Should Kids Get Black Belts?

Answer 1

First of all, rank doesn't matter. It isn't even worth talking about but I will give my opinion none the less.
I consider a child to be no older than 12 years old.
A child should not get a black belt. There is no way that a child can grasps the advanced concepts of a martial art. perhaps they can memorize the moves but that is not enough.
A child also should not consider themselves an advanced student, they can't handle the mental part of the role.
A child's body is not done developing yet, there is no way that have complete mastery of their body.
Children should not be considered for black belt.
I don't know what is going on at other schools but it takes someone so long to get a black belt in our school that it is chronologically impossible for them to be a black belt and a child.

Answer 2

It depends more on the amount of time training. If the child started at 5 and has been training diligently maybe 13-14 is appropriate. I say a kid at my son's after school elementary event that had a black belt and he looked like he was 10. Come on that is just to young.

Where I train (jujitsu) you have an age requirements for the black belt. You have to be at least 16. Also you have to have competed in many competitions. To earn your black belt you have to perform well at the advance level of competition. I like the black belt tied to competition idea myself it seems more meaningful.

Personally a black belt never impresses me unless I know the school and what the holder is all about.

Answer 3

It depends on your definition of "kids."

If you're referring to kids as in 13, 14, 15, 16, etc...
then yes they can EARN a dan grade just like everyone else.

However if you're referring to kids like 5,6,7,8 year olds..
then definitely not. A black belt is not something to attain or get. It is simply just an outward example that reflects your knowledge and skill. It's not the belt people should want, it's the ability and knowledge that those who wear the belt have.. that they should want. Sorry, but kids that young have not put in the time nor could they have put in the time to have that knowledge or experience. Martial arts takes time to understand. It doesn't matter how talented and proficient you are, some things just need to sit and be practiced on. They need to "soak" first. Years of work and practice can not be gotten any other way.

That being said, I've got a 12 year old that is a second degree. However, he has been there for 2-5 hours every week since he was 4. So while he may be young, he does have a great deal of experience. He's also the only 12 year old I know that spars the adults, and the adults have to treat him as a grown up. He's not big, he's just skilled.

Answer 4

I look for a great deal of skill and maturity before I promote "kids" to black belts. But in reality they are over 13 by the time they are ready in my school with some very few exceptions. My test are exactly the same for adults and children and if they earn it then I agree they should have the rank. I am very picky and train them real hard. Most of the students that are not serious drop out way before getting to even red belt.

Answer 5

Be wary of any school that cranks out 8 year old blackbelts by the truckload. A lot of McDojos will push students through every 1-3 months and dumb down the testing so pretty much anyone can pass. What they are selling is not self defense training, it's a fashion accesory that will get your kid's *** handed to him if he ever really has to use it.

Even if it is on the up and up an 8 year old or even 13 year old black belt has nowhere near the fine motor coordination or maturity of an older one say around 20.

Answer 6

Depends on what you label as a kid and thier determination.

personally I think a teenager, who is able to hang with and fight with the "big boys" should certainly have the chance to EARN a bb.'

However the notion of a 7 year old black belt is just plain stupid.

A black belt in any "kids class" is AT BEST equivalent to a white belt first day student in a regular class.

personally I don't think kids should get black belts (or the stlye applicable equivalent) at all. They should get a "grey belt" which they may wear in thier adult class until they get a "yellow" or next rank belt.

It sets them apart for thier dedication, but doesn't cheapen the meaning of black belt.

personally I don't like ranking systems at all. I think it takes away the emphasis from personal achievement and personal improvement and puts is on a pre-set set of criteria that may or may not apply to actual skill.

Answer 7

well now a days a black belt means nothing. schools just want your money.. and now a days kids are very deadicated... but it dosent matter whats on your wast but in your hart ... i mean a adult could be at the same level as a kid cause the adult is doing it for a work out and the kid is doing cause its thier life ..... i mean im very deadicated....and some adults dont have that so they are not as good as thim..... i hate it when adults get thire black belt and they act like their better than all the other black belts when the black belts that are better than thim is the kids! again this also have to do with tradition... if thier trained right and have the right atitude and hart then thats all that matters.... like this one guy he was so horible but the fact he tryed his hardest is the best thing you can give...

Answer 8

If they have genuinely earned them, yes. Some children display great talent and dedication from an early age. But that's far from the rule.
The problem is the vast majority of kids with black belts have not. There's no sense in giving kids an ego-boost black belt if it's meaningless in terms of achievement and attitude to learning. I would say 99 percent f kids with black belts are just running around with a hollow trophy.

Answer 9

If they have a Grown mentality and skill
many Adults lack this at a great age and they have Black Belts

Answer 10

In Japan where kids have judo and kendo clubs at school, a lot of kids will be shodan by the time they are in junior high. I don't think it's appropriate before about 12 or so though.