Changing Styles

[Markb]

My 10 year old son has been training in shukokai karate for just over 2 years and reached his purple belt last December. Since then, he doesn't seem to be getting any further and is now talking about packing it in. Main reason is that he's getting bored with the way the 1 hour lessons are set out. 10 mins warm up, 30 mins practicing his kata and 20 minutes or so playing games as the majority of the class are quite young kids (5-8 year olds). Not much time spent learning karate and lessons aren't cheap!

I've looked around for other shukokai classes in our area (Salford) but I've not come across any. There are, however lots of classes for other style of karate. If he were to change styles, would he have to start from a white belt again?

thanks :)

[Wearing Grey]

As I do not take Karate, I am unsure of how the styles differ. However, I think your best bet would be to call the places and ask them if they would consider accepting his belt. Tell them what your son takes and what types of form's/kata's he does.

I am sure you will be able to come across at least one school that will take his belt.

This was a big issue with me. When I moved I found a school to take my belt in TKD. Search around, I am sure you will find a school.

Take Care,

WG

[Saz]

Its possible, depends on the instructor of the club he goes to. Either way, if he has to start out at white again, he shouldn't have much trouble catching up.

Have you tried having a word with your son's instructor? If he knows he's unhappy at the club, he may alter the training for him?

[Andy Murray]

Originally posted by Markb
My 10 year old son has been training in shukokai karate for just over 2 years and reached his purple belt last December. Since then, he doesn't seem to be getting any further and is now talking about packing it in. Main reason is that he's getting bored with the way the 1 hour lessons are set out. 10 mins warm up, 30 mins practicing his kata and 20 minutes or so playing games as the majority of the class are quite young kids (5-8 year olds). Not much time spent learning karate and lessons aren't cheap!

I've looked around for other shukokai classes in our area (Salford) but I've not come across any. There are, however lots of classes for other style of karate. If he were to change styles, would he have to start from a white belt again?

thanks :)

Hi Mark, and welcome to the forums.

I appreciate your concerns re your son's progressions in rank.

If you spend some time amongst the community here, you will come to realise there is a varying degree of respect for the esteemed Black Belt these days.

Aged 10, I would humbly advise that the fun side/interaction with other kids, of MA is more important than a BB rank.

Sure you could look at BB as the end of financial investment, but that's not what MA is about.

Do you want a Black Belt Son, or does your son want to be a Black Belt for his father?

If there is ego involved either way, then one of you is missing the point.

I have some good contacts in Shuko Kai. If you want to discuss this further, please drop me a mail.

Andy.

[Kof_Andy]

Your son is probably bored with the instruction, not the style. Same as the above mention, talk to his teacher and see if he can teach him differently. Or maybe put him in the older classes. Age 10, i think is a bit too old for games. If that dont work out, just find a different school thats under the same system. Is a bit soon to change style I think.;)

[47Ronin]

I study traditional Karate and have belts in other systems but for a different style it is, wel different.
one way to see if they are a good school is to see if they actually do give him the belt if they do then it is not true Karate.

[Kinjiro Tsukasa]

Andy Murray made lots of good points. Sounds to me like your son is simply too old for the rest of the class. Bring it up with the instructor; is there a class for tweens/teens?

[Markb]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I've spoken to his instructor previously but the turnover of the students with them dropping out and new ones starting is such that they really seem to give most of the attention to the new students. His instructor says that games are important to stop the kids losing interest, which is true, but for the older kids it just seems like a waste of time. His instructor doesn't have any older classes at the present time. Obviously it would be nice for my son to eventually progress to black belt, but he knows he has a lot to learn and he needs to develop. The problem he has is that he feels he's stuck at a point and not being taught anything more.

I'm looking around for more shukokai classes in my area but if I can't find anywhere, I am considering a similar style.

thanks

Mark

[pgm316]

I rate the grappling stuff highly for kids, they enjoy it more, its more practical for them and gets them in less trouble.... maybe.....

Judo could be a good change or Jujitsu type things as a compromise ?

[hongkongfuey]

My 10 year old son has been training in shukokai karate for just over 2 years and reached his purple belt last December



Aged 10, I would humbly advise that the fun side/interaction with other kids, of MA is more important than a BB rank.


I think to a lot of 10 year olds, the rank is important. Becoming a 'Black Belt' might well mean a lot to someone that age, and having to start again with a different style might just be enough to stop them training.

I personally agree with Andy that a BB is not in any way important or relevant to a true martial artist, but I think that it is important to a 10 year old who has devoted 20% of his life to studying Karate. I'd suggest trying to find another teacher who will acknowledge his belt or allow him to sit gradings in an 'accelerated manner' to get up to the level that I'm sure he is at.