Different schools have different curriculums, and different requirements for blackbelt. I think it's beneficial for kids to study many martial arts, but how young is too young to have a blackbelt? Many styles don't allow anyone below 18, and on the other extreme I've seen 8 year old blackbelts at other schools.
2007-09-22 05:05:02 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Martial Arts
I don't like belts as a general rule, but if I were pinned down to an answer I'd say atleast 18. I know most martial arts are mostly kata. I train only for realism and in so generally kids aren't apart of my usual training.
2007-09-22 13:57:57 · answer #1 · answered by Zenshin Academy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have had twelve and thirteen year old black belts who started when they were eight or nine. These are not your usual child type students though. They are dedicated, motivated and oftentimes work out five days a week and most of the classes they attend are intermediate and advance classes with adults; not a forty-five minute children's class. Once a child reaches a certain rank and has shown the maturity and ability to handle that kind of class and workout it makes no sense to limit their progress or attendance.
If you look at what a gymnastics or ice skating coach can accomplish with a twelve year old gymnast or ice skater after five years of training any good martial arts instructor should be able to accomplish the same thing with his younger martial arts students if he gives them the time and attention and knows how to coach and teach martial arts.
2007-09-22 11:10:10 · answer #2 · answered by samuraiwarrior_98 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well it's kinda hard to answer that one for me I got my first black belt at the age of 16 mainly because my I had a private instructor in my sisters boyfriend at the time and I had a lot of personal attention we had only about 7 in the class so things moved pretty quick. But I agree with those who believe 18 is the best thing because I was a punk at 16 thought I was the best till I had a life defining moment. I was messing around and kinda hurt someone not meaning too and not bad but I felt bad from there and that changed my view of who I was so yes with time comes maturity.
2007-09-22 16:04:13 · answer #3 · answered by shotokantiger71 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
IMO 18 is the age it was in all three styles I studied.
Wisdom and maturity come with a black belt so how you can you have that at 8? Being a black belt is more than being able to fight. Their as you already know so much more to it than fighting and in many real school it states clearly everything from white to your first degree black belt is just physical training and preparations for your true training.
I got mine at 18, i was ready to test at 16 but had to wait till 18 and i did. I have been one ever since now in three arts forms.
I do not see how someone 8 could be mature enough to teach and have the wisdom to teach adults yet. maturity is really important as is wisdom.
so to me the school that allow 8 year olds are Mcdojo's and money making schools who are not worried about producing quality black belts.
Thats is my thoughts.
2007-09-22 10:54:33 · answer #4 · answered by Legend Gates Shotokan Karate 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Benny Urquidez is one of the rare exceptions that earned his Black Belt before age 18.
BTW there were no Mc dojo's in those days.
He was encouraged to test for his Black Belt at the young age of 14. Indeed an accomplishment rarely awarded and recognized by well-respected Martial Art Masters. Immediately he competed and was undefeated in the Adult Black Belt division. His unique style has won him every major international tournament, a dream for the most accomplished of fighters. At that time he chose to pioneer Full Contact Karate, instead of becoming a pro boxer, and the rest is history. In 1974 Benny "The Jet", introduced to the US what is known as Full Contact Karate or American Kickboxing.
http://www.fightingmaster.com/legends/benny/index.htm
2007-09-22 06:35:10 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think no child under the age of sixteen should hold a blackbelt. I also think from sixteen to their eighteenth birthday their rank should be that of a junior blackbelt.
In America we place far to much emphasis on rank. I believe this has lead to unscupulous teachers taking advantage of their students.
In Japan rank is nothing more then a means of knowing where you are in your progession through the arts.
2007-09-22 08:06:38 · answer #6 · answered by Ray H 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
id say its not age but skill... if a 8 year old trained 24/7 and ate slept and drank training and studding and meditating for five years and truly was at the level sure.... but the problem is kids who arnt ready getting them when they are 8 and having a huge ego the rest of their life... i would love to get a black belt before i turn 18... but it aint gunna happen... sheet dam school takes 8 hours a day 5 days a week... just dont train enough.... i study a lot though... so id say it isnt so much as too young but to wet behind the ears...or not there maturely... like me :( lol
2007-09-22 05:23:46 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I lived in Japan and a lot of kids there will make shodan before they finish junior high if they belong to the judo or kendo club and thus train every day after classes. So I think 13 or 14 is appropriate. It's not as if a kid is going to make shodan and then beat the crap out of people he/she couldn't beat the crap out of the day before they made shodan. Shodan should just be considered the end of being a beginner, not an end in itself.
2007-09-22 09:33:02 · answer #8 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think they need to have a profound understanding of the consequences (physical and legal) of the techniques, the maturity to make reasoned (not emotional) decisions, and technical correctness of the techniques. This sometimes comes together in the teens but unfortunately, not usually. I've seen people in their thirties I refused to promote because they were hot heads or emotional cripples. I've had one thirteen year old who could out punch most deshi in their twenties and had the maturity to match - he got promoted. I don't accept childern under the age of ten unless a parent also trains - I don't baby-sit or entertain in the dojo.
2007-09-22 09:15:15 · answer #9 · answered by lee49202 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would say it depends on the maturity of the child. What will he use it for?... if to defend himself, ok 9 or 10 yrs old... if to act bullish and try to use it for gain... no way!... Not til he or she is over 18 and understands the consequences. In my opinion, they ought to give an ethics or personality test to all kids desiring a black belt.
Just my opinion
2007-09-22 05:15:03 · answer #10 · answered by Cica 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋