29yo Taekwondo white belt with a question?

Question

So, I am 29 and have just ventured into martial arts. I decided to do Taekwondo. I have always wanted to practice martial arts, but as a child my family did not have the money and as an adult, I was for a long time embarrassed by being so old and being a white belt.

I have been training for about 3 weeks now and am very impressed with the results and so are my instructors. I feel that I am ready for the yellow belt test, but have to wait for a certain period of time.

The school that I practice at considers anyone over the age of 12 an "adult" and they practice with real adults. Now, don't get me wrong, some of these kids are really impressive, but I feel that I don't get the attention in my class that I deserve, due to being the only real adult in the class. I pick the stuff up a lot faster than the kids, but don't know how to explain this to the Masters.

Any suggestions???????

Ok, so, lots of answers, but I am afraid that my question came out in a way I did not mean it to. I am ok in the pace in which my progression is heading. I understand that it is not proper to rush through these things. I was just trying to ask mostly how it would be appropriate to ask for more attention from the instructors. I feel that I am not getting the attention that I deserve due to being in the class with younger kids. Now, reading through the answers though, I feel that I may not be getting the attention due to the fact that I am following directions well and I am picking up on the techniques quickly as well as the execution, so perhaps, that is why I feel that they are not paying attention to me.
Anyway, the school I go to is a very good and sound school, they are small, but very efficient at their instruction. Check them out: www.schoolofrespect.com

I really do love it there, I think I was just confused at what I was thinking at the time.

Answer 1

TKD is great (if the school is) the problem is that it has been marketed to soccer moms for the almighty dollar, and the instruction at most places is very poor... If you feel the school is worth while, then I'll explain the early stages the way my instructor explained it to us.... right now you are building the foundation to a skyscraper... If you don't learn he basic moventments and stances correctly it doesnt matter how far you progress, or how tall you build your building, because on a weak foundation the building will colapse... To better prove the point... after six years of training.. the only "street fight" i was in many years later ended with the first technique I learned as a white belt to block and counter a punch.... I have been out of it for 10 years... Im now 27, and recently wanted to join a MA school... I found a school that teaches Muay Thai, and the class size is 5 to 16 adults.... And it is exactly what i was looking for, It is a rough sport.... you will hit ppl and you will get hit, but that seperates the men from the boys so to speak... and the ppl in the class (for the most part) are their to learn and train... It's great fun... What ever you decide.. don't ge caught up in belts and testing.... it is a very small (and mosly meaningless) portion of what you really want to accomplish.... Pay close attention to your instructors (hope they are good) and practice every movement and stance and technique with balance speed and power, and you will be amazed at what your body can do in a year.... Have fun and good luck

Answer 2

like capitalctu said some schools mix the teenagers with the adults usually because theres not enough of one or the other to make a whole other class. since you say you learn fast and and you are just beginning so you are not learning anything too advanced maybe thats why you arent getting much attention, and as you go onto more difficult things then he'll focus on those more. this is just one possiblity. if you really want more feedback your instructor courteously ask if your technique is right, what you can do outside of class to practice, is there anyway i can get more practice in with you perhaps in a smaller enviroment, being a good instructor this will help engage him to focus in on you and see that you are really wanting to learn.

if the problem continues to persist after that then you might want to start training somewhere else



addressing the other responses on effectiveness tkd can be effective if taught right however if has been known to have a lot of "mcdojos" handing out black belts for money and also focusing on point sparring instead of full contact sparring, on the other hand the clip agnostic front gave you was of crocop a k1 mma fighter and his style is not taekwondo

Answer 3

This can be a problem sometimes in any martial arts class where one group of students seem to take most of the effort, energy, and attention of the instructor. It usually happens with that group of younger students since they are not as mature, and they sometimes don't take a serious approach to their training and learning. It is even harder for them to do this after being in school all day sometimes. I would take advantage of this time to work and develop my own basic skills to a much finer point. Secondly I would also observe them a little and watch what problems they are having and the affects of those problems on their skill and techniques. By doing this it will also give you a more in-depth knowledge about those skills and techniques.

I would also talk to the instructor and ask if you can some times break off on your own, at his direction, to work on some of your skills for five or ten minutes if he is becoming bogged down with the younger students. That way he can concentrate on them and you can get in some work on your needs and skills. Once he is done he can have you rejoin the group.

That age group of 12-14 is a very fickled group and sometimes they have not learned through life experiences that the harder they apply themselves, and the better they pay attention, the better they will become. They flounder a little at doing that and the instructor is forced into catering to the needs of the many while one or two student's progress is slowed. I would also say that everyone was 12-14 years old at one time so some patience and understanding on your part may also be required. Hang in there and see if some of the above does not help your situation.

Answer 4

Aside from technique, martial arts should help you develop certain mental attitudes. With all due respect, I would urge you to work on patience and humility at the present. Focusing on recognition will only hinder your advancement.
Three weeks is a very short time. I understand progression is usually quick in Tae-Kwon-Do, but three weeks is really just beginning, no matter how talented you are. It may be that you are picking things up faster than the children are, and that's a good thing. But I would suggest you focus less on the belt you might be earning, and more on what you are learning. The belts are there to recognize what you have learned, they don't change anything as far as what you are learning.
For this reason, certain schools, in aikido notably, have left the belt system behind altogether. In those systems, you can remain a white belt for 10 years or more, and then go directly to black belt. The idea is to prevent students from focusing on the belts, which is not what they are trying to learn.
Also, in traditional martial arts, belts didn't used to be used at all until they became the standard grade to differenciate judo students. The belts paid tribute to the idea of black belt that already existed. The idea of black belt came from the fact martial arts students used to train outside. You wouldn't wash the belt. So with time, rolling in the dirt and all, it would turn black. So the black belt would testify to a person having trained a long time.

So to quote Mr Miyagi: In Okinawa, belt is to hold up pants.

Answer 5

The early stages of an art, you're learning more than karate chops. You're learning to work with others, help others become better, and patience. Those seem to be things you need to work on, and you should. Just because you may have a natural talent doesn't mean you should attain belts faster. I personally feel people need to stay at belts for awhile and not worry about going to the next and just mastering what they're taught. That not only helps form and technique but it also shows maturity. I'm not saying you're being immature, but what i'm saying is maybe you should look at it as an opportunity to help the other younger students with less natural talent. For example, you could say hey guys i know you're a (whatever belt they are) but i'm big, how you going to deal with me? Tell them ways they could deal with you, get away or what have you and help them not only as martial artists, but also as kids seeking to protect themselves from people much larger than themselves.

Hope that helps.

Answer 6

If you have concerns, or you feel you're not getting the attention you believe you should be, then you should talk with the only person who can change that, or redefine your understanding of what you are experiencing and what you can reasonably expect. That means, talk to your instructor.

Three weeks is an incredibly short amount of time, and it's very likely you are completely misinterpreting what is happening in class and the amount of attention you are getting. Remember, not all attention is direct, vocal instruction. Much will relate to your character, attitude, presence, and conduct in classes - and much of that may simply be observed by your instructors without direct interaction with you.

Most quality instructors will not allow adults to be slowed down by placing them in a teenage or junior class if that class was not perceived as a suitable enviornment. I have had a number of teenage students who were much more mature, focused, and capable that some of my adults in the past. It's really impossible for anyone here to properly asses that part fo your concern. Again, that is why you go to an instructor, because presumably you trust them and their opinion. Chat with them about it - respectfully :)

As far as "having to wait for a certain time" to test to yellow. Trust me, when you test for 1st dan some three or four years from now you will still be working to perfect and enhance the very techniques you think you are ready to move beyond right now.

The biggest mistake many beginners make is the desire to rush through the ranks. If your instructor/s are worth the weight of the belts around their waist, they'll let you know when it it time to promote, and that will be based on a whole host of factors - not just technically remembering techniques, terminology or being able to execute it.

Welcome to the TKD Journey. Relax, enjoy, communicate openly and honestly with your instructor/s, and be courteous to yourself. Good luck when the time comes to test.

Ken C
9th Dan HapMoosaKi-Do
8th Dan TaeKwon-Do
7th Dan YongChul-Do

Answer 7

Patience, grasshopper! (Heh! Always wanted to say that!)

There's more to learning the martial arts then memorizing a kata, learning how to throw this kick and that strike. There is good reason to let what you've learned sink in for a while.

Naturally you're better at some things than the kids. But on the other hand, kids are like knowledge sponges...they're little learning machines.

Overall, don't worry about how you vs. the kids are doing. Take the time to find more depth in what you're doing.

Answer 8

In my school, I put have a teen/adult class because I have 2 adults. I'm getting ready to launch an Adult Only class because I have several interested parents that don't want kids around. Perhaps you should work on getting other adults involved.

But, to answer the more important questions... Just because you pick it up faster doesn't necessarily mean you should be allowed to test faster. Time in grade is set for a reason - your mental computer needs to be re-wired and this takes time. The reason you don't get "attention" may be for that very reason, you pick the arts up quick.

Oh, and its very disrespectful to ask for a testing. Your instructors will tell you when it is time to test, not the other way around.

Answer 9

u sound like you should try soemthing a little different than a structured tae kwon do or any other structured martial arts class...look in your area for mixed martial arts school or maybe a club...yeha you won't ever step up in degrees as far as belts go but u will learn more at a quicker pace and spar with people oyur own age/size...if you want a black belt i have plenty of them in my closet...it isn't about belts anymore and your masters should know that ...for young kids thats an incentive to keep pursuing martial arts but for us adults its just about learning an art form...good luck

Answer 10

I'd say just sit down with one of them (preferrably the one that you interact with the most) before or after class and have a conversation with them. As your teacher, they need to learn to understand how you feel and think about things. That's the only way they'll be able to teach you properly. Every student is different.

If you don't talk to them, with tact, then you are not only doing yourself an injustice to your training but you aren't helping them learn who their student is.