad, so is grading to brown, and so 2nd kyu, what about 3rd kyu, they are all senior grades!

Here really the question is when should a 'kid' be told you cannot grade?

A short answer is never, allow them to grade.

I feel they should grade to 'black' belt. In this way the other children see a bright future they see the final goal (in there mind the black belt is the achievement rather than just the beginning).

When it comes the time they move to the senior class, they are allowed to stand in the front row, next to the highest brown belt, and according to the senior class grading rules train to take the senior black belt/sho dan exam.

[sensei8]

Should a 'kid' grade if they've failed the testing cycle? No!!

Building false securities is the responsibility of the Sensei. I'll allow them to grade/test, but I'll not pass them if they don't deserve it. Yes, I know when they're ready, but sometimes, adults and kids, fall apart unknowingly during a testing cycle. When that happens, I'm sorry, but I can't and won't pass them. Mizu No Kororo and Tsuki No Kokoro; Mind like the water and mind like the moon, and when things fall apart, failing them is the only option for the moment.

Yes, 'kids' need to see their peers grade up because it builds up their betterment, and if the student is worthy of the grade, then by all means, award them accordingly.

[Hawkmoon]

Should a 'kid' grade if they've failed the testing cycle? No!!

In my haste (I am at work officially) If I missed a meaning or a comment about 'passing' students no matter what blah, blah sorry all I'll work on that.

I failed

No I agree if you were not good enough you fail. no question or discussion, take the failure as a way to focus and do better next time, no matter what the age or relationship to you the student is.

[sensei8]

No, you didn't mention anything about 'passing', and having read it again, I suppose when you mentioned 'grade' you were referring to the testing cycle itself. In that, I concur, allow the student to grade, after that, it's up to the student to 'pass' said grade.

[AdamKralic]

Ultimately it is ALWAYS what the child puts into it. ALWAYS.

My son trains hard...harder than many adults do I'd recon. He fights in about 5 or 6 tournaments per year that are high level and 2 per year that are closed tournaments and thusly much weaker imo.

His school is a bit of a McDojo chain...but he's elite amoungst them. He is always fighting people several belt levels above him in class...and is absolutely crushing them.

Now does it get me irked that children that are not worthy are getting black belts at his school? Yes. When my son is eligible in 1 year for his will I feel that he did not earn it? No. In a year my son will be amazingly good at karate for any age trying for Dan.

My son will be 13 and a 1/2 at first black belt exam possibility.

[Hawkmoon]

Good luck to your boy for his grading!

Children do work harder than many seniors students, odd really when you step back and look and compare!

What I can't make my mind up about is if its due to the child's confidence, arrogance or simply that they are ignorant of the impact of the effort and work rate, (by this I mean there dire need to impress!)

[Nidan Melbourne]

at my dojo we have about 7 junior black belts as they worked hard to attain the rank of black belt. BUT they aren't allowed to grade for 1st dan until they are a minimum of 14 or 15.

and we have about 300-400 students at my dojo (17 classes per week overall) and we have between 17 and 25 Black Belts (including Dan Grades).

But we don't allow students to grade for their black belt until they are 12-13 at a minimum. so they will be on it for 18 months before they go for their Shodan. and 18 months for us is a minimum before you can grade for shodan

[sensei8]

Have to be 18 years old to test for Shodan in Shindokan...No exceptions!!