WTF

[Blackbelt007]

http://blog.blitzsport.com/2013/02/15/b ... lack-belt/

[Genghis]

Oh dear, yet another devaluing of the black piece of cloth.

Not to mention some rather dubious parenting.  A 5 year old should NOT be training in any bloody thing 5 times a week.

G

[captaintau]

No, it's Kickboxing, not World Taekwondo.

But yes, I agree. Britain's youngest Black Belt, eh? Someone will try to beat the record.

[Hirsty]

One of these stories seems to pop up every year.  All they do is belittle what serious MAist are attempting to achieve.

[rne02]

I don't see the problem.  BB just means you have a basic ability to perform the techniques, it does not mean you are skilled.  That comes with more years of training.  

Far too much nonsense is attached to BB as if it is some high level, it isn't it's just when the real learning starts, like passing your driving test.  
If they have an ability to perform the basics then let these kids grade to BB.

Just because the public view a BB as some super deadly ninja, doesn't mean we have to believe that Bull*** too.

[nry]

Fair point rne - the western take on a 'black belt' is often different to the original art's.  Certainly for Koryu JJ, the Japanese treat a black belt as you say - a firm understanding of the basics, but by no means is it an understanding or even awareness of every single technique.  Some don't even have coloured belts in Japan, just white or black.

[Genghis]

But a symbol is a symbol, and we invest things into it.

I have a couple of degrees, which I worked my balls off for, and so I tend to get upset about "degree mills" that sell apparently equivalent qualifications for "life experience".  

I have a black belt, I'm very proud of it, I went through a lot over a lot of years to earn it. I had to show a lot of dedication and hard work to get to that point, not to mention the pain of a grading run by KK!   So yes, I do regard it as important, and that handing it over to somebody who seems highly unlikely to have shown the understanding and dedication that I did.

Put it another way, can that 6 year old "dan grade" take a class, explain the reasons for all their techniques, or learn and develop their own way of doing things independently?  

Sorry, but symbols and titles do matter both to those who hold them, and those who don't and standards in awards of symbols and titles therefore matter as much.

G

[nry]

The child in the post has trained for around 3 years if I recall, and there was a huge degree of dedication - not sure we could argue that a child can't be dedicated, even at a young age.

I have no expectations for any dan grade to teach or take a class - teaching is, for me, separate to your own MA skills.  Having a black belt in no way implies you are able to teach others.  I have met many black belts over the years who sucked at teaching but were technically excellent themselves.  I also don't know if there is need to develop your own thing independently.

[scruffy]

he couldn't even talk properly when he started!
bit too young for my liking, i've taught 5 years olds and they are a flaming nightmare to teach!