Martial Arts, belt-testing

[taximomfor4]

I'm clueless about this, but have a question.

My nephew started karate (i'm pretty sure) 3 yrs ago exactly. Each belt test, everyone he began with tested together. Every one of them passed, every time. Now they are all testing for black belt this week. He's 9 now, btw, as are most of the kids.

Is it the norm, for everyone to pass every belt test? Seems pointless to even test, then. My nephew seems to be doing well, but I'm shocked that how he looks doing his stuff is how black belts look?????????? (doesn't seem THAT good).

 

[mjkacmom]

My ds6 is a red belt, and has always passed. However, they usually won't let them test if they're not ready, and will sometimes have them do a do-over at testing, until they get it right. I think my ds had been taking Tae Kwon Do for 2 1/2 years? I'm always very impressed with him at testing (especially since my dad takes him, so I only see him do it at testing, and see the dramatic improvement).

 

[Christine]

Many Tae Kwon Do schools are "belt mills," meaning you will make it to black belt within a certain period of time. One place even guarantees that you will be a black belt in three years and will give you a better price on lessons if you sign up for the 3 year contract.

The school my son was in was also such a place. I know that you should look for a better, more authentic place but we liked this school and my son just needed some exercise and something to do. We didn't care if he became the next Bruce Lee.

So, same as your nephew, everyone always passed. The story does change a bit when you get to black belt. Some kids were actually not ready to test for black belt and they did hold them back. Also, once you make black belt, there are varying degrees and they are VERY hard to get. As quickly as my son raced up through the belts, he never got close to making it past 1st degree. It all changes at the black belt level because you are evaluated by others outside of the place you go and it is more standardized at that point.

 

[okeydokey]

Here it costs $45 to belt test, so they belt them quite often. It's just a money maker for the studio.

 

[BalooTheBear]

Deleted

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

My DH and DS take Kung Fu. Some of the kids who started around the same time as DS did, have tested for the belt our DS currently has, but not all have passed. The students are not tested together, they are tested individually. We wouldn't use a school that was a "belt mill." There are no contracts at our Kung Fu school, you pay as you go, so you have to earn it all. There's no promise of anything within a certain amount of time. DS is at Kung Fu 6 times a week, including sparring.

 

[poutytink]

My son is a black belt in Tae Kwan Do....he started at 3 (the youngest they ever had) and got his black belt at 8. In his school, you have to recommeded to the master by the teacher to take a belt test. He sometimes took it...sometimes he didn't. He needs a better school.

 

[Avalon_toon]

My son only did Karate for about 2 years before stopping, but as I recall, we were told it would take the average student 10 years to get their black belt (it was kenpo karate, and had a 10 belt system). 3 years seems pretty quick for black belt!

 

[mla1977]

I feel that at my school, for the children's program it is a belt mill. They test every three months. They won't promote them if they are really behind though. The kids and children all have a black belt, but once they reach the next age group they start almost from scratch. I think at age 10, they can be promoted to junior black belt and that is when they start training at the same level as the adults. After about 2.5 years they then earn their black belt from our TKD federation.

I haven't gone to many classes in the past year and a half and I am stuck at red. I can't wait until I have time for classes. DBF's brother has been a junior black belt for a while. I think he may be testing for his full belt soon.

 

[taximomfor4]

op here. I tried to look up his school, to see what it advertises, but I don't see a website for it. I know it's called "Karate for Kids". I know he's competed, but only at his own location. He doesn't win.

I know he's had a LOT of belts already, they seem to test really often. And I know it costs money to test for each one. I know he got his sword (whatever they call it) for his birthday about 2 months ago. I also know he tested for (and got) a new belt (something with something stripe) this summer as well. Maybe in June.

Anyway, I really was concerned that my sis is throwing money at something that is sort of a sham. She is thinking his accomplishment is very prestigious, and I think has big plans for what he'll accomplish in karate afterward.

 

[golfgal]

Our kids were all in TKD. They got their junior black belt (poom) in about 3 1/2 years. Our master would not let kids test for their adult (real) blackbelt until they were at least 16. Adults could test when the were ready, often around 3-4 years of classes/belt promotions, etc. Most kids passed each belt promotion but they didn't automatically pass the blackbelt test. As adults they didn't pass anyone that didn't deserve to pass.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

DD19 has done Tang Soo Do since she was 7. She's a 3rd Dan Black Belt instructor. Black Belt testing cycles run every 6 months and require travel to a regional testing center to be evaluated by the Masters from around the region. DD's school is very particular about not advancing students until they are ready. By the time her kids get to Black Belt testing, it's all second-nature to them.

I've seen plenty of students from other schools who were either very nervous or not quite as skilled as you might expect. But it's important to remember that not everyone is going to be Jackie Chan. It's even more important that they perform to the best of their ability with confidence and that they show leadership and spirit. Cho Dans(1st degree black belts) are often reminded that this is just the first step along the pathway. They continue to hone and perfect their skills as they grow and mature.

BTW, DD tested for Cho Dan when she was 11. She had been doing karate for almost 4 years when she earned hers.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

op here. I tried to look up his school, to see what it advertises, but I don't see a website for it. I know it's called "Karate for Kids". I know he's competed, but only at his own location. He doesn't win.

I know he's had a LOT of belts already, they seem to test really often. And I know it costs money to test for each one. I know he got his sword (whatever they call it) for his birthday about 2 months ago. I also know he tested for (and got) a new belt (something with something stripe) this summer as well. Maybe in June.

Anyway, I really was concerned that my sis is throwing money at something that is sort of a sham. She is thinking his accomplishment is very prestigious, and I think has big plans for what he'll accomplish in karate afterward.

A sword at that age??? Please tell me that the blade has been dulled!!!

DD's school doesn't do swords until Sam Dan (3rd degree). The only weapon that gups (color belts) do is the staff. Then they graduate to a (dull) knife. I cannot imagine a child being able to handle the sword forms. It takes a tremendous amount of skill and balance!

 

[2cats1kid]

My DD did karate/kickboxing for a while. It was a bit of a belt mill, but she enjoyed it and was under no illusions that she was particularly great at it! However, even in this belt mill there was a minimum 2 year interval between 1st kyu and black belt testing. Normal testing period was 3 months. They would hold back a few who weren't ready, but kids rarely failed as they wouldn't be entered if they weren't going to pass.

 

[hucifer]

However, they usually won't let them test if they're not ready, and will sometimes have them do a do-over at testing, until they get it right.

Many dojos use the test as a right-of-passage. You have already "passed" when the sensei sees that you are ready.

Here it costs $45 to belt test, so they belt them quite often. It's just a money maker for the studio.

That's another reason to test so often. The dojo I was part of had lots of money-making "experiences."

 

[inaminute]

Don't get too hung up on the blackbelt thing. From what I understand, it simply means that the basics have been mastered. Don't misunderstand, it's a big deal for the student because it takes a lot of work and dedication.

My DGS earned his blackbelt this past summer. It took him a little over four years with the last six months being the most difficult. We spent what seemed like hours at the studio. The last two weeks before testing were intense. Not all of the kids are perfect. They don't have to be. They just have to be able to pass the physical fitness requirements and be able to perform any of the kada's (sp?) they learned along the way to the best of their ability without thinking too much about it.

We didn't have to pay for each belt testing, either. But his Mom did have to dole out some pretty serious cash for the black belt test.

He turned 13 at the end of August and just started with the adult class this week. As I understand it, it will be two or three years before he sees his second degree, but he wants to continue. So, we'll keep schleppng him to classes three times a week.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

My ds is 7 and just got his orange belt in Karate last week. His school seems to be quite strict and doesn't test as a group. DS tested individually when his teacher saw that he was ready. It does seemthat usually everyone who tests passes because the teacher doesn't recommend them for belt testing until he sees that they can pass.

I do think that a black belt after only 3 years is quite quick. The owner of our Dojo's own son is 12 yrs old and only a blue belt. I think the youngest black belt I've even seen is 15. DS has been doing all of the local tournaments and I've never seen a black belt that young.

 

[Tantor]

My son only did Karate for about 2 years before stopping, but as I recall, we were told it would take the average student 10 years to get their black belt (it was kenpo karate, and had a 10 belt system). 3 years seems pretty quick for black belt!

At our dojo my DD (13)is a purple belt.She has been going for 6 years now. They cannot get a black belt till they are 16 and are in adult classes. Every belt grading has written requirements with it.
A black belt as a child and an adult are COMPLETELY different. A child with a black belt would never make it against an adult black belt.