Black Belt Quitters

[delta1]

People quit for a lot of reasons. Some are valid, some poor. I guess I'd look at those who quit at black belt just like I see those who only stay through yellow. They helped pay the rent and keep the school open. Unfortunately, most schools couldn't stay in business if they depended only on the truly dedicated students. I'd guess that the harder it is to earn that belt, the more they'll respect it and the more likely they'll stay on. But probably far fewer will reach that level. Holding their full certificate and the privilage of wearing the first stripe for six months sounds like a good idea to me. But you might consider giving them a permanent certificate with a title like Basic or Associate Black Belt. That would encourage them to stay for the full rank/title, while letting them get a taste of what it is to be a black belt. But if all they want is the ultimate contrast to a white uniform, I say let them go in peace instead of staying to pass on that attitude.

[Kyle-san]

Of course, not everyone leaves because they think they've completed their training at or near black belt. I've left two arts before achieving my black for different reasons, but basically boils down to conflicts with my instructors.

 

I left Karate because of a combination of switching organizations (and testing requirements), my sensei spending no time teaching me the new techniques I needed to learn, and the fact that I just didn't know how to deal with this (I was way too young to get a black belt anyway).

 

I left Taekwon Do because my instructor was just looking to make money and he didn't care how. It got to the level that if you paid for your testing you were going to pass automatically. The last time I tested I didn't put any effort in at all, was incredibly sloppy, and should have failed. However I was promoted, more money was spent and I felt I didn't get anything out of it.

 

I'm not happy that I left either of these arts and feel I'm missing a lot from my training, but if I had to do it again I'd have acted the same way.

[ZR440]

Our 2nd Dan associate instructor "retired" this week after a class. Was a major blow to us because he was a great guy and now we only have two blackbelts left. He said after all these years he needed to take a break and may come back at some point.

[Withers M.A.A.]

I've seen my share of them over the years. They religiously train at the school for years then get their blackbelt and within a few months take a few days off a week until they never come back.

[LeaF]

My school has been open for 11 years, and have a fair amount of blackbelts, some have left but they have pretty much all been middle aged and it seems most of them quit because of disagreements with Sensei or other personal reason, I suppose the biggest reaon we don't have alot of adolesents quiting at blackbelt is that you are not permitted to reach that rank until age 18, which solves that issue altogether. So one would think it impossible to reach blackbelt at my school and not realize it is only the begining of the road

[Azure]

I quit immediately after I got my black belt from a school, because I had to switch 'countries' for my higher studies in engineering. That was about 5 years ago from now, but since then I have tried to keep up the same pace at home, and am aiming at joining another Shorin Ryu dojo. It would be ok if they make me start from a lower rank, since every school has their own policies and rules. My sensei personally told me to keep up my rank my practising at home and making a proper schedule so that I dont drop on those years of training as a martial artist in his school.

 

I agree that the black belt is just the beginning of a long journey into the martial arts, as I realize it now when I have started to grasp the true meaning of kata and all, but it does not mean that you have to continue in a dojo and reach a higher rank. It depends if you want the belt or personal satisfaction in your martial arts training. Ofcourse the belt is necessary as a proof of higher qualification, but I personally have the concept that one should aim at the 'belt inside the mind', rather than the belt around the waist.

 

Whaddaya say!?

[SKidder 12]

ok now black belt quiters in my dojo there has been alot lately.... which is really unfortunate and sad becaue black belt is the school but also is white belts and fortunantley we have many of them that just joined so we kinda got saved there...... but yea black belt quiters they just think they know wat they need a quit and thats not wat karate is about for me karate is a way of thinking and living you gain so much discipline and focus.

 

but you all know that black belts quit and you know you cant stop them. but the lil ones quit before they even get there black belts because they dont find it exciiting ne more... but some quit going for the sho don because maybe thay dont get it so they quit and i hate that...... but thats what i think about this subject

[ZR440]

Azure has a good point. Just because someone has quit their dojo doesn't mean they have quit altogether. After all, how many times has your instructor told you to practice something on your own at home?

[KickChick]

I've seen the analogy of quitting after achieving black belt to receiving an expensive sports car, and then never changing the oil, or caring for the car, until it finallyfall s apart.

 

Well I have to admit that I "almost" quit entirely before I became involved here at KarateForums. Actually when I started posting here I was just returning after taking a year long break .... (which was almost .... almost permanent!) I still continued to teach kickboxing classes during the week.

 

I had my black belt for a year and found I wasn't personally advancing and improving ...

 

Perhaps the answer is exposure to dedicated and interested masters or higher-ranking students, who can show the first-degree black belts that they are merely beginners.

 

All martial artists need to remember that mastery of a style is a process, not a destination, and if they can keep trudging through those slumps their skills will not desert them. In all actuality the person must decide for themselves whether to continue their training (many parents do make the decision for certain kids). Also an instructor should not attempt to make a student feel bad or guilty for quitting. Instead, the instructor should give the student every opportunity to understand the reasons for not quitting.

 

 

 

During that year I took off, several adults became black belts and so it was necessary to add a black belt only class.

 

I decided to return and found these classes much more challenging than the basic "adult" advanced belt classes and decided to "go for it" ... my second degree....

 

Instructors need to focus their curriculum for their black belts.

 

 

 

You see for some black belts it may be a decision to quit when they hit a slump, telling themselves they will just take a break from the martial arts and then return. Most, of course, never come back. I did!!

 

I have to thank alot of the friends I have right here on the forum ... You all may not know this but KF was another driving force in my decision to return! ... (plus my husband said I was an absolute bi*$h ... go back PLEASE he said!)

Edited March 28, 2003 by KickChick

[MantisWarrior]

in my school most of the ppl that do quit will after only a few months. but we dont have alot of ppl that quit. and if they did it would be stupid because in my school we dont start the good stuff until after bb