Childrens classes

[Jointlock]

I was just wondering what some of your school's policies were on teaching kid's classes?

Our organization (IKF International Kido Federation) suggests that we can teach the full curriculum to teens 13 and older. Barring special circumstances of the students maturity mentally and physically. The reason for this is a children's joints arn't fully developed until the onset of puberty. Constant twisting and pressing on the joints could possibly cause abnormalities in their growth.

So, if your class does teach kids do they teach the full curriculum, or are there techniques left out until they are older? Also if you do teach kids, how old does a student have to be before they can get a black belt? Do you have junior black belts, or are they full fledged first degrees?

[cal_JJJ]

At our school (Jujitsu) the only lock we teach youths are standing arm locks. And, you have to be over 16yrs. old to attain a bb.

[John_IHF]

Yes In korea they only issue black belt to students of the ages of 16 and up. Our School stationed in florida use to teach children I believe 7 and up. Korean kids and kids from the states are very much different because of the way they were brought up. The Korean kids don't really complain much but the kids from the states just complain about every little thing like "I wanted to do staff today" what ever is in the corriculum just do it is what I say. The Korean Parents are more understanding on what is being taught while the parents from the states usually are always asking why do they have to do this and that because they haven't really been exposed to this type of martial art and they are use to the other martial arts schools where the kid learns kicks, punches, and how to look fancy. But sure there are parents that know what the kid is learning is good for them and sure there are kids that don't complain alot but there isn't many of them. Thats why we changed our policy to only 13 and up. By that time their parents are allowing them to do much more stressful stuff (on the body that is) such as foot ball. I'm sure not all kids and parents act that way but that is what I have seen and I an just explaining what I see and Judge apon it.

[Thomas]

In Korea where I was (also International Hapkido Federation)... we had students of all ages, from about 9 years old up to adults. I saw several kids with black belts under age 16. However, the test criteria was the same for kids and adults and quite challenging. The under-16 black belts at the Hapkido school were very good.

Here in the states where I am now... we are mainly instrcuting college students but do have a couple of students under 18... 1 is 17 and one is 13 or 14. They both do very well in Hapkido.

I really think the key is to have a serious environment and hold people to the same standard regardless of age. If the curriculum is modified by age... it demeans the rank.

[Jointlock]

While I don't doubt that the kids under 16 were very good technicians, I think that there is more to being a black belt than just knowing techniques. I think a maturity and understanding is required to represent the art as a black belt properly.

Of course I don't know the kids you speak of, they could be more deserving of black belts than most adults that I've seen in my area. And I would also agree that statistically there are differences in upbringing between Korea and the US.

But more often than not in the states many children are promoted to black belt so early and don't have the foggyist idea of what they are doing. But that's America for ya, test them as fast as you can so they don't get bored and they get their pretty colored belt to show for it.

[Thomas]

I've seen children wearing black belts that didn't deserve them and I've seen adults who didn't deserve them. I have seen ones that do as well.

In Korea, I really had no say in who got promoted or not and therefore will make no judgement on that. I trusted my master and I respected all of the black belts in my school (not just becasue of rank either). In Korea, there are many schools and Hapkido and Taekwondo are primarily learned as children. Adults have no time for training. Schools compete to attract kids and yes, some abuse this. Students with a black belt get a little extra pay when they do their mandatory military service. Some schools, like the one I was at, didn't compromise. He had a small school and selected his students carefully.

In the school here in the US where I am now, the master is very conservative about promotions. Students under 16 who wish to test for 1st dan need to be very good. They are held to the same requirements as adult students... including technique and attitude (I agree that character is part of the test) and are tested as strictly. I know that a 14 year old 1st dan from my master's school will be as good as any other first dan in the school. And yes, the highest drop out rate is between red and black belt. (2nd highest is around senior green and blue belt)

[John_IHF]

I didn't mean they didn't issue out the black belts what I ment was they didn't give the a certificate and register them as a black belt student till they become the age of 16 and joint lock you are right about kids that are young doing martial arts most of them just do it because its fun and they don't really know what they are doing they are just doing what they have been told to do but there are some exceptions. We had a 12 year old student in my school that was a brown belt (his parents took him out) he was an awsome student I knew what he was doing and why he was doing it. Then you have his 9 year old sister that wanted to do Hapkido just because her big brother was doing it. And man you guys sure do answer posts quickly.

[Thomas]

John, I wasn't arguing... I know that different schools do things differently. I also have seen where the students are ranked higher than what they wear...

[SaJooNim]

Black belts are one thing, but where I draw the line is when I see someone who's 10 or 11 years old that is a 3rd degree. Yikes!