Immature/Rowdy Red Belt

[pdbnb]

(Re-post from the Korean MA section.)

In our adult TKD class, the highest ranking non-Dan student is a 13-year-old 2nd Kup (red belt) who seems to suffer from hyperactivity. He's always running around, cartwheeling, dancing (!), and trying to be funny. This bothers me, as someone much older, because this kid should be looking to set an example for me (a 10th kup) and everyone else who's not a black belt.

My question is: should this kid have/be allowed to keep a red belt? Bear in mind, I've seen 9-year-old 9th kups from the Juniors class behave better and more respectfully than him, and right there at his side is a 5th kup his own age who takes classes seriously and has excellent attitude and technique.

Final note: this kid's mother often sits in on classes, and she's a prototypical blonde, upper-middle-class soccer mum. I bet she thinks her little angel is a precious little snowflake and boys will be boys (ignoring the 11 year old 9th kup behaving better than him and actually keeping up with the adults). Also the instructor has told me this kid 'has gotten a bit better', and yet still tells him off regularly (my favourite: 'My foot is about to move across the room and kick you' )

Sorry for the long, rambling dissertation, but this has been bugging me...

[cheesefrysamurai]

I'm very curious about what the pros might say.

As far as I know, character is an important part of rank.

I am surprised that he got as far as he did. Its unbecoming of rank to be a class clown.

Has he been addressed? Does his mother laugh when he disrupts class?

[pdbnb]

She does not. She wasn't there last class. And some of the seniors do frown, and he does get told off. But he still has his belt.

[Wastelander]

He shouldn't have gotten to the rank he has to begin with, in my opinion. That said, we really aren't going to be able to do anything about this situation--the only person who can do that is your instructor.

If disciplining him isn't working, talking to him doesn't do anything, and talking to his parents doesn't help, I would be immediately kicking him out of class every time he was disruptive. Either his mom will get mad at him for wasting her money and discipline him as well, or she will get mad at me for kicking him out of class and take him somewhere else.

[pdbnb]

I don't expect you to solve the problem - just getting everyone's opinion about this. If we had behaved like that when I was a Junior in Shorinji Kempo...well...20 push-ups for each disruption were a given, the rest would be up to luck and the Sensei's mood.

[DoctorQui]

Bad behaviour and the perception of is largey subjective! There maybe factors that you are unaware of that may explain why this child acts this way eg Aspergers or any other disability that may affect behaviour, information that you would or should not be party to!

Ultimately, the decision to take any action is that of your Chief Instructor. If he doesn't see a problem or is being a lot more permissive, then there is really very little you can do!

I would be guided by the attitudes of the adult senior members of the group and act accordingly, at the end of the day, someone with a disability or behavioural problems would not be best served by being excluded all the time!

You Chief Instructor needs to manage the situation and sadly, you cannot influence that!

[IcemanSK]

Bad behaviour and the perception of is largey subjective! There maybe factors that you are unaware of that may explain why this child acts this way eg Aspergers or any other disability that may affect behaviour, information that you would or should not be party to!

Ultimately, the decision to take any action is that of your Chief Instructor. If he doesn't see a problem or is being a lot more permissive, then there is really very little you can do!

I would be guided by the attitudes of the adult senior members of the group and act accordingly, at the end of the day, someone with a disability or behavioural problems would not be best served by being excluded all the time!

You Chief Instructor needs to manage the situation and sadly, you cannot influence that!

This is exactly right. There may be issues with this child that which you are unaware. How your instructor is dealing with this is between the student, & his mother & is absolutely none of your concern. I'd suggest you focus on your own training. It's the only thing you do have control over.

[Himokiri Karate]

I just want to tell Op something:

In the world of boxing there are lots of rowdy characters as well as swearing and being chaotic.

I asked my coach why isn't boxing run like a martial arts establishment?

They told me that, in a boxing match or combat sports as well as physical altercation, these places tend to be loud and chaotic and its up to YOU to find the calmness in all the chaos.

Like another poster said, this young man may have some mental shortcomings and perhaps he has improved.

[bushido_man96]

As mentioned by DoctorQui, things like this should be considered on a case-by-case basis. I think as an instructor, I would try to take into account this student's maturity level, and keep it in mind when deciding if the student should test or not. Perhaps he can't help himself. But, given certain incentives, perhaps the student would make a more concerted effort to control himself.

[mal103]

Sometimes getting someone "in-line" or "back on track" can be a gradual process and yes there may be other things at play, I train an autistic child who can't help themself for talking ALL the time, he is gradually improving but I would rather teach just him and see an improvement and 10 others who don't.

If it concerns you then speak to your Sensei!!! Too many people walk away from their club or art with a misunderstanding or misconception. You may find that if members raise concerns the instructor will be more harsh with him.